Peers will discuss the UK government’s controversial Lobbying Bill tomorrow (5 November 2013).
Peers will discuss the UK government’s controversial Lobbying Bill tomorrow (5 November 2013).
Charities, NGOs, think-tanks (including Ekklesia), faith groups and unions are all urging a legislative pause – in the terms of a stand alone motion that will be debated at the start of the Bill Committee session (expected around 3pm), tabled by Lord Ramsbotham.
Such motions do not have numbers or titles, and they can only be tabled by one person.
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Anglican bishops, cross-benchers, Labour, Liberal Democrat and independent peers, as well as Conservative peers concerned about civil liberties, are being urged back the Ramsbotham motion, as follows:
Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill Lord Ramsbotham to move, that, in the light of recommendations of the 7th Report from the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee (HC Paper 601-1), the 5th Report from Joint Committee on Human Rights (HL Paper 61) and the 3rd Report from the Constitution Committee (HL Paper 62), and the report on Non-Party Campaigning ahead of Elections from the Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement], so much of the orders of the House of 22 October and 28 October as relate to clauses 26-35 and Schedules 3 and 4 be vacated, and that those clauses and Schedules be instead committed to a select committee; and that the select committee do report by 13 February 2014.
It is being pointed out to peers that pausing the Bill will help Government to get the legislation right and gives them the opportunity to build broad consensus with the organisations affected.
It will still be possible for the Bill to become law ahead of the next election. The Electoral Commission have clarified that they think a shorter regulatory period ahead of this General Election would be appropriate to allow time for a pause.
Part 2 of the Transparency in Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning, and Trade Union Administration Bill would have a “chilling effect” on non-party campaigning in the run up to elections, top lawyers have said.
Part 3 would apply red tape to trade unions that could similarly impact their legitimate voices being heard.
Civil rights campaigners say that the Bill in its current form is chilling.
NGOs and charities have been sending messages to peers calling for a pause, and individuals can tweet similar, respectful messages to key peers including:
@LordAshcroft (10, 283)
@Andrew_Adonis (11,795)
@ABCJustin (i.e. the Archbishop of Canterbury – 45,957 followers)
@rabbisacks (13,331)
@ProfRWinston (29,041)
@Lord_Sugar (3,232,818)
@JDBakewell (14,399)
@paddyashdown (10,098)
@FloellaBenjamin (8,471)
@Oona_King (16,508)
@OfficialALW (Andrew Lloyd Webber – 87,371)
@JohnSentamu (40,894)
@Marthalanefox (64,085)
@sebcoe (84,485)
@johnprescott (205,415)
Linking to the Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement website directs readers to all the arguments and latest news: civilsocietycommission.info
* Read the full CCSDE report here: ‘Non-party campaigning ahead of elections’ – http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/19330
* Ekklesia statement: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/19331
* More on the Bill from Ekklesia: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/lobbyingbill