Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn says Parliamentarians look ridiculous when they attack protester Brian Haw

PARLIAMENT Square is a magnificent public place, grassed and open in front of the Palace of Westminster.
Parliament is the home of the elected House of Commons, the un-elected House of Lords. The centre of the nation’s political life.
Historically it was always the scene of public manifestations and protest as the general populace attempted to make their voices heard and their opinions understood.
Members of the Houses of Parliament claimed that they needed to pass freely to Parliament and thus approved the Sessional Orders in 1842 which required the Commissioner of Police to ensure the roads were kept free for members to attend Parliament.
These were later used to prevent any demonstration taking place whilst Parliament was in session.
This state of affairs lasted for decades but was relaxed when organisations started to use the central green area of the Square for demonstrations.
These ranged from opponents of the Chilean dictator Pinochet to the farming lobby.
Indeed a group of farmers spent several months there with a pig called Winston to draw attention to farming issues.
The Countryside Alliance also held a camp there on one occasion in protest against the then proposed ban on hunting.
Brian Haw started his personal vigil in 2001 to protest at the sanctions policy against Iraq.
He has been there over four years and is a daily reminder of the consequences of policies approved by Parliament.
The Select Committee on Administration inquired into the operation of the Sessional Orders and demonstrations and invited me to give evidence together with former Lib Dem MP Jenny Tongue and pro-hunting Tory Nicholas Soames.
It was a strange afternoon as we all supported the right to demonstrate in the square which by no stretch of the imagination prevented MPs entering the building.
This committee did not accept our view and proposed a system whereby and demonstration required application to the police at least six days in advance.
Eventually a new law was proposed which banned the use of loud hailers and required all demonstrators to apply to the police. This was dubbed the “Brian Haw Law” by those of us keen to protect what is a traditional right.
Colleagues in Parliament asserted he was untidy and it gave a bad impression of the place to visitors.
Personally I find this notion absurd; politics is about debate and passion and not removing all MPs from any contact with the outside world.
There have been several attempts to remove Brian from the square by Westminster Council. At the first attempt Tony Benn and I gave evidence in his support and the case was dismissed thus leaving Brian there.
The legislation came into force on Monday conveniently during the Parliamentary recess.
Brian dramatically won his right to remain there in court last week and thus becomes a regular fixture having been there long before the new law was even thought of.
However, the issue of the right to demonstrate is an important one and to prevent all demonstration within reach of Parliament seems to me to be contrary to all notions of free speech.
If this law remains in force it sets an unfortunate precedent of reducing the right to demonstrate anywhere.
Last Monday, with Parliament in recess, a small demonstration of about 200 people came to Parliament Square to assert the right to demonstrate.
A low key and very quiet meeting continued for about an hour until 50 police came and arrested some people and halted its progress. I was there to congratulate Brian Haw and assert that a basic and precious right is to demonstrate and influence people.
All of our rights to free speech owe their origins to the courage of those who demanded them in past centuries. Parliament makes itself look ridiculous when it is offended by Brian Haw’s presence. As he puts it, war and wreckage are untidy, but more lethal.