walk
Thoughts on a second walk
Another November the 5th rolls round and was time to join OH for his little walk. Sadly having just returned from a lovely weeks holiday that would cause those that worry about how others have fun to combust in self righteous horror I had total camera fail due to not thinking to either change batteries or take spares so not photo’s this time. Which is a shame as the turn out was probably twice that of last years and the variations on the Guy theme are really quite not worthy.
Despite our increased numbers the local police and PCSOs didn’t feel there was any need to stop us, or check what we were up to. Though we were kept a close eye on, and the “subtle” radio conversations as we went past various buildings were barely noticeable. Due to a remembrance service recently finished in the Abbey there were an awful lot of military types around, many of whom had had the same idea as us and repaired to the Westminster Arms for some liquid refreshment. They were very tolerant of the bunch of oddly dressed nutters that wondered in off the street to join them. From the bits of other peoples conversations I over heard and the brief chats I had they were generally sympathetic to our motivations. Quite surprising how wide spread was the idea that blowing up the current incumbents of the palace of Westminster would be a good thing and should have been done years ago.
Suitably refreshed we made our way to the palace of Westminster and asked very nicely if we could visit the public gallery. The initial members of the police there didn’t seem terribly keen on this, and didn’t seem to get any keener as their numbers increased. We eventually gathered that a “task team” was being summoned to deal with us, so while they worked that out we toddled off to take a few more pictures assuring those at the gate that we’d be back shortly. Upon our return a person who I assume was the task team spoke to OH about whether we’d remove our masks or not and generally tried to not let us in and ascertain if we were dangerous or harmless nutters. They did eventually concede that we were harmless nutters so allowed us down to the security check. There there was more queuing whilst they made us each divest in turn have our photo’s taken and our belongings scanned and shut away in a cupboard.
I actually have no problems with them asking us to remove our masks and taking our photo’s all rather sensible really. But wigs were also forbidden, I do there have to wonder how good a wig has to be before you’re allowed to wear it (and how did they deal with Mo Mowlam). I’m not quite sure why they care about wigs and masks given just how bad the photo’s on your visitors pass actually are.
Where it started to get a bit more surreal was being told that cloaks aren’t allowed and neither it seems are t-shirts with slogans. As the shirt I was wearing had the hugely seditious slogan of “Remember, remember 5/11″ I was informed I’d have to take it off or turn it inside out. I did ask why and was told “because“. So that’s obviously a well thought out and communicated policy. There’s no mention of this t-shirt policy on the Parliamentary website which does make me suspect somewhat that it was a special rule just for us. They did kindly let me step into a side room occupied by other officers to change my t-shirt (Though they weren’t so thoughtful when I was leaving). As Old Holborn has said the inside of the palace does look a lot like Hogwarts complete with costumed flunkies. More waiting whilst they gave us green forms to hold (we got to fill them in later rather than whilst sitting waiting) and let us upstairs 10 at a time. Half way(ish) up the various flights of stairs there was a room where we got to fill in the forms giving our name, address and nationality which we have to sign to promise to behave. It is worth noting that this information isn’t checked so do feel free to exercise your right to use an alias (For the record and for history buffs I enetered as John Johnson of White Webbs*). These forms were then collected from us at the top of the stairs but an elderly uniformed chap who wrote a number on the back and told us to hand in any bags, cameras, phones books etc. to be kept behind the desk whilst we went to the gallery. Then it was through another metal detector type arch.
The visitors gallery was more than half empty and there hadn’t been that many people past me as I went up stairs so I assume they just wanted to split the nutters up a bit. From a rough count I think there were more nutters in the public gallery than elected nutters debating the ever so important issue of climate change. After a while (and a short while at that) we decided to leave – I would recommend visiting and seeing what clothing/makeup etc. is allowable enjoy the building but if you don’t want to be utterly disillusioned about the business of the main chamber don’t bother going up to the visitors gallery.
Leaving was somewhat easier, apart from for OH and one of our number who got told of for wearing a hat. Though whilst I say somewhat easier there was a slight problem in that whilst they have procedures for taking stuff off you, they don’t really have any for you to get it back. So after a quick query we headed past the sign saying no entry and back to the first check point where a very confused looking security person let us through the door one at a time to get our stuff back (which in my case took some finding despite being in a numbered tray). Once you have your stuff back there is then no provision for you to sort your self out, turn t-shirts back the right way, put wigs back on etc.
We gradually regrouped between the entrance and the exit where those of our number who hadn’t been forced to leave stuff in the first check point game out. More photo’s especially by tourists and during the wait whilst OH was allowed to leave some people took the sensible option of heading to the pub and the two young ladies who’d come down by bus from Newcastle also wandered off unfortunately just before we regrouped. Again whilst loitering in such a fashion the idea that we might be there to blow the place up and that it should have been done years ago seemed popular amongst both a group of workman and passing military types. I begin to suspect that it really isn’t possible to over estimate how disliked those who currently sit in the palace are.
