(Dated 13th and 14th October 2020)
News at Eleven:
PARLIAMENT PASSES THE CONTROVERSIAL ANTI TERRORISM BILL
Today, Prime Minister Franklin Barvata commanded the Labour Party to sign new law into place - the Anti Terrorism Bill, which aims at giving government more powers to act against groups or people that fall under an umbrella term of terrorism. The Prime Minister has defended allegations against him which believe he is ‘gathering a dangerous amount of executive power which could be used against his political opponents’, rather emphasising that the bill is intended to crack down on suspicious and malicious activity in and around eastern-Caltharus to prevent any further terror incidents.
The bill was met with intense opposition from across the House, with Conservative leader Benjamin Wardola and Democrat leader Osbourne Saudaran leading a coalition in the chamber aimed at preventing the bill from becoming law, with the Democrat leader stating “the bill is a disgrace to an independence ideology”. The Prime Minister responded in his Prime Minister’s Questions stating “Independence ideologies damage the infrastructure of a well established nation like ours, and those who are elected to this chamber yet do not swear allegiance to the King and country are in themselves questionable.”
The new law creates a new group, the Anti-Terrorism Board (ATB), which is composed of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, Chief of the Defence Staff of the Royal Armed Forces of the Empire (RAFOTE) and the Director of the Morstaybishlian Intelligence Bureau (MIB); will have the power to initiate actions against suspected persons or groups that fall under the defined umbrella term of terrorism, and arrest them without warrants.
Six Labour MPs voted against the passing of the Bill, including George Merizanov; MP for Dillgartan and former Secretary of State for Education under the Rothgerus Administration, Anne Lauve; MP for South Lornton, Aegis, Berinter Fokes, MP for North Lornton, Aegis, Concorf Hedlan-Mor; MP for Heolch, Aeternum, Lerluka Veren, MP for Lower Ancadia and Nick Kondarry, MP for Belcaden, Aegis. All of the six MPs who voted against the Bill had the whip removed, or in other words were expelled from the Labour Party. This harsh punishment is not unheard of, in fact the practice is considered normal among incumbent governments wanting to pass important legislation into law. These MPs are still able to attend the House of Representatives as Independents, and some who have been in this situation before have created their own faction. Three of the six MPs that rebelled against the Bill were from the South Staynish city of Aegis.