CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Early day motion 1587, tabled 7 September 2004 by Bob Spink (Conservative). Signed by 11 members.

That this House, whilst not condoning acts of non-violent, non-threatening civil disobedience, accepts its tradition in our society which goes back many years and includes action taken by the suffragettes in getting votes for women; is concerned that Mrs Irene Willis of Canvey Island received a sentence of 21 days imprisonment for causing ú300 damage to an American air base fence, even though she states that had she been given community service she would have gladly carried it out and that her argument was not with society, but with the Government; believes that the original sentence of three years conditional discharge and ú500 fine would have improperly prevented her from carrying out future acts of reasonable protest and that the use of such disproportionate sentences, applied generally in respect of civil disobedience cases of a non-violent nature, may prevent reasonable protest and improperly inhibit freedom of speech and campaign; and calls on the Government to review this area of sentencing policy to ensure that it is not seen as authoritarian and unable to accept and listen to protest.

Signatures by party: Labour 10, Conservative 1.