Bidding farewell to the policeman on the gate we headed back to the Westminster Arms to re-acquire people that had gone there, then back to Chandos for some well earned drinks and quite wide ranging conversations. Apart from the obvious I had some great conversations about peak oil, saunas and lawful rebellion. I also managed to get rid of most of my first batch of badges but fear not there will be more (and t-shirts). I’d heartily recommend anyone to join us next year.
Snowolf explains very well what the point of this little walk is, which is something Tom Harris still doesn’t get (I know no shock there). We go for the walk because we can and to show people that we can. I don’t go to get into trouble, and stick one to the man I go because it’s fun and because someone should. If we don’t exercise even our silliest most pointless rights then we’ll lose them. So once a year what does it harm to exercise your right to go for a gentle stroll with good company wearing a silly costume. It’s fun and you meet all sorts of people you wouldn’t otherwise. Despite what some of those that sneer at the endeavour would have you belief those attending aren’t all middle class, middle aged fat white men, and beyond some obvious points of agreement the politics are quite diverse as well.
As a final point I would observe that despite being very obviously very twitchy about a group of costumed people wandering around whitehall and wanting to visit Parliament everyone I dealt with was unfailing polite, some of them even smiled and had a sense of humour. But we definitely didn’t fit in nicely with their procedures and they were to varying degrees not terribly happy at us being there. A special mention must also go to the eastern European lady who was handing out the green forms to us, who politely informed some other visitors that the speaches would be in English as the was in fact England.
update I forgot to mention that when I joined Old Holborn for his little walk last year my aged mother (no really she is) thought I was a fool and just stirring trouble for the sake of it. Today a year a later she wished be the best of luck and was glad I was going just to exercise my right to be an idiot and hopefully remind some people that we were and still can be a free country.
Also read the comments on OH’s other post about the day. Other walkers who’ve written there experience up so far are: Billy Blofeld, Dick Puddlecote, Hairy Chesnuts (though not exactly a write up, but great person to chat to).
(I’ll update that list as I come across more reports).
update
Kevin Boatang thinks we’re all very silly people who’ve no understanding of the history of either Guy Fawkes or V and despite not ever having met most of us has determined we’re a “bunch of egotistical anarchists”
Leg Iron points out that the problem is many people think we’re going to get into trouble for doing nothing wrong which is a problem in itself.
Which nicely ties into the excellent article by Dun Geekin who points out that the important thing is for us to refuse to be afraid.
Almost forgot to link to Mrs Raft at the Daily politics which would have been terribly remiss of me.
Just stumlbed across Guthrums account.
update again
Anna Raccoon recounts how the house has changed over the years she’s been visiting.
Final update
The Register are now reporting it as well. Though they didn’t publish my comment (meanies) but they did correct one of the mistakes I pointed out (The original version claimed it was the 204th Anniversary). Mind interesting that the powers that be are claiming that:
“They were admitted into the public gallery, as they were the year before when they attended.”
As we didn’t try to enter the previous year as it was PMQs and we were being stopped and searched.
Final final update honest
Not born yesterday visited the gallery twice and has a good write up of how their two visits compared.
Well worth reading
I’m quite behind all the cool kids with this one but it’s worth linking to anyway.
If you’ve got a few minutes go and read The Conservative Challenge by Sean Gabb. There’s a lot in it to think about, and articulates many of the reasons why I’m joining Old Holborn for his little walk, yes it’s only symbolic, yes it won’t achieve much – but symbols are important and exercising our legal rights to look silly in a quiet and peaceful fashion is important. It may make people think, or at least wonder what we’re up to, it may give us a chance to explain some of the stuff we’re worried about to other people, and it will give us the chance to remind a few PCSO’s and real police that people do have rights and that some of us will exercise them.
Details of a little walk
It’s that time of year again when it seems like a terribly nice idea to go for a gentle stroll through the heart of the fair city of London, in the good company of a group of like minded people in the traditional walking gear of a mask and cloak.
Note that unlike the “procession” that will be taking place a few days prior, this is just a gentle stroll, not a protest, not a demo or anything as uncivilized as that. It is just a group of like minded people exercising their right to go for a walk in the attire of their choosing.
Full details can be found over at Old Holborns, and if you like that sort of thing I’ve created an un-official (though as this isn’t an organized event I’m not sure how you’d have an official event page) event over on Facebook
As OH says though, don’t bring a phone, don’t bring ID, just bring your outfit cash and a camera.
What are the laws on sedition again?
