MP votes against anti-protest Bill

Last night South Lakes MP Tim Farron voted against the Government's controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

The Bill, which would make causing "serious annoyance or inconvenience" a crime punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment, has been described by civil liberty groups as an "all-out assault" on the right to demonstrate.

However the Bill was passed at second reading by 359 votes to 263.

Speaking after the vote, Tim said: "The right to peaceful assembly and protest is fundamental in a functioning democracy and must be preserved.

"So the fact that not a single Conservative MP could find a backbone and vote against these dangerous proposals is utterly depressing.

"To silence those you disagree with is undemocratic, illiberal and profoundly un-British.

"The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight tooth and nail to defeat these draconian measures."