Petition

A busy and eclectic day at Bakewell Town Hall with a Craft Fair, Xmas Fair and our local MP Patrick Mcloughlin receiving a petetion against the Gagging Law organised by 38 degrees which has been signed by over 200,000 concerned people.

Here's a bit about the Gagging Law.

The government's rushing through a new law which, if it passes, would have a chilling effect on British democracy and our right to speak up on issues that matter to us.

From May 2014, draconian new rules would prevent non-politicians from speaking up on the big issues of the day. A huge range of campaign groups and charities – everyone from The Royal British Legion, to Oxfam, to the RSPB - are warning about the threat this poses.

It’s telling that so many groups who wouldn't normally agree with each other have united to oppose the gagging law. Groups that speak out in favour of hunting, windfarms, HS2 or building more houses are joining together with groups who say exactly the opposite.

That’s because there’s one thing we should all be able to agree on: in a healthy democracy, everyone should able to express their views. And everyone should be allowed to get organised to highlight what politicians are saying and doing on the issues that matter to them.

Politics is too important to leave to political parties. When we speak up about decisions that affect us and the future of our country, we can often change things for the better.