Greens vow to repeal ‘authoritarian’ Police and Crime Bill
6 March 2022
- Greens commit to uphold the values of peaceful protest and direct action
- Jenny Jones slams government as hypocrites for condemning Russian governments’ mass arrest of peaceful protestors, “while passing laws that allow them to do the same in this country.”
Green Party members have today voted to support a policy that would repeal the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill at their party conference.
Green peers Jenny Jones and Natalie Bennett have been staunch critics of the Bill and lobbied Labour hard in the Lords, persuading them to reject a series of amendments which would effectively criminalise protest [1]. The Bill is currently in ‘ping-pong’ stage between the Commons and Lords.
Jenny Jones said:
“I am delighted that conference has backed this motion which commits us to repealing this dangerous piece of legislation should it become law. It infringes on the essential rights of free speech, free protest, free assembly, and free conscience.
“Greens have demonstrated that they are committed to upholding the values of peaceful protest and direct action, recognising that they form an essential part of a healthy democracy. This is a government of hypocrites who rightly condemn the Russian governments’ mass arrest of peaceful protestors, while passing laws that allow them to do the same in this country.”
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