As we found out in Canada in 2022, when the government gives itself emergency powers unrestricted by normal legal procedure and due process, they abuse those powers. The UK government is eager to grant itself similar powers due to a “climate emergency” that will, among other things suspend habeus corpus and the 1689 Bill of Rights:
Emergency, d’ye see? National security emergency.
But here’s the problem if the government declares a national security emergency:
Part 1 of the act establishes a new and broad definition of “emergency”. The definition includes war or attack by a foreign power, which were defined as emergencies under previous legislation, as well as terrorism which poses a threat of serious damage to the security of the United Kingdom and events which threaten serious damage to human welfare in a place in the United Kingdom or to the environment of a place in the United Kingdom.
Damage to the environment in the UK. So, that matches. And if they then declare such an emergency, under the act, then the following laws — among others — no longer apply:
The only primary legislation which may not be amended by emergency regulations is the Human Rights Act 1998 and part 2 of the Civil Contingencies Act itself
That is, all other laws no longer apply. It’s an Enabling Act, allowing rule by decree for the length of the emergency. Absolutely everything is up for grabs. These laws are not, repeat not, protected:
The peers tried to protect the following laws from emergency regulation:
Habeas Corpus Act 1679
Bill of Rights 1689
Section 7 of the Parliament Act 1911 which limited the duration of a parliament to five years[e]
Act of Settlement 1701
House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
Life Peerages Act 1958
House of Lords Act 1999
Seriously, it wipes out the entire legal and constitutional structure.
So, you know, no. Not because there is, or isn’t, a climate change emergency. But because of the powers they’ll take if one is declared.
No.
It’s not November yet, but this sign seems rather appropriate:
