I'm an MP. Get me outta here!

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[local]

It appears the ex Sumption like some others doesn't understand the new powers;



Anyone continuing to break coronavirus lockdown rules will be breaking the law and faces arrest.

People ignoring tougher restrictions on movement could be hit with a £60 fine initially and another for £120 for a second offence.

New powers given to police in England mean no-one will be allowed to leave their home "without reasonable excuse".

The measures come into force on Thursday and will last six months, with a review every three weeks.

To ensure people stay at home and avoid non-essential travel, police will be able to order people to go home, leave an area or disperse.

The new powers mean officers can:

ensure parents are doing all they can to stop their children breaking the rules
issue a £60 fixed penalty, lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days
issue a £120 fixed penalty for second-time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence
Anyone who does not pay can be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines.

If they still refuse to comply, police can arrest them.

However, the Home Office, in announcing the new rules, said that "in the first instance, the police will always apply their common sense and discretion."

Under strict measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this week, people are only allowed to leave the house for specific reasons:

Shopping for "basic necessities", as infrequently as possible
One form of exercise a day such as a run, walk or cycle
Medical reasons, to provide care, or to help a vulnerable person
Travelling to and from work, but only if it is "absolutely necessary" and cannot be done from home
All of the measures will last for three weeks from 23 March before being reviewed.

What are the new restrictions and why are they needed?
Several new activities which are permitted have been added to a list outlined by the PM, including moving house, fulfilling legal obligations and to escape injury, illness or the risk of harm.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52053527

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[Alikado]

With reference to local's post #18 — You've read the Act, of course; notably Schedule 21?

Coronavirus Act 2020 — SCHEDULE 21 POWERS RELATING TO POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS PERSONS
Part 2 — POWERS RELATING TO POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS PERSONS IN ENGLAND
Section 6

(3)A public health officer may exercise the powers conferred by this paragraph in relation to a person only if the officer considers that it is necessary and proportionate to do so—

(a)in the interests of the person,
(b)for the protection of other people, or
(c)for the maintenance of public health.

(4)Where a public health officer exercises the powers conferred by this paragraph, the officer must inform that person—

(a)of the reason for directing or removing them, and
(b)that it is an offence—

(i)in a case where a person is directed, to fail without reasonable excuse to comply with the direction, or
(ii)in a case where a person is removed (by the officer or by a constable), to abscond.

…and no doubt you've familiarized yourself with the particulars of the incident Lord Sumption alluded to before you remarked:

"It appears the ex Sumption like some others doesn't understand the new powers;"

And his distinction:

“The police have no power to enforce ministers’ preferences but only legal regulations, which don’t go anything like as far as the government’s guidance,”

Yes; of course you have. You wouldn't presume to do otherwise. Would you?

The above is for ' A Public Health Officer' or Police acting under direction of one not for Police, they are not qualified to decide if a person is infected.

[Alikado]

Derbyshire police drone footage:

Police drone footage shames people using national park during UK lockdown – video

Question: Is this necessary and proportionate?

Definitely not, it just proves that they have too much money to spend on toys and too much time too waste.

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Damien Moore's week in Parliament (excerpt).

On Tuesday, I had been selected to ask a question to the Treasury team. I told the Chancellor that following the blow to many Southport businesses of the Covid-19 outbreak, it would be good to see a positive announcement made on the Burscough Curves. I asked him to work with the Transport Secretary to ensure that the funding is in place. He responded by saying that the government is doing all they can to support local businesses – especially those who operate in the hospitality and leisure sectors – and that the funding is in place to reverse the rail line decommissions we saw decades ago. I see the restoration of the Burscough Curves as one of the most important infrastructure projects Southport has had in a long time, and it is an integral part of my overall plan for our town.

our Damien

[Alikado]

Damien Moore's week in Parliament (excerpt).

On Tuesday, I had been selected to ask a question to the Treasury team. I told the Chancellor that following the blow to many Southport businesses of the Covid-19 outbreak, it would be good to see a positive announcement made on the Burscough Curves. I asked him to work with the Transport Secretary to ensure that the funding is in place. He responded by saying that the government is doing all they can to support local businesses – especially those who operate in the hospitality and leisure sectors – and that the funding is in place to reverse the rail line decommissions we saw decades ago. I see the restoration of the Burscough Curves as one of the most important infrastructure projects Southport has had in a long time, and it is an integral part of my overall plan for our town.

.

He is just the tame stooge to feed the punch line.

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Burscough curves, then what?

MPs from West Lancs. and Southport have not indicated what should happen, if both the north bound and south bound Burscough curves are restored. It appears to be the case that restoration of another short stretch of rail track at just west of Lostock would create a possibility of direct services to Blackburn, Accrington and beyond.

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Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley, co-leaders of the Green party are NOT MPs (— but, get them outta here anyway?)

The Green Party predictably disappoints with their Proportional Representation shtick.

Proportional Representation is an insufficient remedy for our democratic deficit. While it is easy to see that the Green Party would gain parliamentary seats by the adoption of PR, the outcome would not be gratifying!

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Attachment 194267
What do MPs do, really?

1. Hold the government to account.

Our MP asks a question in Commons:

"I thank my right hon. Friend for all that he is doing. Businesses in my resort constituency have been delivered a significant blow due to covid-19. In good times, funding for the Burscough rail link would be a boost; in bad times, it could be business critical. Will he work with the Department for Transport and do everything he can to ensure that we get the funding for that vital link for our town?"

Citation: HC Deb, 24 March 2020, c188

our Damien

[local]

With reference to local's post #18 — You've read the Act, of course; notably Schedule 21?

Coronavirus Act 2020 — SCHEDULE 21 POWERS RELATING TO POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS PERSONS
Part 2 — POWERS RELATING TO POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS PERSONS IN ENGLAND
Section 6

(3)A public health officer may exercise the powers conferred by this paragraph in relation to a person only if the officer considers that it is necessary and proportionate to do so—

(a)in the interests of the person,
(b)for the protection of other people, or
(c)for the maintenance of public health.

(4)Where a public health officer exercises the powers conferred by this paragraph, the officer must inform that person—

(a)of the reason for directing or removing them, and
(b)that it is an offence—

(i)in a case where a person is directed, to fail without reasonable excuse to comply with the direction, or
(ii)in a case where a person is removed (by the officer or by a constable), to abscond.

…and no doubt you've familiarized yourself with the particulars of the incident Lord Sumption alluded to before you remarked:

"It appears the ex Sumption like some others doesn't understand the new powers;"

And his distinction:

“The police have no power to enforce ministers’ preferences but only legal regulations, which don’t go anything like as far as the government’s guidance,”

Yes; of course you have. You wouldn't presume to do otherwise. Would you?

Oh dear

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British Library Board (Power to Borrow) Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:06 pm on 13th March 2020

our Damien

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is important that we get the British Library out on the road, so that communities up and down our country are able to take advantage of not only the library van, but the British Library van at that?

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An item in the Q Local news roundup regarding a press release from the District Council Network regarding the feared impact of this lock-down on towns dependent upon sustained large visitor numbers — that is, towns like Southport? Some observations:

1. Southport's visitor economy plight is shared by many small and middling sized towns and their respective local authorities;
2. the District Council Network (which incidentally, does not include Sefton — a Municipal Borough) are jointly petitioning central government to take account of particular problems faced by businesses in these towns;
3. Sefton, a part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, has that organization's weight behind it.

The Liverpool City Region is not an impressive example of democratic accountability, but it is something. It is essential that we make the LCR-CA more responsive to its residents' interests and directly, politically accountable.