Time to lobby the Lords

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill which includes a clause, added at the last-minute, to criminalise squatting in residential buildings is currently passing through the Lords.

http://www.squashcampaign.org/2011/10/government-bypasses-democracy-to-sneak-through-anti-squatting-laws/

The bill is at the committee stage, which means the Lords will gradually read through every clause in the Bill, and discuss any amendments to each clause. Any Lord can join the debate, and any Lord can table an amendment. Every amendment will be discussed.

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/legalaidsentencingandpunishmentofoffenders.html

Unlike MPs, Lords don’t have constituents. This means that anyone is allowed to contact any Lord – but it’s not always easy. We have produced a briefing for Lords, and have been busy contacting as many sympathetic Lords as we can lay our hands on.

So far two amendments we support have been proposed by some Lords. The first, would strike the clause entirely and the second, tabled by John Mcdonnell MP and Homeless Charity Crisis previously in the Commons, states that any new law only covers residential property left empty for less than 6 months.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2010-2012/0109/amend/am109-a.htm

We now need your help. If you would like to help us lobby the Lords – please email lobbying@squashcampaign.org and we will send you our briefing, a template letter and the details of a Lord for you to approach. We will also provide an update with more details of how you can help on the site soon.

http://www.squashcampaign.org/2012/01/squash-needs-your-help-lobbying-lords/lobbying@squashcampaign.org

http://www.squashcampaign.org/laspo-lords-briefing/


If you already happen to personally know a Lord, that’s even better. We would love to hear from you and will also forward you on our latest briefing and template letter which you should find useful.

There is not long to go now. This is the final push. Please keep checking our updates.

http://www.squashcampaign.org/2012/01/squash-needs-your-help-lobbying-lords/