Totalitarianism and Remembrance Day

Beware of wearing a Remembrance Day poppy within the immediate vicinity of the Houses of Parliament. Apparently "it is currently illegal for you to wear a poppy or promote the 2007 Poppy Appeal in any way within the designated area surrounding Parliament if you do not first seek permission from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Simply wearing a poppy could result in a fine of £1,000. Organising a Remembrance Day or Poppy Appeal event that takes place within the designated area could result in a fine of £2,500 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks." Go read the rest of the aforementioned article and worry about the way that this Labour government try to control everything and everyone. I was especially exercised by this passage "The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 does not itself define what constitutes a demonstration. This has led to a situation where it is left to the police to decide what does and does not classify as an offence under this act. This in itself is an affront to democracy (the police are there to enforce the law, not dictate it) but this is the situation we are in at the moment, so what the police have and have not classified as a demonstration in the past needs to be taken into account; So far, the police have warned, cautioned and/or arrested people under this act for displaying lapel badges, wearing t-shirts with slogans and even for carrying magazines containing political articles. In terms of the scale of demonstration, a poppy certainly applies."

This Labour government needs to be stopped before we all find ourselves living under
house arrest, only able to leave the house with the express permission of a judge or Labour Party official. Today I am sure Gordon Brown's "Queens Speech" will witter on about freedom and liberty and how he will make the British government a "better servant of the people". I am sorry to tell you that it is all rubbish, the new Stalin wants total control over his subjects.


UPDATE:
From here "IMPORTANT UPDATE - READ THIS FIRST:
3:30pm, 7th November 2007

I have just received a telephone response from the police relating to my written application for permission to wear "an official standard-sized poppy badge prominently on my lapel as I walk from Waterloo Station and into/around Parliament" to "raise awareness of Remembrance Day and the associated British Legion campaign."

I have been informed by phone that my application has been rejected because the police "do not consider this to be a protest." (Please note that Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 specifies 'demonstrations', *not* 'protests'.)

I will bring you the official wording as soon as is possible (I've requested confirmation in writing and have been promised a response via email).

Of course, this raises all sorts of questions about the capacity/tendency of the police to favour one political campaign over another but, for now, you need to be aware that the wearing of a poppy badge in the designated area is officially legal without police permission."