A rather interesting event has been brought to my attention thanks to Anna Raccoon which really does need to be brought to wider attention. It seems that the Islamic group “Islam for the UK” are planning an openly seditious march that may also be treasonous, as it will be calling for the abolition of Parliament and the monarchy (they’re also calling for Gordon Brown to be thrown out but that’s hard to argue with).
Full details of the march can be found here. The march is on the 31st of October so just before Old Holborns gentle stroll, which will make it very interesting to see how it’s policed and even if it’s allowed to go ahead, as sedition is still illegal.
Go read the whole procession (Not demo obviously because those are naughty) details but mean while some choice highlights:
Undoubtedly, Islam and the Shari’ah have reached new heights in the United Kingdom, Muslim communities up and down the country have brought forth a culture and system that is not only superior to the British way of life but also a shining example of what true subservience to Almighty God can bring to a society drowning in disbelief and oppression.
…
We hereby request all Muslims in the United Kingdom, in Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow and all other places to join us and collectively declare that as submitters to Almighty Allah (SWT), we have had enough of democracy and man-made law and the depravity of the British culture. On this day we will call for a complete upheaval of the British ruling system its members and legislature, and demand the full implementation of Shari’ah in Britain.
Now whilst I do agree with some of what they say, Gordon should go and that the government is indifferent to the populace, I think to borrow a phrase from Pink Floyd that it’s now quite clear where out where these folks really stand. I hope that this march gets lots of publicity both before, during and after the event as how our glorious leaders and beloved police force deal with it will I think be most educational.
What a start
So the “honourable” members are back to their subsidised bars restaurants and hard days of submitting fraudulent expenses claims. So how’s that first day gone? Well Jacqui Smith has read out a grudging apology for being caught claiming that a room at her sisters was her main home, and not the house family live at. But as she’s apologised it’s now all ok, no further action will be taken, not even for claiming for her husbands porn, and no she doesn’t have to give the money back. Which is perfectly reasonable you see, as claiming for an entire house obviously costs just as much as claiming for a room so it doesn’t really matter which she claimed for. So all just a terrible misunderstanding and can we all move on please.
Someone who has at least been asked to pay back the odd 12 grand is former iron chancellor gurning Gordon, along with quite a few others. Though it is to be noted that so far they’ve only been asked, as it seems the person asking exceeded their remit in actually applying the existing rule of expenses having to be actually due to costs incurred doing their job, and not just because they want to build up a property portfolio. Terribly terribly mean of Sir Thomas, after all a grand a year for a gardener hardly goes any where these days.
But it’s all ok as they’ve passed a new law (they’re terribly fond of those) putting an independent government funded body (or qango if you will) in charge of approving authorising their expenses. Fret not though it won’t impact the troughing too much the Lords are utterly exempt from it. There is actually good news in that bill, they managed to not scrap parliamentary privilege. Nor did they (as far as I can tell) get to make new laws covering these accounting errors, as opposed to say existing laws such as those covering fraud.
Alas however whilst parliamentary privilege may still be intact. So that our representatives can safely speak freely and ask awkward questions for their lobbyists constituents, it seems that thanks to the auspices of those bastions of free speech at carter-fuck, we may no longer have the chance to hear about it. In the mean time in case you haven’t heard (and you probably won’t have) it turns out that the way the police dealt with Damian Green MP the other year was not proportionate. The Met have a slightly different take on things.
So what a start to the new troughing season, so time for another walk. One day if we’re really really lucky and all wish very very hard they might take a hint.
(Feel free to steal the crap graphic, I’m working on a better version)
Perambulation again
As the season of mellow fruitfulness descends upon us once again, it returns to mind that this is a delightful time for a genteel stroll amongst the imposing architecture of London. With this in mind it seems that Old Holborn will once more be in town on the 5th November partaking of his with a perambulation to the palace of Westminster. Further it seems that once more he’d not be adverse to others of good company in suitable waling garb, joining him in this leisurely endeavour.
So do please feel free to turn up an enjoy the sights and sounds of our fair capital of an autumnal day. Who know you might even get to meet some of the most charming PCSOs and even real police though be warned they seem to get a might confused at groups of people following government advice and going out for some exercise.
Thoughts from a little walk
This may be an odd sort of first post to my first real journal, so I’ll back fill later, but for now I’m going to stick to the cause of me getting round to trying to write something a bit more useful than I normally do.
The other day I came home early from a holiday where I get to spend several days with some excellent people that I don’t see often enough ( Time, money, circumstances all the usual excuses). I did this to join Old Holborn for his little walk. I had two hopes for the walk, that nothing would happen and that loads of people would be there. Both hopes turned out to be rather futile and I’m still trying to work out which is most depressing, currently the latter is in the lead.
UK terror threat status
- Severe 2010/01/25