Dagger at Democracy
The UK Civil Contingencies Bill
by Elizabeth Gray

Lord Lucas, speaking in the House of Lords during the 5th July second reading, came to the point:

"Are we opening up our system to the equivalent of what happened in Germany in 1933, where it became possible for an extreme party legitimately to hijack a democracy and turn it into something totalitarian? They [New Labour] appear to want a role of issuing diktats."

He concluded by calling for amendments to the Bill which would safeguard our rights, "or we are signing our death warrant as a democracy". That is exactly the issue and the menace.

Lord Lucas was not exaggerating.

The Civil Contingencies Bill, which is not far from passage (and demands radical amendment), enables the Government to declare a State of Emergency on practically any grounds - insignificant events (e.g. "damage to property"); "threatened" insignificant events (e.g. threatened disruption of a supply of money), even a "situation" would do, even a situation occurring outside the United Kingdom.

If Parliament then approves the State of Emergency insisted upon by the Government (most of them know how to use a rubber stamp), then the Government can effectively rule by decree - dictatorial power.

As the forthright, libertarian Lord Lucas said, "We can run on from there and ask at what point we recover our democracy." The reader of this article can guess at the answer as well as anyone.

If the loss of democracy and civil liberties is of little concern to a particular reader, then consider the clause in the Bill that provides for the confiscation of property, "with or without compensation."

This horrific Bill went through the House of Commons with paltry discussion, little opposition, and silence from the irresponsible corporate News Media. And the News Media remains silent as it proceeds through the House of Lords.

This Bill should be REJECTED OUTRIGHT
or amended to remove the obvious
threats to the democratic process

What kind of amendments should be proposed?

1. Justifications for declaring an Emergency. Only an actual disaster should be grounds for declaring an Emergency. And "disaster" means a real disaster, and one that occurs within the UK.
2. No suspension of democracy.
3. No suspension of Parliament.
4. No suspension of Civil Liberties.
5. Coalition Government. No single party dictatorship.
6. Parliamentary Approval of the emergency by two-third vote.

An edited report from Namaste Magazine.

Important sites:
Statewatch criticises the Bill sharply at www.statewatch.org
Freedom Association: www.tfa.net
New Alliance www.newalliance.org.uk
For more information on Namaste Magazine visit www.namastepublishing.co.uk

PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Of course, we should not be surprised that while everyone was 'ooohing' at the storming of Parliament and rioting outside in the square by pro-hunt lobbyists and supporters, this pernicious piece of legislation was sneaking its way through the Lords like a cockroach in a parlour bar while the media kept its shameful silence. Simon Heffer wrote a piece in the Daily Mail wondering whether Britain was indeed already a totalitarian state wherein the dictator and his party pretty much did as they wanted. Given the lack of accountability and the cynicism in which honest due process is held, this is actually a far bigger problem than New Labour. These types of laws can now never be passed without sanction from the EU. With other EU nations ominously fielding similar draconian laws, one cannot help but be reminded of 1930's Europe with the rise of the totalitarian menace in Spain, Germany, Italy, Russia and Austria.

21st Century Britain will come to the boil soon enough if the desire for accountable self-rule continues to be ignored. So much for liberal rights for everyone and responsibilities for none. Have our rulers become the very things they despised and railed against in their university days?

For an in-depth look at this damaging legislation, please go to www.newalliance.org.uk

Further Resources
Spread the word to friends with The Real Face of the European Union by Phillip Day, a video documentary (PAL format only) which lays out the serious problems with the European Union and what you can do about it. Also, don't miss the two following incisive commentaries on the dangers of Britain's involvement with the EU:

Ten Minutes to Midnight by Phillip Day
Vigilance by Ashley Mote
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