No if she had turned up with the gun dogs and a land rover full of guns thinking that it was open season on the p(h)easants. If they protested she would tell them to Naff Off and set the corgis on them.

a) Regardless of the "law", the spirit of this action is Orwellian and quite frankly it's bollocks
b) The people have had none of their issues addressed and will continue to go unheard by their government, irrespective of how long they do or don't stay there (and whilst entirely to be expected these days, that's still wrong)
c) [LIFTED] off with the "major tourist attraction" bit. Peaceful protesters are just part of the landscape of this country and many others. As long as the government of this country acts in it's own interest, they will continue to be so.


So yeah, maybe it will kick off on Friday. But I doubt it. There's not enough of them for a V from Vendetta moment. And public support will largely not be there, due to public ignorance, indifference and apathy.

The 2007 law was dubbed “Haw’s Law” because it was deigned to evict the long time anti Iraq war protestor. Thing is, it was ruled that the law could not be applied retrospectively, so he remained. It’s a PR law, nothing more. Can’t have foreign dignitaries visiting Parliament and seeing a scruffy shack covered in anti war slogans. The thing is that since then, Haw has become a focus for other protestors.

I think that we should be allowed to protest outside the seat of government.

I agree. It would also show that we tolerate dissent.

Indeed we do, and if we did not, what are we doing in Iraq, Afghanistan etc.?

Being [Lifted] hypocrites.

Aren't we winning hearts and minds?

Or is that another war? I get so confused.....

And the short answer wins!

Yes. And they should be listened to.

But on a side note it'll be a pity when they turn the area around the houses of parliament into a garbage dump from camping there so long. Then we'll pay £500,000 of taxpayers' money to clean the site up once they eventually feel they've made the point and leave. (Anyone who thinks they will tidy up after themselves will receive a laugh in the face.)

You know they are making a mess how, exactly?

Feel free to laugh in my face.

Because they're Lumpenproletariat ?

</troll>

Don't be making clever political statements here JJ. Nobody will understand you. How many people on this forum are class aware???

I am worth more than the going rate for my labour!

</viva la revolucion>

What you do is ban overnight protests (except Haw) and prosecute for littering if they do not take away their rubbish each day.

Just pitching tents across the grass for weeks, and making paths walking between them for starters. It's difficult to camp somewhere for more than a week without generating some mess... you have to eat, wash (maybe), go to the loo etc. You may be tidy and considerate but I can't believe they all are.

Whilst obviously the grass will have changed from their presence, it's only difficult to camp without mess if you're messy. Ray Mears doesn't leave a mess, Bear Grylls doesn't leave a mess. I'd like to think I don't. It's incredibly weak that the argument to be used against these people is that they might be making a mess. Weak and cynical.

But that's what I've come to expect I suppose....