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Terror laws curtailing protest rights, warns comedian

11:47am Thursday 7th June 2007

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Anti-terror laws are having a "chilling" effect on the rights of people to campaign and stage protests against government policies, comedian Mark Thomas said today.

He told the annual conference of the GMB union that even traditional campaigning on the doorstep could be regarded as harassment under some of the measures being introduced to fight terrorism.

He singled out the law banning demonstrations outsider Parliament without police permission as being particularly "ridiculous."

He told delegates at the Brighton conference: "I even had to get permission to wear a red nose in Parliament Square on Red Nose Day."

The comedian said a friend was questioned by a police officer for eating a cake opposite the Commons containing the word "peace" written in icing.

"The police are having an internal debate about this law because it's just not worth it," he claimed.

"The effect of these laws is to curtail our rights. They are having a chilling effect on campaigning and activism."

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Bob, Brighton says...
1:52pm Thu 7 Jun 07

Too right Mark! Keep up the good fight!

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sc, Brighton says...
3:38pm Thu 7 Jun 07

All these new laws being touted under the illusion of being overrun by terrorists are just pointless. They do nothing to curb actual real terrorism, but effect everyday law abiding people. Due to the demise of the IRA and no cold war threat, we are safer now than we have ever been. More people are killed on the roads than by terrorists these days.

This is all about government squashing protest, nothing more.

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PT, says...
7:22pm Thu 7 Jun 07

sc wrote:
All these new laws being touted under the illusion of being overrun by terrorists are just pointless. They do nothing to curb actual real terrorism, but effect everyday law abiding people. Due to the demise of the IRA and no cold war threat, we are safer now than we have ever been. More people are killed on the roads than by terrorists these days. This is all about government squashing protest, nothing more.
Curbing protests - yes maybe - I can see that and somewhat agree.

However;

'Safer now than we have ever been' I am sorry but you simply do not know what you are talking about.


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Rob, Brighton says...
8:55pm Thu 7 Jun 07

Terrorism, along with global warming are of course real, but hyped out of all proportion through government spin as they bring in more and more laws that are intrusive into our daily lives. Orwell's 1984 is well and truly here. It is about time the public stood up for it's rights and reclaimed democracy. Unfortunately I fear it is already too late. However Messrs Blair, Brown, Cameron et al, you can't control what's in my head - yet.

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doug brewer, brighton says...
10:27am Fri 8 Jun 07

Mark Thomas is dead right and you only have to protest against the war to find that out.

In Brighton the EDO MBM bomb factory tried to criminalise protest outside its gates.

Good to see the new documentary film Taking Liberties covers what has happened in Brighton recently and how bad sussex police are when it comes to respect for civil liberties.

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