…petition the Prime Minister to implement a full Freedom of Information Act. There is no justification in Government business being executed in a shroud of secrecy. The Government works in our name, therefore access to ALL business should be free and immediate.

…Poons is hunting fascists. Just who are Navigor?

Hearty congratulations to Troubled Diva, Mike Atkinson, who’s managed to put together ‘Shaggy Blog Stories’ in seven days in aid of Comic Relief.

The book collects amusing pieces from 100 bloggers. I’m in it but you shouldn’t let that put you off.

You can read more about the book here.

The book’s published via Lulu and you can buy copies at www.shaggyblogstories.co.uk.

Go on.

Mike, the troubled diva, is putting together a book of blog hilarity for Comic Relief.

Anyone who fancies publicising, contributing to, buying or pimping the book should head over here.

(via Tim Worstall/Lucy Pepper)

I was one of 60 citizens in Downing Street on Saturday, but the consultation was a sham, says Liam Curtin.

Read the rest

Read this. Sign this. Pass it on.

How to avoid arrest on Red Nose Day.

Only a month left to get this done. Go to it and spread the word.

‘…petition the Prime Minister to sell honours openly and use the money to complement the national lottery’s good causes. To make them accessible to all we suggest a starting price of a pound a peerage.

…

‘[T]hey should be sold at newsagents, from a dispenser next to the lottery scratch cards. That way anyone could walk up to the counter and ask for “Twenty B and H, a lighter and a Companion of the Order of the Bath please.”‘

Anti-war protester Brian Haw has won his latest legal battle to maintain his demonstration in Parliament Square.

read the rest

More festive cheer courtesy of Tim Ireland.

You are cordially invited to a public carol service in Parliament Square at 7pm on Wednesday the 20th of December 2006.

This inclusive service will contain both Christian and secular verse, and is expected to last no more than an hour.

Candles and song sheets will be made available, with donations going to Medical Aid for Iraqi Children.

Please note that if you attend this carol service, it will classify as a spontaneous demonstration (of faith, hope, joy and/or religious tolerance) and there is a possibility that you will be cautioned or arrested under Section 132 of the Serious and Organised Crimes and Police Act (2005).

Click here for more information.

Courtesy of the mighty Sunny Hundal, we have:

New Generation Network is a collective of individuals calling for a new approach to tackle racism, discrimination and prejudice, and building a modern multi-faith and multi-ethnic Britain.

Its manifesto is here along with an accompanying commentary from Sunny.

It’s vital and inspirational stuff. If you like what you see, get along and put your name to the manifesto.

I’m still sceptical about the Downing Street e-petition thingy but that’s tempered somewhat by the fact that the ID card petition is going great guns. Get over there and sign it if you haven’t already.

And courtesy of Davide we have:

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to hold a full public inquiry into the London bombings of July 7 2005.

The original petition calling for a public enquiry is still live too.

A cynic would argue that Downing Street’s new e-petition initiative fulfils two functions. Firstly, it corals the moaners, the complainers, the whingers, the dissidents, sceptics, cynics, and single issue yahoos all in one place. Got a gripe? Start a petition, fire and forget. Job done and don’t worry about writing to your newspapers or MP or starting a blog. Tony has listened.

Secondly, it builds, over time, a nice big database of said moaners, the complainers, the whingers, the dissidents, sceptics, cynics, and single issue yahoos. You have to give your details to sign up. Give false details? Well, that’s their excuse to dismiss your petition as the work of deceptive cranks.

A million people give or take marched against the war and a nice brisk walk was just about all the benefit they saw for their efforts. Let’s see how this baby is received.

For an encore we can all have a go at whistling in the dark. Any suggestions for tunes? ‘Song for the Deaf‘ by Queens of the Stone Age, perhaps?

Update: Essential.

(Some background here, for those coming in late.)

This from the Save Parliament email list:

Go to it.

Richard Norton-Taylor on the al-Jazeera memo and how the two men charged with ‘disclosing’ the document are to be tried in secret:

At a time when David Blunkett makes money by revealing cabinet discussions, we are prevented from hearing evidence against defendants in a criminal trial simply, say some who have read the memo, to protect ministers from embarrassment. It is a genuine scandal. It is even more so given Blunkett’s suggestion on Channel 4’s Dispatches programme last night that the US bombing of al-Jazeera would have been justified at the time of the invasion in 2003.

