Completed petition Require local lockdowns to be subject to a vote of the Senedd for approval before being implemented
In light of the recent amendment in the U.K. Parliament by Sir Graham Brady for further restrictions to require the approval of Parliament, the same requirement should be made for restrictions in Wales. Civil liberties being curtailed should require the democratic consent of the people of Wales through a vote of Senedd members before being implemented. It will help to provide accountability for those areas which are placed under local Coronavirus restrictions.
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The issue of consent is crucial with these regulations. Politicians have a responsibility to uphold people’s fundamental freedoms, whilst also protecting people’s lives. This is something that is a delicate balancing act in the case of Coronavirus. Especially when decisions could have an enormous impact on the public in many factors. Therefore, the implementation of further restrictions should have to pass by a majority vote of the Senedd.
Please see amendment below as the basis for this petition.
Text of Sir Graham Brady’s Amendment: ‘provided Ministers ensure as far as is reasonably practicable that in the exercise of their powers to tackle the pandemic under the Coronavirus Act 2020 and other primary legislation, including for example part 2A of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, Parliament has an opportunity to debate and vote upon any secondary legislation with effect in the whole of England or the whole United Kingdom before it comes into effect.’
This petition was considered by the Petitions Committee
Find out about the Petitions Committee’s discussion of this petition