Freedom of Speech

Earlier this week, I complained about the girl who was arrested for an “offensive” T-shirt – even though wearing offensive clothing is not illegal. There is, perhaps, an argument for implementing fashion police, but that is another matter…

Yesterday, an 82 year old heckler was bundled out of the Labour Party conference for heckling Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary.

“Walter Wolfgang, of London, was ejected after shouting “nonsense” as the foreign secretary defended Iraq policy.”

So, this is what our democracy has come to. Heckling political speakers has a long and fine tradition in this country – we like to call it freedom of speech. Political speakers are, by their very nature, putting themselves up for criticism and in a free, fair society, criticism is a reasonable thing to anticipate. It is a part of the two way dialogue that we have come to expect. Well, it seems we can expect it no more. The Labour Party no longer tolerates dissenting voices. This would seem to contradict the deputy prime minister’s desire for greater political involvement on the part of the electorate. Or are we to presume that this only applies if you support New Labour?

The Government has been getting rather fond of ejecting political opponents that prove inconvenient to its new world order of late.

“Four No2ID campaigners were ejected from Gateshead Metro Centre yesterday, after their attempts to protest against the introduction of a national identity register and identity card were deemed “inappropriate” for local shoppers.”

That is when they are not having them arrested on suspicion that they might do something or other based on whatever charge the police decide to make up on the day.

“Six civil liberties campaigners have been arrested outside a summit of European ministers on Tyneside.”

Perhaps these people were wearing offensive clothing?

Tony Blair did have the grace to apologise this morning on the BBC Breakfast programme. Unfortunately this is too little, too late. And, given his previous record, are we to believe him anyway?

“Mr Blair said: “It is difficult for them (stewards) when someone is interrupting someone’s speech, but it should be handled sensitively, particularly with an older person.””

The age of the person is irrelevant – and the training of stewards should have been thought about before, rather than after the event. After all, political heckling has been going on for centuries. If they aren’t prepared for a bit of heckling how can we be convinced they are prepared for a suicide bomber? Of course they were and this is exactly what they planned to do about it. The apology is merely damage limitation after it hit the headlines. Had it been a young and athletic person, likely as not, they would have got away with it.

Perhaps the most worrying aspect of this sorry little debacle is that Mr Wolfgang was prevented from re-entering the conference by the police under the powers of the Prevention of Terrorism Act

What?! A heckler is now treated as if he is a terrorist? Is this how New Labour plans to silence its critics? If Mr Wolfgang had been a terrorist, he would not have shouted “nonsense” at the Foreign Secretary, he would have triggered a device and the news bulletins would have been somewhat different this morning. As gross over reactions go, this one takes a complete packet of custard creams.

Addendum: I was directed to this entry over at The Chicken Yoghurt. This (in relation to the Prevention of Terrorism Act) says it all:

“New Labour lack the maturity to regulate the use of these powers – they’re very handy when you want to get into a dick-swinging contest with an octogenarian.”