What Norton-Taylor doesn’t say is that Blunkett is going around this week and causing more embarrassment, for himself and others, than the leaking of the memo ever could. As Dave W points out, Blunkett certainly seems to have decided to deal and take the money rather than see what might be in a ministerial box.

Anyway, if anybody out there has a copy of the memo lying around and wants to share, I, amongst others, will happily give it an airing.

Congratulations to Nick:

After 74 days on the road, during which I covered 1050 miles, I finished the walk at just before 2pm yesterday afternoon when I strolled into Land’s End, after a short 11 mile trip from Penzance via St Buryan and Sennen Cove. Yes, it’s over - I’ve walked from John O’Groats to Land’s End, and now I’m back at my Mum’s house in Redditch, having been driven back up to the Midlands today, slowly getting used to the idea that I’ve finished and trying to work out what to do next.

You can still make a donation in aid of the Brain Research Trust here.

Who said participatory democracy was boring or unrewarding? I’ve finally taken part in enough YouGov online surveys to hit the jackpot.

Every time I lend my voice to them I receive a small stipend. Now that those gratuities have accreted to fifty pounds, YouGov will cut me a cheque.

The survey that put me over the line was a nice little one about how I feel about David Cameron (that is, I doubt the ability of an old Etonian to Feel My Pain).

Sign up to speak your brains and you too could soon be nouveau riche. It’ll only take three and a half years.

This from the parliament-square.org.uk email list:

BRIAN HAW IN COURT ON SOCPA CHARGES THAT COULD DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF HIS PARLIAMENT SQUARE PEACE PROTEST

Tuesday 12 September, 10am, Marylebone Magistrates Court

Brian Haw, the peace protestor who has been keeping vigil opposite the Houses of Parliament for over 5 years, is due to appear in court tomorrow in what could be an important case in determining if he is able to continue his protest.

Mr Haw faces charges of failing to comply with conditions that the police placed upon his protest in May this year under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA). After the Court of Appeal judgement on 8 May [A] which ruled that Mr Haw was not exempt from the SOCPA regulations, the police granted him permission to continue his demonstration subject to a comprehensive list of conditions [B].

These conditions relate to all aspects of Mr Haw’s protest including the size of the display and the number of people present at it. Mr Haw has said that many of the conditions are totally unreasonable, if not impossible to comply with.

This case is believed to be the first prosecution relating to failure to comply with SOCPA conditions. Other prosecutions under SOCPA have been for organising or participating in unauthorised demonstrations and there have been a number of convictions as a result. [C]

Since Mr Haw received the summons, the police have acted to force him to comply with the conditions by removing the majority of his display in Parliament Square during the night of 23 May. He has been left with an area of 3 metres within which any placards and personal possessions and any possessions belonging to those of his supporters must remain. [D]

Last week Mr Haw appeared in court seeking a postponement of the trial on two grounds but were unsuccessful. Mr Haw’s legal team were seeking a judicial review of whether the conditions imposed by police were lawful within the terms of the act, and whether the police were within their power to remove and confiscate Mr Haw’s display before the judicial process was exhausted. There is also a procedural matter that amongst the items confiscated were legal documents, evidence for the defence, private letters, etc. The fact that these items are now in the hands of the prosecution casts doubt on the lawfulness of any trial and prevents Mr Haw from preparing a defence.

INFORMATION

There will be a gathering in support of Brian Haw from 9.30 on 12 SeptemBer ouside Marylebone Magistrates Court, 181 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5QJ - Marylebone Tube Station (also near Baker Street and Edgware Road).

CONTACTS

Emma Sangster, supporter of Brian Haw, at
www.parliament-square.org.uk

NOTES:

A. For more on the Court of Appeal decision see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,,1770525,00.html

B. Whilst the SOCPA law states that organisers of protests who apply for permission must be granted it, it allows for a wholesale curbing of any demonstration by the application of police conditions covering the time and duration of a protest, where it may be carried out, the number of people attending and the noise that can be made and the number and size of placards and banners. It also allows for any senior police officer to change the conditions at any point with no notice. For more information on the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 see:
www.parliamentprotest.org.uk or
www.parliament-square.org.uk/defendanalysis.htm

C. For more on SOCPA prosecutions see:
www.parliamentprotest.org.uk or
www.parliament-square.org.uk/defendaction.htm

D. For more on the dismantling of Brian Haw’s display by the police see:
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1781182,00.html

UPDATED: Another email arrives:

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE FOR BRIAN’S COURT DATE TOMORROW

12 September 2006, 10am, City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court, 70 Horseferry Road: Brian will be appearing on charges of failing to comply with the conditions the police have placed on his protest.

