Whether John Woodcock, the self styled Lord Walney is still a Government advisor on political extremism is open to question. The Government said on Tuesday that he wasnt but changed that to say the position was ‘under review’ a sort of Yes Minister approach.
On Wednesday Walney was discussing his thoughts on protests (he opposes them) at the London Assembly. He was due to produce a report in 2021 and finally managed to do so earlier this year.
One proposal that there be a charge for protesting in London beyond one-off. This is aimed at climate protesters and those supporting Palestine. Walney had paid lobbying interests opposed to both causes..
The report is mainly built on his personal prejudices so he mentioned again weekly protests on Palestine in London. This is a familiar theme of the right-wing media. In fact the 300,000 strong Palestine protest in London on 5th October was the 20th march in the last 52 weeks. That amounts to a march every three weeks or so.
Walney was told that his proposals were unlawful and unworkable not just by those who support protests but by those who are rather less keen. He appeared to concede that perhaps there were issues…..
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