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Welcome to our weekly feature courtesy of Sebastian Salek, the brains behind Clear the Lobby, working to bring you all the laws MPs are voting on this week, and explained in plain English!
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Hey team.
It’s been a weird week.
I hope you’re managing to stay strong and hold your loved ones tight.
As I write this, both the home secretary and mayor of London are ramping up pressure on the Met Police for their handling of the Clapham vigil for Sarah Everard.
What a time, then, to be debating a major new policing law for the first time.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is a huge piece of legislation, but much of the media focus has been on the increased powers to clamp down on protests. Labour was originally going to abstain, but following Saturday’s events they’ll now oppose it.
(As an aside, you sometimes ask me why I include ten minute rule motions when they so rarely become law. This bill is a good example of how they influence the government’s thinking. One of the provisions adds sports coaches to the list of roles considered a “position of trust” in sexual offences cases. This was also the basis of a ten minute rule motion brought by Tracey Crouch last June.)
Until next week. In the meantime, feel free to tweet me, or just reply to this email.
Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
A wide-ranging bill that reforms the criminal justice system. Among other things it lets the police issue noise limits for some protests, allows Crown Courts try people for criminal damage of memorials where the value of the damage is less than £5,000, and increases the maximum sentence for assaulting an emergency worker from one year to two.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing
Goods and Services of UK Origin Bill
Requires public sector organisations to prioritise buying UK goods and services. The government must also publish data on the value of contracts awarded to British companies, including estimates of jobs created. Establishes a certification for products predominantly of UK origin. Ten minute rule motion presented by Gareth Thomas.
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – 2nd reading (continued)
Education Employment (Accompaniment to Hearings) Bill
In workplace disciplinary or grievance hearings, employees are allowed by law to be accompanied by a colleague or trade union representative. This bill would allow teachers and other educational staff to bring anyone they like. Ten minute rule motion presented by Brendan Clarke-Smith.
No votes scheduled
No votes scheduled
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Check your MP’s voting record and read the day’s debates at TheyWorkForYou.
Passed
Postponed
Click here to read details of the bills in last week’s newsletter.
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