It is difficult not to applaud David Cameron for his egalitarian streak over London’s traffic. Indicating his intent to do away with motorcycle escorts certainly sets him apart from the sort of politicians who would speed through special politburo lanes in their Zil limousines. But just as he can’t expect to ride his bike in to work, someone in his team has to tell him he also has to apply common sense to his motoring routine.
There are plenty of reasons behind this. Off the top of my head, I can think of Franz Ferdinand, Sarajevo, 1914; and Sait Halim Pasha, Rome, 1931 - both of whose bullet-scarred cars are on display in Vienna and Istanbul today. There was King Alexander of Yugoslavia, Marseilles, 1934. Or of course JFK, Dallas, 1963. Terrorists and extremists read history books. They sometimes read fiction like Tom Clancy too.
Let’s hope that it doesn’t take a crank with a tin of paintstripper, or worse, to get this lesson across. Well done Mr Cameron for spotting a possible economy. But in this instance, it’s a false one. Take the outriders, Prime Minister. I for one won’t criticise you for it.
