Protest Restrictions to be Lifted in G.B.

BROWN TO LIFT PROTEST RESTRICTIONS


Sunday June 24,2007

Gordon Brown is to hold out an olive branch to opponents of the Iraq war by reinstating the right to demonstrate and march outside the Houses of Parliament, it has been claimed.
Restrictive legislation introduced by Tony Blair will allegedly be reversed by the Chancellor soon after he enters Number 10 next week.It is understood to be one of a raft of initiatives planned for Mr Brown's first 100 days in office, which are designed to distance him from his predecessor's most unpopular policies.

Mr Brown is keen to take a more sympathetic attitude to critics of the military intervention, but the move will not satisfy those who have been calling for an immediate withdrawal of British troops.The relaxation of rules on peaceful protesting will also not mean that "permanent eyesores" can be set up in Parliament Square, or that policemen and passers-by can be "abused" through loudhailers, according to allies of the Premier-in-waiting.

MPs have expressed concern at the distraction caused by noisy demos outside the Commons, and last week Mr Brown's car was punched and kicked by an anti-war activist.The Sunday Times said it had seen a memo from Sir Richard Mottram, chairman of the joint intelligence committee, indicating that the change in the law was to be accompanied by plans to bolster defences at key Westminster sites with walls and bollards. The government introduced legislation in July 2005 banning unauthorised protests within half-a-mile of Parliament. The law makes a demo unlawful unless you have written police approval 24 hours, and provoked an outcry amongst anti-war protestors.A spokesman for Mr Brown said: "We're not going to comment on every piece of speculation."

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