Abolition of Parliament Bill

[ciphergoth]

I thought word of this had already spread far and wide, but it seems not to have reached everyone, so here it is. Bizarrely, a bill nicknamed the "Abolition of Parliament Bill" that (indirectly) gives ministers the power to abolish Parliament and seize dictatorial powers in perpituity has not received much press attention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_and_Regulatory_Reform_Bill

This is being rushed through Parliament with one hour for debate. I kid you not.

http://saveparliament.org.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enabling_Act

Comments

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

The LRRB is insane, but genius from the point of view of legislators. None of that messy discussion stuff!

There are supposed to be some proper protests soon that I am likely to be attending, if feasible. I'm already supposed to be going to another SOCPA one. But I really am such a rubbish activist :¬(

[zotz]

It's a bad bill and shouldn't be passed, but some of the commentary is a little alarmist. In particular, the measure against removing necessary safeguards would stop many of the postulated abuses. It should still go down in flames, though.

[wechsler.livejournal.com]

And my MP seems to have "declined" to respond to correspondence on the subject...

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

I have emailed my MP on this subject. I do not have high hopes for a response, as I don't think he's especially 'rebellious'.

BTW, is anyone else coming to the Naming The Dead protest in Parliament Square on Sunday? I know it's after Subversion but it's not til midday.

[ajva.livejournal.com]

Have already written to my MP expressing concern, and received a prompt response. Given that my new MP is Diane Abbott, though, I suspect I have been preaching to the converted. :o)

[lovingboth]

The bit I find ironic in the Wikipedia article is that one of the six Cambridge law professors mentioned writing to The Times is no stranger to changing the law without Parliamentary approval: the Court of Appeal acknowledged that without Prof Spencer's activism, it's highly likely that six people - so far - in England and Wales would not have been convicted for grevious bodily harm (plus one in Scotland for reckless endangerment) in relation to the reckless transmission of HIV.

This is despite a case dating back over a century which said it should not be, despite the failure of Parliament to vote for making it so - despite being given several oportunities over the years - and despite the published views of the government saying it should not be.

[fuschiafaery.livejournal.com]

It's quite chilling reading http://saveparliament.org.uk/.

I'm going to write in to my MP now, unfortunately this isn't a labour area but still...

[xquiq.livejournal.com]

I couldn't help but wonder whether much of the noise surrounding the recent education reforms wasn't a convenient distraction from this nonsense, but that's perhaps a little too cynical.

Civil Contingencies Act 2004

[fizzyboot.livejournal.com]

The governemtn doesn't really need this law to become a dictatorship. the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 already gives them the power to

(1) lock up all opposition MPs
(2) lock up all government MPs who dare to disobey the executive
(3) extend the life of parliament beyond 5 years
(4) Make Tony Blair President-For-Life (technically, it' be making him monarch for life, but what's in a title?)