BRADFORD’S MPs have been sharing their views on a new Government bill which it is feared could restrict freedom of speech and the right to protest.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is being debated by MPs today, and follows in the wake of chaotic scenes in London on Saturday as the Metropolitan Police were widely condemned for their handling of a vigil to Sarah Everard.

Part of the bill includes new restrictions on protests, by which, if the bill is passed, police could shut down events if they are deemed to be too loud as to disrupt the lives of people in the vicinity.

This has led to criticism from political commentators that disruption and people making their voices heard is the whole point of protests, and that this bill would restrict people’s right to protest and freedom of speech, and is effectively cancel culture from Government on voices which disagree with it.

The Government and Conservative MPs argue the right to protest is protected, but this legislation would help prevent events which severely disrupt people’s lives, such as the Extinction Rebellion protests of 2019 which blocked major roads in city centres causing major traffic jams and the movement of emergency vehicles.

Also in the bill is the possibility that people could face ten years in jail for defacing a statue, as well as a huge number of changes to sentencing including life sentences for killer drivers and longer mandatory jail terms for sex offenders.

Labour announced on Sunday it’s plan to vote against the bill, with Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy criticising the Bill for having “no mention of women in its 296 pages”, and said it was a “missed opportunity to tackle violence against women and girls”.

Shipley Conservative MP Philip Davies said that decision was “shameful” and they should be “seeking to amend it not voting against tougher sentences for serious offenders”.

Bradford West’s Labour MP Naz Shah criticised the Bill, saying: "The government is planning to rush through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill despite there being severe limitations to the bill.

“The tragic death of Sarah Everard has instigated a national demand for action to tackle violence against women, and yet this bill does more to protect statues than women.

“It extends policing powers on areas such as Stop and Search, where there are pre-existing concerns about the discriminatory ways in which policing powers are used towards Black, Asian and Ethnic minority communities.

“The bill also attempts to limit Freedom of Expression through added restrictions on the right to protest and assemble.

“Despite there being areas of concern in the bill, I do support aspects of the bill, including areas that cover dangerous driving that I have long campaigned for locally and alongside others.

“This bill needs further scrutiny in Parliament, given the far-reaching powers contained within it and as such it cannot be overhauled through Parliament."

Philip Davies said people should “of course have the right to protest”, but the rest of the population also has the right to go about their daily lives.

He said: “I was in London when Extinction Rebellion blocked off streets and public transport.

“Of course they have a right to protest but these groups shouldn’t be closing roads; people have just as much a right to go about their daily lives and that’s the balance we need to strike.

“Innocent people were unable to get to work and earn a living, protests should go ahead in a way that doesn’t inconvenience the wider public, we don’t want anarchy.”

On the issues raised by Labour about a lack of women being mentioned in the bill, he added: “No legislation every mentions women or girls specifically, it’s not how law in this country works, quite rightly they apply to everyone equally.

“One thing the Bills does do, which they are voting against, is stop the automatic release of sexual attackers and rapists after half their sentence which Labour introduced, it increases this to two-thirds.

“That’s just one area of this vast bill that benefits women. If Labour want stronger sentences for sexual offences they would support this bill, not to mention everything else in there.

“There’s things I agree with in the Bill, and things I don’t, which is why I will be voting for it and then seeking to amend it at a later date which is what they should be doing. I think people would be surprised at some of the things Labour are voting against.”

Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East, said the bill shows the Government is “out of touch” with the priorities of society.

He said: “When the nation is demanding action to tackle violence and harassment committed against women and girls following the tragic death of Sarah Everard, the Government have instead brought forward proposals that hand down tougher sentences to those defacing statues than those committing rape, showing just how ill-thought-through this Bill is and how out of touch the Government are with people’s priorities.

“With strict restrictions and unnecessary, disproportionate powers given to the police to restrict and manage assemblies of people, however peaceful they may be, I am also deeply concerned that these measures will stifle our civil liberties by curbing free expression and the right to protest that is so fundamental to our democracy.

“In its current form, I cannot vote for such a draconian and deeply flawed Bill with such misplaced priorities.

“I will therefore be voting against it and voting for Labour amendments that will protect our civil liberties and human rights, end the discrimination of minority groups in the justice system, and prevent violence against women and girls – all things that the Government’s Bill fails to do.”

Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South, also criticised the Bill. She added: “This Bill is a hurried and muddled mixed bag of legislation.

“There are some measures in the Bill, such as increased sentences for those who kill by dangerous driving, that I would obviously want to support but there are others that seek to interfere with the right to protest peacefully that is so important to our democratic way of life.

“At this time more than any other time in recent history we should understand the importance of protecting our civil liberties.

“I hope the government will accept amendments that put more emphasis on protecting people as well as preserving rather than curtailing our rights."

Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley, was approached for comment.