There will be a gathering in support of Brian from 9.30 outside City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court, 70 Horseferry Road, London SW1P

UPDATE UPDATE: Case adjourned.

Will it work? Will the law change? Is it all just about annoying the authorities? Come along and find out: the next mass lone demonstration is handing in forms on 15 September between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at Charing Cross Police Station. The protests themselves will take place on 22 September from 6pm-7.30pm.

Your forms need to be with the police at any time up to six days before the event. For further information, call Charing Cross Police Station on 020 7240 1212 and ask for Special Events.

read the rest…

Let’s face it, if we got a nice, fair, humanitarian government tomorrow, huge swathes of people would have a lot less fun. Maybe not Muslims trying to go on holiday, Iraqi civilians or Britain’s underclass but it’s a good bet that many a blogger, newspaper columnist, protester and weekly email comment sheet would be bereft. Railing against the current incumbent scumbags is such a joy.

(more…)

A jolly good time was had by all. Click on the photos for a closer look.

D-Notice has more photos. Davide has some as well.

Here’s the BBC write up. If you click on the video link on the top left of the page you can watch Mark Thomas debating with some Tory pilgarlic. You might see a couple of familiar faces in the background (Nosemonkey has screengrabs).

I’m doing a write up of the protest for The Friday Thing, due out a bit later today.

Update: Rachel has more.

Update update: I made it into Pink News.

Update update update: Chris King has some rather smart photos up. My ‘ghastly facial features’ (copyright Larry Teabag) feature once again. D-Notice has a write up with loads of links.

My permit/licence/condescension for tonight’s Mass Lone Protest arrived this morning.

I, among quite a few others, will be in Parliament Square from 6pm this evening. Come and say hello if you’re passing.

As advertised, I’ll be protesting against the need for protest. The placard, as you can see (front, back), is ready, just need to print off my fliers. Tim Ireland’s promised I can have a go on his big bell.

As well as Tim, D-Notice and Rachel North are going to be there.

Via Rachel, it sounds like the handing in of the request forms last week (I posted mine) was fun:

- One lady brilliantly filled out her socpa form on a cake with icing. This caused a lot of head scratching but they took the details and filled out a new form. And then we all ate the cake and the cops all had a slice.

- We had a Medium who claimed to be possessed by the spirit of WinstonChurchill, so Churchill handed in a socpa form from beyond the grave.

- A selection of the protest subject matters were: Goth Pride, Owen Hargreaves contract, ban silly political stunts, the fact that the “mind the gap” announcement at Bow road tube is too loud, the lack of hat wearing in public life, Give Warwick castle back to the public, and my friend Tom who wanted to highlight his belief that every time you have a wank a tory dies.

…

- Just as the very last person handed in his form a very flustered pensioner turned up in a taxi. She had seen Mark [Thomas] talking about it on the TV and ran down to join in!

Situationism as its best.

Hopefully I’ll be moblogging the event as well.

Anyone else going?

Hundreds of demonstrators are expected to gather in Parliament Square next Thursday to take part in a unique protest. The subject: absolutely anything. Opponents of war, fur, fees, developing world debt - whatever - will come together for what has been called a “mass lone demonstration” by its organisers.

read the rest…

Update: This from Mark Thomas’ email list:

‘[T]he more eagle eyed amongst you might have noticed the Guardian on Thursday and an article that mentioned the Mass Lone Demos. For those that have not followed the story so far , here it is…. the government introduce the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act, in which they make it a legal requirement for any protest in Parliament Sq and its environs to get prior approval or licenced from the police 6 days in advance. As this includes individual demonstrators (who only need have a banner or a badge in Parliament Square to warrant being classified as a demonstration) I came up with an idea. What happens when a whole load of individual demonstrators turn up to get licences from the police at the same time? Can we turn compliance into defiance? Will the police grant licences fro us? Can we turn it into a regular event that throws the stupidity of the law back at those who have to police it?

‘Well this Thursday night we had over 100 people turn up to get their individual protest application forms into the police at Charing Cross police Station in London. At least 30 forms were handed in on other peoples behalf as well. So we estimate about 100-150 people have applied to come and have a Mass Lone Protest in PArliament Square on the 31st of August 6-7 pm. Anyone who missed this and wants to join in still can.

