[accyman]

isnt it a bit counter productive to have to ask permission to stage a protest ?

dear mr cameron i wish to stage a protest is that ok?

mr cameron - err no not today iv got a headache now go away .

i thought the whole idea of freedom of speech and the right to protest was that you didnt have to ask permission to do so

the two most successful protests i can think of are the polltax and fuel blockade protests and their success i would suggest was down to the government not been aksed for permission to hold them

mind you good old tony blair soon made sure it could never happen again and made protesting an act of terrorism so even if you use your right to protest you can end up been arrested as a terrorist and held longer without charge than what you would for mugging an old lady.