Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

HURRICANE

Last year Jan and I went to France for our holiday and the year before that Spain, so this year we pushed the boat out and went to Grenada. Within 24 hours of landing back at Gatwick Hurricane Ivan struck this beautiful island and smashed it to pieces, causing 90% devastation.

Having been back at Westminster for 2 weeks now it seems that the turbulence has not been confined to the Caribbean. Mass demonstrations in Parliament Square provoked the police to use their batons in a way that I found totally unacceptable; five hunt protestors crashed into the chamber of the House and turned our world upside down; a Sun reporter posing as a waiter (with false references – unchecked) smuggled the components of a bomb into the Commons without being challenged.

Hurricane Wake-Up Call is sweeping through Britain.
How should we respond? It may be highly inconvenient that thousands of people wanted to come to Westminster to protest. It is expensive to police and very noisy and disruptive for all concerned. But if we lose the right to peaceful protest in Britain, watch out. The policing of the countryside demonstration was heavy-handed and I hope that the independent investigation says so loud and clear.

If Al-Quaeda penetrate our defences and blow up the Palace of Westminster, what does that say about the value we place on our democratic institutions? It is time to put in place 21st century security to deal with a real and present danger.

Of course the electorate must have access to their Members of parliament, but be honest, how many of you have ever trekked all of the way to London just to see yours truly? If you want to see me, I live in the constituency and a phone call is all it takes to fix up a weekend meeting (335666).

Our democracy is the basis of all of our freedoms. Electing those who govern us, the right to free speech, a free press and the rule of law, these are the foundation stones of what makes this nation still the best country in the world. We must not let anybody take it away from us.

Final reminder: there is still time to join my brand new e-focus group – just e-mail me at mail@garystreeter.co.uk and we will be in touch soon, seeking your wisdom on a whole range of issues. The way this new season has started - looks like I’m going to need it!

posted by Nigel on Monday, September 27, 2004