Why I'd join the nutty protester in Parliament Square - Tom Utley

[tjwmason]

Why I'd join the nutty protester in Parliament Square
By Tom Utley
(Filed: 17/06/2005)

Like most Londoners, I have had plenty of cause over the years to curse political demonstrators, who descend in their thousands on the capital to bring their protests to Parliament. Nothing is more maddening than to be stuck in the traffic behind an endless stream of marchers - particularly when one doesn't agree with a word that they are chanting.

<SNIP>

I wonder what the young, idealistic Tony Blair would have thought if somebody had told him in his student days, as he strummed his guitar and campaigned against apartheid and the Bomb, that one day he would restrict the freedom of British subjects to demonstrate. What would he have thought, come to that, if he had been told that he would introduce house arrest, restrict the right to trial by jury and try to force all British subjects to carry identity cards?

Mr Haw may be a nuisance and a pain. But suddenly I feel the urge to join him in Parliament Square. Who is up for a mass demonstration, supporting the freedom to demonstrate?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2005/06/17/do1701.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2005/06/17/ixopinion.html

I find myself in agreement with Tom Utley - should I see somebody about this?

[D-Notice]

1. No...

the guy is talking sense...

It'll be funny when there IS a mass demonstration in Westminster - how'll the police react without coming across as acting like a dictatorship?

[Vladimir]

2. Even a broken clock is right twice a day n/t

[Taxloss]

3. To noisily demonstrate, at that.

This legislation is a new Riot Act; I loathe it. It will only create violence, both by the mob and the state.

[bennywhale]

4. "Liberty" is saying it will financially support anyone who is on the wrong

end of this.

(In Guardian today, sorry no link)

[D-Notice]

5. Here you go

http://www.guardian.co.uk/humanrights/story/0,7369,1508594,00.html

[tjwmason]

6. I'm just lapping up the irony

The thought of Liberty supporting Tom Utley - whose normal column would be something like "why I should be allowed to beat my wife with a thick stick".

When the government manages to alienate both of these and get them to agree in the process something is amiss.