NEWS: We must now all abide by new “lockdown” Regulations in force as of today, just published. There are some big problems.

1https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❌" title="Cross mark" aria-label="Emoji: Cross mark">They don’t make much sense
2https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❌" title="Cross mark" aria-label="Emoji: Cross mark">Yet fines have hugely increased
3https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❌" title="Cross mark" aria-label="Emoji: Cross mark">They’ve been imposed, again, by Ministerial decree - without scrutiny of MPs

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So what’s changed?

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="White heavy check mark" aria-label="Emoji: White heavy check mark">One welcome change is that the new rules allow us to go to a public open space for recreation – not just exercise - for physical or mental health or emotional wellbeing.

We called for this important change in our April emergency powers review.

And you can now also meet people from outside your household in an open space... but only ONE at a time.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❓" title="Red question mark ornament" aria-label="Emoji: Red question mark ornament">So you can choose one parent, or one child, to meet outdoors? This doesn’t make much sense. At all.

And the rules on gatherings haven’t changed.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❓" title="Red question mark ornament" aria-label="Emoji: Red question mark ornament">So, if you and people in your household enjoy your new ability to meet ONE other person in a public place (Reg 6), are you committing an offence (Reg 7)?

The rules are next to impossible to enforce. And yet Government has hiked the fines - £100 for a first offence, going up to £3,200 for repeat offenders (compared to £60 and £960 previously).

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❌" title="Cross mark" aria-label="Emoji: Cross mark">The only way to challenge a fine is to go to court and risk prosecution.

Do we still live in a parliamentary democracy?

If so, why are these extraordinary restrictions still being imposed by Ministers, without parliamentary scrutiny?

Ministers say it’s due to the “urgency”. But the crisis has been ongoing for months, and

just yesterday, the House of Lords had its FIRST look at the lockdown rules - 7 weeks after they came into force! – the day before they were changed.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⁉️" title="Exclamation question mark" aria-label="Emoji: Exclamation question mark">Why were they scrutinising old rules when new rules were due the next day?

What is going on?

Will parliamentarians stand up for their sovereign role in our democracy?

These restrictions are the most significant of any imposed on the public in a generation. They directly impact the lives and liberties of the public.

Yet there are serious questions as to

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❓" title="Red question mark ornament" aria-label="Emoji: Red question mark ornament">how they can be justified
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❓" title="Red question mark ornament" aria-label="Emoji: Red question mark ornament">how they can be enforced
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❓" title="Red question mark ornament" aria-label="Emoji: Red question mark ornament">whether they make sense
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❓" title="Red question mark ornament" aria-label="Emoji: Red question mark ornament">whether they’re even lawful, and
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❓" title="Red question mark ornament" aria-label="Emoji: Red question mark ornament">why they’re being dictated by Ministers.

We will keep asking those questions.

So should our MPs.

and... this is just England!

We& #39;ve been warning about the divergence between the nations of the UK.

The fact the divergence has grown, not narrowed, shows a worrying lack of leadership and co-operation at a time of crisis. It& #39;s the public who suffers.