THE Labour Party have been slammed after one of their senior MPs said the party would not repeal anti-protest legislation if they form a government.
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy was asked for his party’s position on his weekend LBC show. He said: “We can’t come into office picking through all the Conservative legislation and repealing it.
“It would take up so much parliamentary time. We need a positive agenda.”
Politicians north and south of the Border have taken to social media to criticise the party.
Green MP Caroline Lucas re-tweeted The National’s report with the caption: “WTF? Why not? Fundamental rights now under attack from both parties.”
WTF? Why not? Fundamental rights now under attack from both parties 😱 https://t.co/Y4bGTWjv6C
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) May 8, 2023
Meanwhile, Paul McLennan, the SNP MSP for East Lothian said: “This is incredible – Labour will keep Tory anti-protest legislation – let that sink in.”
In Wales, Yes Cymru tweeted that the only answer to escaping Westminster rule was independence.
Many also pointed to the similarities between Labour and the Tories, with Plaid Cymru councillor Carrie Harper tweeting: “Because @UKLabour are just Tory clones.”
Elsewhere, Lucy Harrold, an intellectual property lawyer and tutor, said: “Very big mistake not to repeal anti-protest. Fundamentally un-British law.
Very big mistake not to repeal anti- protest legislation. Fundamentally un-British law. Not consistent with our values or traditions, badly drafted & unnecessary. Labour needs to voice what’s true. If they think some voters disagree, persuade them. It’s called leadership. https://t.co/1mcdZfCMSW
— Lucy Harrold (@harrold_lucy) May 7, 2023
“Not consistent with our values or traditions, badly drafted and unnecessary. Labour needs to voice what’s true.
“If they think some voters disagree, persuade them. It’s called leadership.”
The SNP’s Pete Wishart also took to social media to draw similarities between the UK’s two leading parties.
In 2024 England may just vote Labour and they'll get just another unionist, hard brexit, tuition fee imposing, protest denying, right of Blair, Tory party.
— Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) May 7, 2023
“In 2024, England may just vote Labour and they’ll get just another Unionist, hard Brexit, tuition fee imposing, protest denying, right of Blair, Tory Party.”
The Tories rushed the Public Order Bill through Parliament last Wednesday ahead of the King’s coronation.
The CEO of leading anti-monarchy group Republic Graham Smith was among the 64 people arrested, as well as campaigners from Just Stop Oil and Labour for a Republic.
The laws do not apply in Scotland and Our Republic’s rally in Calton Hill in Edinburgh on Saturday was able to proceed without any intervention by police.
Smith told BBC Radio 4 that he believed the arrests to be “premediated”. He said the move left him shocked as they had been having conversations with police on their protest plans in the lead up to the coronation.
