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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dems seek mass repeal of laws | Lib Dems seek mass repeal of laws |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have called for a mass repeal of 10 parliamentary acts passed by Labour since 1997. | |
| A "freedom bill" sets out plans to abolish ID cards, control orders for terror suspects and to end extradition to the US "without proper evidence". | |
| The Lib Dems also pledge to end the storage of DNA details of people never charged or convicted of crimes. | |
| Party leader Sir Menzies Campbell says Labour is addicted to making laws and has created "legislative madness". | |
| 'Illiberal laws' | 'Illiberal laws' |
| He added: "It feeds its appetite for headlines with proposals and bills that are often confusing and repetitious." | |
| The Lib Dems say the government has passed 365 acts and 32,000 Statutory Instruments - rules and regulations made by ministers - since 1997. | The Lib Dems say the government has passed 365 acts and 32,000 Statutory Instruments - rules and regulations made by ministers - since 1997. |
| Parliament needs to show that it is as serious about repealing legislation as it is about passing it Sir Menzies Campbell | Parliament needs to show that it is as serious about repealing legislation as it is about passing it Sir Menzies Campbell |
| This equates to 114,000 pages, or seven full editions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, they claim. | This equates to 114,000 pages, or seven full editions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, they claim. |
| The freedom bill proposes scrapping 10 pieces of "illiberal or unnecessary legislation". | The freedom bill proposes scrapping 10 pieces of "illiberal or unnecessary legislation". |
| This would include abolishing restrictions on protests in Parliament Square and removing police powers to impose conditions on public assemblies. | This would include abolishing restrictions on protests in Parliament Square and removing police powers to impose conditions on public assemblies. |
| Also proposed is repealing the home secretary's right to criminalise trespass in designated areas. | Also proposed is repealing the home secretary's right to criminalise trespass in designated areas. |
| The Lib Dems want to abolish laws that remove the "public interest defence" for whistleblowers - employees who report misconduct - and to ban the use of "hearsay evidence" in court. | The Lib Dems want to abolish laws that remove the "public interest defence" for whistleblowers - employees who report misconduct - and to ban the use of "hearsay evidence" in court. |
| 'Tip of the iceberg' | 'Tip of the iceberg' |
| The party is also promising to end all restrictions on the right to silence after arrest. | The party is also promising to end all restrictions on the right to silence after arrest. |
| Sir Menzies said the laws were the "tip of the iceberg", adding: "We need a government that understands that when it comes to making new laws, it is quality, not quantity, that counts." | |
| He added: "Parliament needs to show that it is as serious about repealing legislation as it is about passing it. | |
| "We need to remove excessive laws and show that, by legislating less, we can legislate better." | "We need to remove excessive laws and show that, by legislating less, we can legislate better." |
| The bill would also include a three-point plan for constitutional checks and balances to make it easier to repeal laws. | The bill would also include a three-point plan for constitutional checks and balances to make it easier to repeal laws. |