This government has launched an assault on our democracy. It is giving the police the power to ban protests that create “more than minor” disruption; it has already given them the power to ban protests for being too loud and given undercover police legal immunity for any crimes they commit while spying on campaigners.

However, the restrictions on protests go alongside restrictions on the right to strike and the use of Voter ID to suppress voting - an issue that Jenny will be questioning Ministers about today.

This government is also trying to by-pass parliamentary democracy by handing more power to Ministers and many NGOs recognise this, which is why 50 of them sent an open letter to the Lords asking for them to support the Fatal Motion.

Her Fatal Motion aims to stop the government adding police powers that have already been rejected and thereby creating a precedent whereby a Ministerial decree can over turn a parliamentary vote.

These government proposed changes are backwards steps for democracy, but only the Green Party has been arguing for them to be seen as a linked up attempt by the government to take us in a more authoritarian direction. In the midst of an economic crisis, this government has spent a huge amount of parliamentary time on these measures to weaken our democracy.

Jenny is challenging these issues in the Second Chamber but if today the Labour Party fails to support her Fatal Motion and to pledge to reverse the draconian laws restricting protest, then we will have taken another huge step towards government by diktat.