Protest against Parliamentary suspension planned ahead of council meeting
The decision to suspend Parliament for five weeks has been condemned by several Stafford Borough councillors – and a protest is planned ahead of Monday’s meeting.
Stafford People’s Assembly Against Austerity is hosting the demonstration against the proroguing of Parliament outside County Buildings, before the borough council’s full meeting begins there at 7pm.
Around 25 people attended an earlier protest staged on Wednesday in Market Square.
Stafford People’s Assembly Against Austerity spokesperson and borough councillor Tony Pearce said: “The Government’s reckless disregard for democracy and the rule of law cannot go unchallenged. The Prime Minister’s suggestion that he will ignore Parliament and try to send the country over the cliff-edge of a crash out Brexit by shutting down business in the House of Commons and undertaking illegal chicanery is outrageous.
“I urge everyone else who wants to defend our democratic rights to join us at the demo. Please bring placards and be ready to make sure the Conservative councillors hear our voices loud and clear, so they can send a message to Westminster that Stafford will not stand for a criminal attack on our democracy.
“I invite anyone interested to share and invite others to the demonstration via the Stafford People’s Assembly Against Austerity Facebook page. These really are exceptional circumstances, so it is more important than ever that we get out on to the street and make our opinions known to the Conservatives in Stafford Borough.”
A motion condemning the suspension of Parliament was also put forward for Monday’s full borough council meeting, Councillor Pearce said.
Fellow borough councillor Gillian Pardesi said 15 members had signed the motion. But it does not appear on the agenda for the meeting however.
She said: “The motion was submitted for the next full council meeting on September 16th. This date was brought forward, for reasons unknown, by this administration and the deadline for submission was, therefore, not met.
“However, in light of the message this motion contains, we believe it is significant that the public should be made aware of the views of some of their elected members about the events taking place in Westminster.”
Councillor Aidan Godfrey has questioned the rescheduling of the meeting from Tuesday to Monday. Council leader Patrick Farrington has been asked to tell fellow members why the date was changed at Monday’s meeting.
