Phone your MP about the Policing Bill
Posted: 4th March 2022
The government’s attempt to shut down everyone’s fundamental right to protest was dealt a massive blow in the House of Lords. That’s thanks to you and thousands of others taking action online and on the streets. But the Policing Bill isn’t over yet. The government will try and push back.
I said in a previous email that I’d be calling on you again to defend democracy. Here’s the plan: we’ve engaged with MPs from almost every angle – now we want people across the country to call their offices and tell them to support the changes to the Policing Bill made by the Lords.
Will you call your MP and ask them to stop the government from trying to restrict everyone’s right to protest?
Whilst we should all be very proud of what we’ve achieved so far, the Policing Bill still threatens our civil liberties so we can’t stop now. Next Monday (28th) the bill is going back to the Commons where MPs will get to have another say on what parts get passed. The government has made it clear that they will try to oppose any of the Lords’ changes to the bill as they can. [1] This includes restricting protests for being too noisy and banning protests around Parliament. So we’ve got to act. Controlling where, when and how people can protest just isn’t democratic.
It’s time to take things up a notch and have the biggest impact we can. If enough of us phone our MPs we’ll be able to send a really clear message to them that they must represent us and defend our freedoms by supporting the Lords’ changes to the bill.
We’ve made a really simple tool for you to call your MP. You might not speak to them directly. It could be a member of their staff on the line, who will make a record of the call and draft a response to you which your MP will have to sign off on. Either way, your call will be noticed by your MP and will let them know the strength of feeling in the constituency.
This is also going to be my first time phoning my MP. If, like me, you’re a little nervous or hesitant, please don’t worry. MPs receive calls all the time and it’s a great way to genuinely get your feelings across in a respectful way. We’re working in collaboration with other organisations like Friends of the Earth. They’ll be asking supporters to write to their MPs on this, so together we have a chance to have a real impact as we did with the Lord’s vote by reaching MPs in as many ways as we can.
In Parliament Square stands a statue of Nelson Mandela. He used protest to successfully confront injustice and help create a fairer and more equal world. How hypocritical it is then of this government to try and take away the very thing that made him a hero to so many.
Please phone your MP and tell them to defend the right to protest.
Thanks for sticking with me on this campaign journey, I’m extremely grateful to have your support.
Best wishes,
Jack
Greenpeace UK
P.S. We’d love to hear how your call went, so please let us know how you get on.
[1] Government could be forced to draw up new bill after ‘draconian’ protest laws defeated by Lords