A SENIOR Labour MP has said that the party would not repeal the Tories anti-protest legislation if they form a government after the next General Election.
David Lammy, Labour’s shadow foreign office spokesperson, was asked for his party’s position by a republican caller on his weekend LBC radio show, following arrests at King Charles’s coronation.
We told how the CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic was among the 52 people arrested during the King’s coronation, as well as campaigners from Just Stop Oil and Labour for a Republic.
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It comes after the Tories rushed the Public Order Bill through Westminster ahead of the King’s special day on Saturday.
The new laws will include a 12-month prison sentence for protesters who block roads, a six-month jail term or unlimited fine for anyone who locks on to others, a building, or an object, and police are permitted to stop protesters they suspect are out to cause “disruption”.
One LBC caller, named only as Phil, asked the Tottenham MP on Sunday: “Would you be prepared as a Labour government to repeal this legislation which is totally unnecessary - given that you agree it's unnecessary, and the other legislation this liberticide government has passed - which is attempting to control and repress our right to protest that are right to oppose legally and legitimately actions by our government?”
Lammy stating clearly that Labour will not repeal the anti-protest legislation if it gets into government
— j (@jrc1921) May 7, 2023
'We can't come into office picking through all the Conservative legislation and repealing it. It would take too much time.' pic.twitter.com/3zrgUbae9L
Lammy told the caller he hears the “repeal question” a lot in politics.
“We can't come into office, picking through all the conservative legislation and repealing it,” he said.
“It would take up so much parliamentary time. We need a positive agenda.
“The primary thing is cost of living, inflation, and getting growth back into this country. Keir Starmer’s been right to prioritise it, and in the last item, we were talking about the local elections, it's clear that people were voting on that basis.”
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Thanking Phil for his input, Lammy signed off the segment with: “Do you think the right to protest in this country is under threat? Call me.”
SNP policy chief Toni Giugliano said it was "no surprise" Labour are determined to hold on to Tory laws.
"More proof, if you needed it, that Labour can’t be trusted to deliver change," he said.
"Real change can only come with independence and electing a strong team of SNP MPs in next year’s general election.
"But David Lammy’s comments also show that in a hung parliament, the SNP would have real influence in pushing a progressive agenda.
"The truth is that Labour are desperate to shift to the right and outflank the Tories on just about every issue. Be it welfare, nationalisation, supporting striking workers, immigration, asylum, tuition fees and much more.
"The Public Order Act is profoundly anti-democratic and needs repealed. Scenes of peaceful protesters being arrested in the streets of London during the coronation were chilling and incompatible with democratic norms.
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"Clearly people should have the right to oppose this unelected Head of State and a taxpayer-funded coronation costing £100 million in a cost of living crisis."
Lammy’s comments also prompted anger online following the protests and arrests at the King’s coronation.
SNP MP David Linden said simply: “Which other pieces of Conservative legislation will @UKLabour refuse to repeal in Government?”
Momentum wrote on Twitter: “We are deeply worried by @DavidLammy's refusal to commit to repealing Tory anti-protest laws.
“As yesterday showed, basic democratic freedoms no longer exist in Tory Britain.
“It is imperative the next Labour government restores them.”
On social media user wrote: “Well, well. Hapless David Lammy tells us not to expect any change from #Labour regarding Tory anti-protest laws.
“To think that this party is endorsing the ideas of Priti Patel and Suella Braverman. Anyone still in doubt that Starmer's Labour is going to disappoint when in office?”
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While another said: “Good grief. I ask you what is the point of Labour. No wonder we call them the Red Tories in Scotland.”
One added: “Then how is anything going to change? You people may be satisfied with Tory-lite but I'm not.”
It comes as Labour’s Wes Streeting said he would not apologise for Labour moving away from a commitment to ditch university tuition fees.
The shadow health secretary said the public finances are in too much of a “mess”, but insisted Labour would still set out plans for a “fairer funding system”.
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