The clauses cannot be resurrected when the Bill returns to the Commons because they were not included in the Bill when it went to the Lords. To make these provisions law would require a new Bill.
The Lords rejected: the new offence of “locking on” (216 votes to 163); the new offence of obstructing major transport works (208 votes to 154); the new offence of interference with the use or operation of key national infrastructure (198 votes to 153); new powers to stop and search in connection with protest affecting key national infrastructure both with suspicion (205 votes to 141) and without suspicion (212 votes to 128); and the introduction of Serious Disruption Prevention Orders (199 votes to 124).
The Lords agreed that the maximum penalty for wilful obstruction of the highway should be increased to include 6 months imprisonment, but limited the penalty to obstruction of the 4,300 mile Strategic Road Network. (216 votes to 160) They voted (by 242 to 185) to make misogyny a hate crime by giving the courts the power to make it an aggravating factor in any crime and increase the sentence accordingly.
The amendment was moved by Baroness Newlove (Conservative), former Victims Commissioner. They also approved (by 144 votes to 101) an amendment moved by Lord Best (crossbencher) to repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824 which makes it a crime to beg and to sleep rough.
The House adjourned this final session on this stage of the Bill at 12.45am.
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