‘All you have to do is fill the form in and hand it in to Charing Cross police Station anytime Friday the 25th.’

This via Rachel.

A recent damn-fool law has made it illegal to protest anywhere near Parliament without official police permission, and comedian Mark Thomas is organising a stunt to highlight the danger and stupidity of having this law in a democracy.

Please note that taking part in this is 100% LEGAL, and the whole purpose of the stunt is to overload the system by dozens of people all asking for permission to protest all at the same time.

The law: Under section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 [PDF] it is an offence to organise or take part in a demonstration in a public place within the “designated area” (up to 1 km around parliament) if authorisation has not been given by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Participants may be subject to a fine of up to £1000 and “organizers” face up to a year in Jail.

DESIGNATED AREA. Dozens of people have been arrested for not complying with the law even when they are taking part in “Lone Demonstrations” - i.e. if they are one person with a placard.

Many people see this legislation as an assault on our civil liberties and human rights. It’s not always practical to plan a week in advance what government activities you may or may not disagree with. Sometimes a spontaneous response is called for. And surely the most appropriate place to demonstrate against the government’s actions is within the newly “Designated Area”, at the very core of this country’s democratic foundation.

And why is New Labour so concerned about peaceful protestors anyway?If you apply for permission 6 days in advance for a lone protest (ie 1 person) they cannot refuse permission, so in order to highlight the ridiculousness of having to ask for police permission to hold a peaceful demonstration, Mark Thomas is organising a mass lone demonstration evening.

Anyone who wants to demonstrate about any issue can come along, or even if you just want to demonstrate your disgust at having to ask for permission to protest in a supposedly free country. Remember. This will NOT be breaking the law in any way!

In fact the purpose of this is to get as many people as possible complying with a ridiculous law. All at the very same time! Huzzah!

Stage 1 - Decide on your protest! This can be something you feel strongly about or something very silly – it’s up to you. Then you need to fill in the official form (which is very simple) and there is a copy of the form here.

Stage 2 - Meet on Thursday 24th August outside Charing Cross police station any time between: 5.30pm-6pm to hand in your SOCPA forms. The address is Agar Street, London, WC2N 4JP and a map is attached. You have to fill in form and hand it in to the police 1 week before you protest, so everyone has to turn up at the same time to give their forms to>the Police. This will mean if 100 people turn up and apply for permission, then the unfortunate police have to license and approve 100 lone demonstrations. If you can’t make it to hand the forms in but want to demonstrate on the 31st, post them to: Ben Stern S2S Suite Z009 Old Truman Brewery 1 Brick Lane London E1 6QL.

Stage 3 - The mass lone demonstrations will be 1 week later on Thursday 31st August and will again be at 6:00pm for 1 hour, so this event is open to those with day jobs. Come along! Join in! Exercise your democratic rights! The more people who come the bigger an impression this will make!

EASY-PEASY STEP BY STEP

STEP 1 Forward this on to any friends who have a burning issue that they might need to protest about and persuade them to come as well. This is also for anyone who finds it terrible that we have to ask for permission from the Police to peacefully protest outside Parliament.

STEP 2 Print out form

STEP 3 Fill in form with the issue that you wish to protest about.

STEP 4 5.30 - 6pm Thursday 24th August, show up at the same time as other lone protesters at Charing Cross Police Station.

STEP 5 6pm Thursday 31st August, show up and protest about your personal issue in Parliament Square.

STEP 6 Consider continuing your protest again at a later date.

Again a group session for shy lone protesters will almost certainly be scheduled. Once again this is COMPLETELY LEGAL – in fact we are encouraging as many people as we can to apply to the letter of law simultaneously. Dozens of people have already agreed to do this so don’t worry that you’ll be doing this on your own. This is also likely to be covered by the press. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this event.

Big shout out from me to Ben and Chris Atkins S2S Post The Old Truman Brewery 91 Brick LaneLondon E1 6QLT: +44 20 7053 2190
F: +44 20 7053 2188

Links: www.parliament-square.org.uk
www.spy.org.uk/parliamentprotest

I’m going to try and be there - my form went in the post this afternoon.

Update: Forgot to say. My protest will be against the need to protest. A meta-protest if you like. Protesting takes up the time and resources of all those involved: protesters, spectators, news crews, policemen etc. So, if we ban the causes and catalysts of protest - wars, incipient totalitarianism, the assorted elected jerks who start the trouble in the first place and whatnot - everybody will have more time and money, and generally be much cheerier.