Member

It would be entirely wrong, however, to accept the Conservative amendments proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Gower, and others in Amendments 373 to 378. These amend Amendment 372, substituting for the same “area” in the definition of what comprises cumulative disruption a definition that would legitimate restricting repeated protests by references not to their area—the area of a synagogue or whatever—and the potential for oppressive harassment that there could be if such repeated demonstrations were restricted, but by reference to their content. The Conservative amendments substitute for designation of a geographical area the reference to the content of the demonstrations. That change would enable outlawing repeat demonstrations on the same subject. That is objectionable for all the reasons outlined by the noble Lord, Lord Hain, the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, and others. Repetition, and, often, repetition of disruptive protests, marches and assemblies, would be outlawable.