It does have all the signs of yet more security theatre being done more to make a point than achieve anything.

Though of course with a more genuine security hat on you do need to do such searches as close to the time as possible, but would he really have objected if they’d asked nicely. He’s been there 9 years so that’s what 2 state openings before where they’ve not had to arrest him. If it was his of their behaviour that changed this time I suspect we’ll never know – perhaps the larger camp made them a bit more gung-ho in getting their message across.

I like the Banksy idea, perhaps if they don’t let him back we could get him sprayed on the pavement and have people take turns protesting for him – like the installations on the fourth column. Loosing such a visible simple of a person determined to hold the state to account would/will be a huge loss. It may not be the most effective protest ever but it has helped keep things on the agenda that might otherwise have been brushed under the carpet.

Hmm, wonder if people would be up for Brian Haws masks (rather than guy fawkes) if they don’t let him back “I’m Brian!” “No I’m Brian!” etc.

That Sunday Brian was sitting on his fold-up chair next to his pop-up tent with his display of cards. They were carefully off the pavement – he doesn’t obstruct anybody. Behind him, standing in a circle and having a chat, were about half a dozen assorted coppers. They were ignoring him. Had they wanted to search his tent it would have taken two of them to hold him down while the other four or five had a good old rummage, maybe called in a sniffer dog. Traffic was light and few people were watching, so that was the day to do it.

I walked across the green to have a look at the stonework on the Supreme Court. The police noticed me but weren’t interested as somebody reading the inscriptions on the new benches is very much to be expected.

Haw is untidy and even his supporters admit there may be something not quite right in his head, but he’s a special kind of statue, installation or artwork in his own ragged right, rather than a squatter. He reminds me that a man already half-mad was able to see what I could not; that we were being lied to. He saw it before it happened. The House is has had some personnel changed, but most of the people who voted for that war are still coming and going from there. Too many of them want to forget they are implicated.

What is needed is a standard stencil in the Banksy mode so that Brian can appear anywhere and keep reminding me not to get fooled again.