In January, the Lords will have the opportunity to prove them wrong by rejecting these tacked-on, kneejerk measures. The bill, wrote Lord Blunkett earlier this year, would make Britain “more like Putin’s Russia”. One is new laws against stopping on private and public land without authorisation, with penalties including the confiscation of vehicles. Britain has a long and proud tradition of political protest, which is as important to democracy as a free press and elections. The latest amendments to the police bill mark a concerted attempt to roll back these rights.

Source: The Guardian December 19, 2021 23:02 UTC