Boris Johnson’s government will use police powers to prevent destructive but peaceful protests as one of 38 new bills in the Queen’s speech Tuesday.
In a move to restore measures rejected by the House of Lords in January, the government will declare new violations to prevent protesters from “locking themselves in” to infrastructure, expanding stop and search powers and illegally obstructing transport projects.
The public order bill will seek to repeal tactics used by protest groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil.
This will be seen as part of Johnson’s plan to strengthen his presidency with proposals that will appeal to key Tory supporters.
The development came when Buckingham Palace announced on Monday night that the Queen would miss the state opening of Parliament. Instead, the Prince of Wales will read the Queen’s speech for the first time on her behalf.
In a move that will anger civil liberty groups, new public order measures will include:
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New criminal offenses of locking and transferring locking equipment to others, objects or buildings – for which a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and an unlimited fine are provided.
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The creation of a new crime for interfering in key national infrastructure, such as airports, railways and printing houses – with a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison and an unlimited fine.
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Measures to make it illegal to obstruct major transport activities, including disrupting the construction or maintenance of projects such as HS2 – punishable by up to six months in prison and an unlimited fine.
The bill is expected to expand the powers of arrest and search so that police can confiscate items related to these new crimes. New preventive “orders to prevent serious disruption” will also be available for repeat offenders, the statement said.
Interior Minister Priti Patel announced for the first time plans to violate protesters’ tactics at a Conservative party conference last October. But in January, colleagues rejected half a dozen government amendments to the police, crime, sentencing and court bill that would impose the measures.
As the amendments were submitted to the House of Lords after the bill passed in the Municipality, they could not be returned to the deputies. However, the latest plan will mean that the government can count on its majority in municipalities to impose a new law.
Commenting on the new measures, Patel said: “The Public Order Bill will give the police the powers they need to curb this outrageous behavior and ensure that the British public can continue to live without interruption.
The program includes seven bills designed to remove EU regulation, ranging from data reform to gene editing and financial services.
Other new laws are expected to try to boost economic growth across the country to tackle the cost of living crisis. The government will also try to create conditions for more people to have high salaries, highly skilled jobs and maintain public safety, the statement said.
Announcing a “mission to fulfill,” Johnson will say, “This speech by the Queen will get our country back on track, and I will strive – and this government will strive – to fulfill it day and night.
“Because, despite everything we have experienced, we will guarantee that in the two years we have left in this parliament, we will spend every second uniting and leveling this country, just as we said we would do.
Following Conservatives’ concerns about the cost of living crisis, the government is expected to announce its energy strategy. Other expected announcements include changes to Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit border arrangements and the replacement of the Human Rights Act.
Responding to the challenges of living costs, Johnson is expected to say: “We will take the country through the aftershocks of Covid, just as we went through Covid, with every gram of ingenuity, compassion and hard work.
“As a matter of urgency, we continue our mission to create high pay and high-skilled jobs that will stimulate economic growth throughout our UK.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement that the 96-year-old queen withdrew from the ceremony after having “episodic mobility problems”.
“At Her Majesty’s request and with the consent of the relevant authorities, the Prince of Wales will read the Queen’s speech on behalf of Her Majesty, with the Duke of Cambridge in attendance,” the statement said.
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