Row over Parliament protest exclusion zone
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have reacted angrily to news that ministers have drawn up plans for a half-mile exclusion zone around Parliament.
Within this zone demonstrations will not be allowed without prior permission of the police, who will also be also able to set strict conditions on the demonstrations.
These could including banning the use of placards or loudhailers.
Trafalgar Square is exempt from the zone, but all of Whitehall and the London Eye as well as much of the Southbank fall within it.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke has the power to order an exclusion zone of up to one kilometre under provisions contained in the Serious and Organised Crime Bill.
The procedures for controlling demonstrations will come into force on August 1, with anti-war protestor Brian Haw who has camped in Parliament Square since 2001 likely to be their first casualty.
MPs and Peers have complained that his use of loudspeakers and hailers has made it difficult for their staff to work.
Both the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives are outraged about the extent of zone, claiming that it is not what Parliament intended.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: “This plan was sold to Parliament as a way of dealing with the eyesore created by Mr Brian Haw’s protest. It is now seemingly being used to exclude peaceful protest, far beyond what was originally intended, on the frankly incredible grounds that protesters prevent MPs from entering Parliament. This is a contempt of democracy and a contempt of people’s right to protest.
“These precise fears were raised by the Conservatives during the passage of the bill, but we were given assurances that the scope of the exclusion zone would be minimal. The Government has now wholly reneged on those assurances.”
And Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten told the Evening Standard he would be pushing for an emergency debate on the news.
Mr Oaten said: “Preventing people from freely voicing their opinions outside Parliament was bad enough.
“What possible justification can there be for banning spontaneous demonstrations across such a wide area?
“Once again, this Government has shown itself ready to play fast and loose with hard-won British freedoms.”
