Letter from Philip Beaven (From Swindon Advertiser)

Letter from Philip Beaven

2:33pm Monday 12th January 2009 in Letters

IN Saturday’s Adver there was a picture of three people dressed as members of ABBA, holding placards asking for a cut in tax on savings. They were hoping that Mr Brown would see this on his visit but the paper states that they were moved on before Mr Brown's car arrived.

The reporter didn't feel the need to elaborate but moved on by who I wonder? Was it some jobsworth or was it one of our increasingly Gestapo like police force?

As someone who is interested in animal welfare, I have been moved on by our wonderful police on a number of occasions as it is no longer lawful to protest against animal abuse.

You are also not allowed to demonstrate pro-republican sympathies when one of our useless Royal Family visits.

People of my father’s generation went through a war in order to ensure that ordinary people had democratic rights, but these are being eroded at an alarming rate.

Is it any wonder that people have to resort to direct action because they are denied the right to protest?

PHILIP BEAVEN Merton Avenue Swindon