Ken (Mayor of London) to snub Bush with peace party [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

London Evening Standard:

http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/7633526?source=Evening%20Standard


Ken Livingstone courted fresh controversy today by going ahead with a "peace party" for Iraq war protesters when George Bush visits London next week.

The Mayor's plan for a reception for leading critics of the war to topple Saddam Hussein infuriated Downing Street, which fears war protests will overshadow the state visit.


Mr Livingstone declared it would be "shameful" to repeat the policing tactics deployed when the Chinese president came to London in 1989, when demonstrators were shielded from view and had their banners confiscated.

"Those police were actually breaking the law as they took those banners away," said the Mayor. "We are not having any of that."

He insisted it was "inconceivable" that Mr Bush might avoid the protesters. "To create a situation in which perhaps 60,000 people remain unseen would require a shutdown of central London which is just not acceptable."