The government is in the process of passing a law that will enable it to abolish not only any law, but any free or democratic organization in this country.
Impossible to believe perhaps, but our legal and constitutional framework is being altered to allow the transition to absolute power.
Here we submit to you information for your attention. Then you can make your own mind up.
The Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill will allow ministers to remove, alter or repeal any U.K. law by order (i.e. without parliamentary approval). This is occurring right now in the United Kingdom.
The official line is that the new powers are for uncontroversial legislation, that the vast majority of law is already passed by committees appointed by parliament without a commons vote, and that a considerable sum of money and time will be saved for business deregulation. But it doesn’t wash.
Professor John Spencer QC of Cambridge University Law Faculty described it as 'the abolition of parliament bill' in a recent letter to The Times signed by five fellow Cambridge academics (Professors Sir John Baker, David Feldman, Christopher Forsyth, David Ibbetson and David Williams).
Even the Lords could be abolished, the only body with the power to veto the duration between general elections, since they too are defined by Act of Parliament.
Clifford Chance, the world’s largest law firm say, “The Bill usurps the power of Parliament…It is not clear that this Bill provides the necessary safeguards against possible abuse by the executive.”
The Blair government’s record of passing illiberal legislation stretches back to even before 9/11. The argument runs that necessary evils, such as indefinite detention without trial and house arrest made solely at ministerial discretion, are to protect us from far greater evils. There is no hidden agenda, we are assured, despite the multiple abuses of anti-terror measures since they were made law. But this latest move is not being made under the pretext of fighting terrorism. So why is it being put through?
Recent report by the Power Commission: “Democracy faces meltdown in Britain as the public rejects an outdated political system which has centralized more authority than ever in a tiny ruling elite.”
The bill has just received its second reading in the Commons. The lack of outcry in parliament and the media is also deeply worrying. We have to generate serious debate and opposition ourselves. Various economic pressures will mean big changes are necessary to meet our material needs in the future. You have to ask yourself seriously if this bill is a means whereby government can forcibly suppress growing discontent.
It is not only the Green Party who believe necessary change must take place in a way that is democratic, consensual and civilized not ruthless and authoritarian. Write to your M.P, to local and national newspapers, get information, find support and stay hopeful that together we can defeat this bill, and show Tony Blair what it really means to DEFEND OUR VALUES!
For a draft of the actual Bill, click here
Lord Hoffman, law lord, on David Blunkett’s post 9/11 anti-terror legislation: "The real threat to the life of the nation, in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws and political values, comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these,"
by Phil Peter
againstbill111 AT google.mail.com
