The publicity for the new film "V for Vendetta" by the Wachowski brothers of "The Matrix" trilogy fame, is now gearing up.
Incredibly, the film crew took over Parliament Square and Whitehall at night, over the weekend of the 1st to the 3rd of June 2005, (see the offical photos) to stage the scenes where dozens of Guy Fawkes costumed "terrorists / freedom fighters" blow up the Houses of Parliament, an area patrolled by military security forces with armoured vehicles etc.
There were "V for Vendetta" signs, logos and slogans and also the authoritarian Government propaganda such as 'Strength through Unity, Unity through Faith!', and "The Future is Ours".
Is this fiction or a preview of the next NuLabour election campaign ?
Could the permissions from "14 different Government Departments" have been secured, partly due to the influence of Euan Blair, the son of Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was employed as a runner on the film as part of his work experience ?
Is it not ironic , that only two months later, when the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Sections 132 to 138 came fully into force, people were being arrested, prosecuted and convicted for displaying even non-political banners or holding entirely peaceful religous or remembrance ceremonies, without prior written permission from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, having caused no disruption to the security or life in the Designated Area, unlike the film crew ?
Will wearing ir dispalying any "V for Vendetta" merchandise now be enough to get you arrested within the Designated Area ?
Seeing as the photos were taken before the Act came into effect, would any merchandise be classed as a continuing protest & so not be banned?
@ d-notice - if that were true, then any previous protests or demonstrations back through history to 1868, when Parliament Square was created in its present form, by Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the Victorian Palace of Westminster, would be exempt.
Unfortunately it is only Brian Haw etc. who is so exempt, although perhaps a couple of other long running weekly protests might conceivably be also exempt (unttested in court).