Free Speech!

I would love a T-shirt like that but would want mine without any hunting connections. I may just buy a plain white one and get the slogan put on myself.
 
20 years ago as a student I remember a campaign against the new Public Order Act passed by Thatcher , on the grounds it was anti free speech - seems like that is how it has turned out !

This is the problem with fixed penalty notices . I can't imagine many courts upholding them.
 
Never mind that one, what about Steve Jago who was arrested on 18th June in Whitehall for carrying a sign that contained a quote from George Orwell's "1984": 'In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.' He'll be appearing in court in September on charges of mounting an illegal demonstration prohibited by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (Socpa ).

He was taken to the police station and searched and found to have three copies of an article from Vanity Fair in his possession.

Entitled 'Blair's Big Brother Britain', the article is by journalist and commentator Henry Porter. One of the police officers stated for the record that he was showing the defendant these copies and described them as 'politically motivated' material.

So, a piece of mainstream journalism critical of Blair's government was used by the police as part of the reason to charge Mr Jago. That is to say carrying any article that appears to the police to be 'politically motivated' is now an act that may help to send you to jail or receive a large fine.

The long term problem is that when we at last see the back of Blair things are not going to change. And that's the case whoever will be in charge - dour Gordon or "Call me Dave".
 
Brian - nothing surprises me in this semi police state of ours . In SOCPA the power to arrest was made universal rather than offences that could attract a penalty of five years imprisonment . It won't be long before people realise that this will be misused and in particular be used as a new " sus " law . In 1984 had Thatcher tried this in the Poilce and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 all hell would have broken loose.

It can only be a matter of time before the SOCPA Westminster demo cases of some variety get to the House of Lords . Time for their Lordships to get their declaration of incompatibility with Art 10 ECHR ready !
 
:lol: :lol:

However, as the new Guardian of the Apostrophe now that Jon is on sabbatical, please may I insist that it is:

"I won't ban you for dropping your hands"

I thank you.....
 
Tsk, tsk - unlike the Times to get the whole point of the story so wrong - the t-shirts say Bollocks to Bliar - the play on words being the crux of it! They've been worn by people for the last few years too yet some police sudddenly seem to want to make an example of people for wearing them. A girl was arrested for wearing one of the t-shirts at a horse trials last year, Blenheim I think it was.
 
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