Coronavirus Bill

The emergency Coronavirus Bill contains the most draconian powers ever proposed in peace-time Britain. It will be rushed through Parliament this week. Thanks to many hundred of you for taking part in our #TwoYearsTooLong campaign - the Government is now set to concede to a six month review. We will continue to monitor these extraordinary powers.

THE FACTS

Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures, but we cannot let basic rights fall casualty to crisis. The Coronavirus Bill contains the most draconian powers ever proposed in peace-time Britain. These powers require our parliamentarians' utmost caution, closest scrutiny and the strictest time limitations. Two years is too long for these powers:

Forced detention and isolation can be of anyone, including children, and for any amount of time

Authorities can forcibly take biological samples

There’s no clear access to legal rights from as-yet unidentified isolation facilities

Powers last up to 2.5 years

Lockdown powers could prevent protests against measures

State surveillance safeguards weakened

Protections from forced detainment and treatment under Mental Health Act lowered

Cremations can be enforced against personal and religious wishes

BRIEFING

The extraordinary powers in the Coronavirus Bill demand close scrutiny, some require major amendments and signicant limitation, and some — in absence of further justication or explanation — should simply be removed.

Read briefing

JOINT LETTER

In a joint letter, led by civil liberties group Big Brother Watch and published in Telegraph, the group warns that the Bill contains “the most draconian powers ever proposed in peace-time Britain” and urges for a more proportionate time limit.