Anti-Brexit March and Rally

One of the enduring strengths of our democracy is that people are free to demonstrate against the government of the day and whilst not agreeing with the today's demonstrators' message and reason for marching, I absolutely support their right to demonstrate and make their voices heard.

Well, under normal circumstances.

Two anti-Brexit campaign groups organised today's' rally: the "European Movement", which is chaired by former Tory MP Stephen Dorrell and whose luminaries include the Liberal Peer Lord (Paddy) Ashdown, Lord Heseltine and Ken Clarke, and, "Unite for Europe" seemingly led by Tim Farron (they are rather coy about identifying their leaders on their web site). And this event was organised some weeks ago to coincide with the EU's 60th birthday and the triggering of our Article 50 notice.

But then Wednesday's slaughter happened.

Both groups say they held discussions with the Metropolitan Police following the terrorist attack but only Stephen Dorrell's European Movement called-off its participation and asked its supporters not to attend. Mr Dorrell reportedly said "In discussions with the police it has been made clear to us that although they will not prevent the march going ahead, it represents an enormous burden at a time when they need to concentrate on the investigation into the terrorist attack in Westminster. It is with sadness that we want to advise you not to travel on Saturday as we do not wish to add to that burden."

But the rival "Unite for Europe" group refused to cancel. By insisting the event goes ahead, Farron's group showed little regard for the Police who whilst mourning the slaying of one of their own, are carrying out an intensive investigation and many will be suffering from a lack of sleep. And now they must turn to and protect a bunch of activists who are marching in support of an anti-democratic organisation and insisting on holding a rally in Parliament Square, part of which is a place of vigil.

And I wonder how many of this group of self-righteous snowflakes can see the irony of this banner:

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I suppose now a new political party will have to be formed that's the opposite of UKIP and fight to re-join the EU

Good luck to them trying to find the equivalent of our Nigel though

It already exists.

Here's its poster boy:

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not forgetting, of course:

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Why should they cancel? Londoners were told to carry on as normal.

Surely cancelling would be giving in to terrorism.

I said equivalent to Nigel, not those two numpties

Not cancel, merely postpone it for a few days to allow the Police time to remember and grieve for their colleague and complete their investigation. Some of my best friends are, or were, Coppers and I can assure you that they are just as human as you and I, have the same emotions and feelings as you and I and are worthy of the same respect and consideration. According to one of my sources, a number of Police Officers (and others) hoping to lay bouquets and light candles at the Carriage Gate entrance were unable to do so due to the protesters.

If Paddy Ashdown's campaign group could recognise that just three days after a terrorist attack such a rally would pose significant difficulties for the Police, why is it that Clegg and Farron's group were so blinded by their own self-interest and refused to consider others? They could, quite easily have changed the rallying point to, say, Hyde Park but chose not to do so.

I'm not a loser, therefore I will not be participating.

I don't believe I need to be assured that coppers are human, thank you. Especially as my father was one.

The government have said that they will activate article 50 this Wednesday, so today is a perfectly reasonable time to have a protest march about it. No point waiting until after they,ve done it.

It has sod all to do with what happened last week. Why try to make it so?

Arguably there is no point in having the march at all, as it will will make no difference to fact that Article 50 will be invoked and we will be leaving the EU.

Many at taxpayers' expense.

It won't make any difference, that's true, but just saying there's no point protesting about something that's going to happen after it has happened.

As someone said last week: the clocks go forward 1 hour this weekend and back 60 years next Wednesday.

Yes it makes them feel better having a good old moan and a walkabout helps quell their anxiety.

We all like a good moan, gets it off your chest

There is a special edition of "Question Time" on tomorrow covering Brexit from Birmingham, should be a good watch as David Davies and Nigel Farage are on the panel, should be a few re-moaners on the panel too for those who are still crying over spilt milk.

Khalid Masood's murder spree last Wednesday had absolutely nothing to do with Brexit but was the action of a crazed individual with a history of violence and drug abuse. And bad body odour. There are, however, two links between what he did and yesterday's anti-Brexit demonstration. The first is the Metropolitan Police who told both organising campaign groups that they would be hard pressed to Police the march and demonstration due to other operational demands including, of course, the ongoing investigation into Masood and anyone connected to him. Upon hearing the Police's concerns, one campaign group acted thoughtfully and responsibly by calling-off their participation; the other did not. Nor did it move the final destination from Parliament Square to an alternative venue such as Hyde Park. That would allow mourners and other concerned citizens - which included Police Officers - to lay bunches of flowers, light candles and other acts of remembrance to their fallen colleague, in a peaceful and calm atmosphere.

This march and demonstration would be just as effective - perhaps more so - next Wednesday, the day the government's formal notification under Article 50 is delivered to Jean-Claude Juncker. That is the day of Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons which is normally packed: who knows, maybe Mrs May would be so struck by the anti-Brexit clamour kicked-up by the protesters outside the Chamber that she gets on the phone to stop the delivery of the Article 50 notice. But I wouldn't bank on it!

It's all about showing respect: something apparently not high on Clegg and Farr0n's list of priorities.

Blame Theresa May then.

https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/03/theresa-may-tells-country-go-business-normally-tomorrow/

To be honest, I think trying to connect people being against the ridiculous Brexit that has been forced upon us by the negative, misererable-arsed, backwards thinking section of British society (aka the majority) with the murderous acts of a raving lunatic is pretty bad taste.

Not him!

Spoiler: But ...

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Did you bother going to yesterday's demonstration and protest along with a few hundred others who are incapable of accepting the democratic will of the majority or are you simply pontificating from your ivory tower whilst trying to grab the moral high ground?

Nope. Waste of time. What's done is done.

I do accept the will of the people. I'm just disappointed to see what sort of people they are.

Oh no, no Nigel, I obviously misheard that he was on, David Davies will do the business, good to see he answers well under pressure.

Should be a good watch, I'm anticipating it will be rather heated debate.