14 May 2008 – 48 million affected

ARE 48 MILLION BRITISH CITIZENS PREPARED TO LOOSE ANOTHER LIBERTY

As the Bournemouth & Manchester Bills try to emulate the Westminster City Council Act to prohibit young entrepreneurs freely engaging with citizens on their streets, even with their Certificate of good faith and extensive regulation, two solitary individuals on behalf of the silent many, have exercised their right to challenge Parliament against a draconian doctrine of ‘restraint of trade’ outlawed in 1871 in the Settlement Act.

Marcus Sieff founder of Marks & Spencer, John Lomas of Hollinsclough, and the father of gold-medal winning Harold Abrams were all entrepreneurs of their day – pedlars. Parliament in 1871 gave recognition to this particular socio-economic group in the Statute book extending their rights to anywhere in Britain. History shows such individuals played a crucial role in the birth of European economy by establishing trading routes in towns and city centres.

One hundred years later, the now thriving shopping centres, under Local Authority Control continued recognition of the independence of pedlars by exempting them from local street trading regulation – but mischief is afoot. A powerful economic lobby seeks to restrict the freedom of association by curtailing the contractual power of individuals in particular streets of Britain and legislation to either repeal the Pedlars Act 1871 or to circumvent the Pedlars Act 1881 through private bills – to extend an overarching power to a Local Authority prohibiting entrepreneurs and pedlars in designated streets whilst granting economic benefit to other economic groups.

These bills and eight others are currently blocked awaiting further debate in the House of Commons, which is an essential debate needed about the fact that there is cause for concern over conflict between the legislature and the judiciary; that they infringe a multitude of human rights; that they place an insurmountable reverse burden upon an individual; that they cannot be argued in the general interest, nor proportionate; and that they throw the burden onto other local authorities.

The government argues against any need for further legislation but under pressure by way of Special Report from the House of Lords there now begins a consultation process which for the very first time in the last decade promises to engage the Regulators and the Regulated. Solitary pedlars are diminished to David whilst Goliath peddles misleading mischief through privilege and the promoter’s agents’ wine and canapés parties for those seeking restraint of trade.

May a Marcus Sieff arise………… and speak to Goliath as Britain petitions the world with the doctrine of ………..Open Free Trade.

Robert Campbell-Lloyd, Parliamentary Agent for Petitioner