Labour's power grab

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 9th Apr 2006

Join the campaign at www.SaveParliament.org.uk

Hundreds of years of English freedom are about to be torn up by the Labour government, warn Reeten Banerji (Council candidate for Bedfont ward) and Andrew Dakers (Council candidate for Brentford ward). Tony Blair is trying to pass a bill that allows any government minister to change almost any existing law without a vote in Parliament. Lib Dems are leading the fight against the bill.

Reeten says:

"This power-grab shows Labour's contempt for ordinary voters. Many people are calling it the 'abolition of Parliament Act' because if it passes the government can do what it likes."

Andrew added:

"In its current state this bill grants any minister the ability to amend, replace, or repeal existing legislation, with only a few areas of legislation exempt. This would therefore allow for major changes to the law without the usual levels of parliamentary scrutiny.

"Ministers claim that the bill is needed to allow them to cut down on red tape and speed up the legislative process, and that controversial reforms will not be introduced using this method. However, even if one takes at face value the assurances from the Government about how they will use this legislation, it would still mark a massive shift of power to the executive, and provides no statutory assurances by which any future government would have to abide.

"So far the Government has refused to accept amendments proposed by Lib Dem MPs David Heath and David Howarth that would limit the power of the Bill. The Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose the Bill as it is currently drafted, both in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. We remain committed to ensuring that it does not reach the statute book without serious changes."

For more on the campaign against the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill visit www.saveparliament.org.uk