Mr Haw does it again

In a rare and welcome display of liberty from this most authoritarian of Governments, comes news that the Home Secretary/ Justice Department is to repeal restrictions from demonstrating outside Parliament.  First mooted in last Sunday's Observer, this was confirmed by Jack Straw yesterday.

Whilst Mr Brian Haw et al can be a bit extreme, and the green in Parliament Square does sometimes look like Central Park, New York, during the 1930s recession, it surely is a tribute to British democracy that such a demonstration is allowed.

In a strange way, it is wonderful that our Parliamentarians can be abused and shouted at by megaphone as they leave the Commons through Carriage Gate. Far from being a sign of weakness, it shows that we democrats have nothing to fear.  For this reason, it was shameful that some months ago, Sir Ian (Blair by name, Blair by nature) ordered the Metropolitan Police at the dead of night to sweep away Mr Haw, his compatriots and his tents. It was all the more pleasurable to see them all re-emerge some weeks later.  The fact that the eccentric Mr Haw and others have not only defeated the legal system, but have now forced the Government into a retreat, is really an amazing spectacle and deserves to be celebrated.

PS I realise that our esteemed Editor of ConservativeHome takes an entirely different view on this matter and will choke over his Coco Pops when he reads this. I await his response with some trepidation.

Comments

[EJ]

Please. Mr Haw and his vile band of rabble rousers are an embarrassment! With some of the obscenities they shout at the police, especially one particularly loathsome woman, its a suprise they aren't pelted with CS gas canisters and rubber bullets. I certainly wouldn't blame the police.

Passing tourists must thing we are off our rockers to allow something as noisy, messy and unpleasant to occur in one of our most historic squares. It almost makes me in favour of Ken's proposed redevelopment, at least the construction crews would shift them for a bit!

[powellite]

Sorry Robert, I've got to agree with EJ. Protesters like this are an eyesore. One-day demonstrations are fine, but permanent nutters like Haw don't do anyone any favours. What does he live on, anyway? Does he have a job?

[KR forever]

Here here EJ. Rob get's it wrong again. He finds it hard to judge the public mood because he has been a politico all his life.

[Doug]

Haw, a bit extreme. A joke surely. He's peaceful and though he shouts obscenities sometimes it's not as though he is calling for anyone to be beheaded or murdered or anything like the protests seen in the last few years.

These protests are not unusual to London. There has been an aborigine protest camp in sight of parliament in Canberra for years.

Fundamentally he and his mates have forced the government to reconsider a law that should never have been passed and is an affront to any country that considers itself a democracy. All the armchair commentators achieved nothing. I don't even agree with his protest but Haw has done our democracy and the British people a service. So what if he and his protest is a bit scruffy. That is simply a symptom of protesting come rain or shine and is not a measure of the man himself.

[George Hinton]

I have no objection to protest, BUT, do we really have to put up with the wretched Brian Haw camping out in front of Parliament?
As for the hoops that NuLab want protestors do go through, that really needs to be disposed of. Only totalitarian regimes allow "authorised" demonstrations.

[Gadfly]

Robert is allowing his romanticism to mislead him. Brian Haw is not some hero, he is a man who has chosen not to work for a living and gone from one demo to another all his life. The demo is a filthy eyesore which achieves nothing. People are so used to it that no one reads the faded slogans written across the banners, it looks like a rubbish dumb which hasn't been cleared up. This is no longer a protest but an alternative home for one man and a few friends.

[Ginger Rogers]

Well put Robert! Haw is a bit of a character, but without the right to protest, where would we be. Didn't we see Tory MPs last night trying to force an inquiry into the Iraq war? Are Mr Haw's views on Iraq really so far removed from that aim? Isn't it just the methods that differ?

Most of the anti-Haw comments above seem to be decrying the "mess" of the demonstration rather than the message itself - they obviously think protest is not legitimate unless the protestors are suited and booted. Might I suggest you actually cross the road and have a chat with him - he's a perfectly affable person really! Don't let appearances put you poor sensitive types off a good debate...

[IRJMilne]

It is ludicrous that people cannot protest outside parliament. I agree with Mr Halfon.

[Steve R]

Well said Robert. I saw the title, and I thought this was going to be the usual diatribe against Haw.

While Haw might not be the nicest person, and we might not agree with this cause, I am proud of the fact that we live in a country where the ordinary man can stand up and say what he wants. Labour have tried everything to remove this man, and it's fantastic that he's still there.

All the ConHome clones don't like his message, so confuse that with his rights.

The UK is becomming a heavy handed police state, and the Tories should be the first to celebrate whatever free speech we have left.

[Steve R]

I also find it surprising that people talk about the "eyesore", and pick fault with him. What has this got to do with anything. You'd trade freedom for beauty? This is communism!