Liberal Democrat Peers protest at curbs on freedom

4.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 26th Jan 2007

A group of Liberal Democrat peers have protested outside Parliament - against laws curbing their right to do so. They held a demonstration this morning, before entering the building to debate Baroness Sue Miller's Public Demonstrations (Repeals) Bill, which would repeal the legislation that makes it illegal to protest within 1km of Parliament, without first getting permission from the police. The Bill gained support from Conservative, Labour and crossbench peers, as well as Liberal Democrats, with only the minister speaking against. It passed its second reading and will now be debated in committee.

Baroness Miller said "In a democracy, citizens should not have to apply for police permission to peacefully protest outside Parliament. The fact that my colleagues and I have to gain permission to protest outside our own House is ridiculous. What these laws have actually done is waste immense amounts of police time on paperwork and on arresting people who have done nothing more than hold a placard outside Parliament."