The following exchange at question time yesterday was quite extraordinary. Firstly hearing the Liberal Democrat Minister telling the Conservative Lord Lawson that “We will restore rights to non-violent protest”, left Lord Lawson’s face a picture to behold! More importantly and much more seriously the minister failed to deal with the central question of the right of…
I have already commented, in response to comments on my earlier post, on the evidence we heard on Wednesday from representatives of the police, Westminster City Council and the Greater London Authority on demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament. However, there was an additional thought that crossed my mind as the witnesses spoke about the problems of…
The Joint Committee on the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill took evidence this afternoon on the provisions of the Bill dealing with demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament. We heard from Milan Rai, who was arrested in 2006 when he was reading out the names of people killed in Iraq. (He was subsequently convicted, fined and,…
The right to demonstrate is fundamental in a free society. People variously demonstrate in front of Parliament. However, the continued presence of one vocal demonstrator, Brian Haw, has caused particular controversy. His essentially permanent anti-war encampment on Parliament Square has aroused considerable opposition from parliamentarians and their staff. Some have objected because of the noise from…
