The Government today announced it was to ban loud protests in a half mile zone around Parliament. Responding to this Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty said:

"So the new listening Government demands silence on Parliament Square! It will take more than that to make us pipe down”.

The ban will cover a half-mile zone as far out as the London Eye, much of the South Bank, St James’ Park and Lambeth Bridge from 1st August.

The new law, part of the Serious Crime and Police Powers Act, was designed to control protests such as Brian Haw's 4-year anti-war vigil which MPs have complained is an eyesore.

Press Office: 0207 378 3656 or 0797 383 1128