Greens join Camp for Climate Action

The Camp for Climate Action will took place in London from today onwards. Activists gathered at six locations:

- the head office of BP in London's St James' Square

- the Bank of England

- Stratford railway station, near the 2012 Olympics site- outside mining company Rio Tinto, in Aldermanbury Square

- Stockwell Tube station, to mark the death of Jean Charles de Menezes

- cyclists massed outside the headquarters of Shell on the South Bank, near Waterloo railway station

By text message, activists were then told to converge on the site for the week-long camp.

A number of leading Greens will be at the Camp for Climate Action, among them:

- Molly-Scott Cato, our economics spokesperson, will be on a panel on Friday to debate whether capitalism is sustainable and if not what should replace it.

- Caroline Lucas will be in workshop on Saturday, looking at growth/wellbeing issues.

Jenny Jones, the Green Party home affairs spokesperson, will attend the camp, and was highly critical of the policing around the G20 protests in London. Jones said, in advance of the Camp for Climate Action:

"Anyone who cares about civil liberties will understand how important peaceful gatherings and protests are, and how increasingly difficult the police have made it. So we will be judging the police's behaviour at the Climate Camp."

"Much has been promised by the Met, in terms of a softly softly approach, which includes giving the camp their own safer neighbourhood team, but now they have to live up to those promises, and hopefully regain some of the respect they've lost recently."

Police awarded for bravery

The Prime Minister has paid tribute to the dedication of police in keeping the public safe, during a reception to mark the annual Police Bravery Awards.

Four police officers were voted the bravest officers in England and Wales.

Metropolitan Police officers PS Stephen Hayter, PC Barry Leban, PC Richard Cousins and PC Michael Carroll won the award after a regular stop and search turned into a brutal gun attack in North London.

Gordon and Sarah Brown and Home Secretary Alan Johnson hosted a reception in the Downing Street garden for 60 officers and their partners.

The Prime Minister said the public value everything “our brave officers have done”.

“”It is a privilege to welcome you here. This is our chance to thank you for all you do for the security of the British public.”

Police Federation Chairman for England and Wales Paul McKeever said the officers are all deserving winners.

“We are extremely proud of their dedication to protecting us all from harm and threat. Thanks to these officers and their colleagues up and down the country, we can all feel safer on the streets and in our homes.”

Jenny Jones welcomes mayor's approach to G20 policing questions

Jenny Jones, Green Party member of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), today spoke warmly of the outcomes of the MPA's discussion of the Met's handling of the G20 protests.

She said:

"I welcome the creation of the civil liberties panel, and the fact that its first job will be to examine the policing of the G20 protests. The terms of reference for this panel incorporated all the concerns put forward in the two motions that went to the MPA."

"I feel that the London Mayor has listened to the concerns of Londoners and achieved a consensus about the way forward."

Ms Jones, who has been a Green Party member of the London Assembly and the MPA for nine years, continued:

"Part of our examination will cover the areas of major concern, like the level of force used against the peaceful protestors at the climate camp in Bishopsgate."

The Met's report to the police authority refers to organisers of the camp being avowed non-violent demonstrators and the success of the police's containment policy in keeping out violent elements (also known as kettling). Concerns remain that the police have failed to provide any evidence of any violence at the camp. On the contrary, video footage shows only passive resistance, said Ms Jones.

She continued: "I think that the use of riot shields and batons against peaceful protestors was fundamentally wrong and we have to keep on challenging the Met on their use of tactics like riot police, dogs and kettling."

But she welcomed:

* The Met's acceptance of her invitation to meet the climate camp protestors and include them within any review.
* Clear statements from the police that photographing officers is legal, and that the police cannot require protestors to delete photographs, or hand over mobile phones at these events, by reference to anti-terrorism legislation (a paper clarifying this policy is to be produced soon).
* Acceptance that officers should not systematically stop people on their way to a protest, asking for their names, addresses and even ID.

Met G20 tactics "fundamentally wrong" - MPA motion

A motion has been tabled for the agenda of the next public meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority on the 30th May, 10am at City Hall.

The motion recognizes that policing the G20 demonstration on the 1st April was:

"difficult, but believes that the strategy and tactics adopted by the Metropolitan Police were fundamentally wrong."

The motion outlines two key criteria which the current review by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) needs to meet in order to restore confidence in the police:

"[it] must take evidence in a public forum from all concerned, including protesters, and closely examine other recent protests to consider the growing concern that police tactics have become more aggressive in recent years."

The motion outlines six principles which the review of public order policing must be based upon and concludes that:

"If these principles are not fully incorporated into the HMIC review and any recommendations that arise from it, then this Authority will re-examine what further steps need to be taken, including the possibility of instigating a further review."

Jenny Jones AM, Green Party member of the MPA and the party's home affairs spokesperson, said yesterday evening:

"As more and more stories flood out, the reputation of the police has declined with every slow motion replay of the latest corroborating video footage."

She continued:

"It would be easy to think that this misbehaviour is a sudden and worrying new development. Yet there is evidence that the G20 policing debacle is the result of repeated failures by police watchdogs, the media and politicians to deal with incidence of violent and repressive behaviour from the police in recent years."

"As a member of the Met Police Authority for the last nine years, I have been a critical friend of the police, defending them when I see the coverage is unfair, but making it clear when I think they have got it wrong. On 1st April, they got it disastrously wrong. They took away the liberty, the civil liberties and the human rights of hundreds of people who were protesting peacefully. Who had every right to protest and who needed the police's support. What the police did to the fluffy, happy, musical, picnicking Climate Camp part of the protest was violent and unprovoked."

Huhne: Police warned on hiding identification numbers three years ago

The Liberal Democrats have highlighted an IPCC report which criticised the Police for obscuring them during the anti-hunting Bill protests in 2004, reinforcing the Inspector of Constabulary comments that the Police should always display their identification numbers

The IPCC report in the pro-hunting demonstration in 2004, stated that: "Two such areas were quickly defined: firstly the failure of some officers to comply with an instruction to wear black epaulettes on their yellow fluorescent jackets, thus ensuring easy identification. This is a managed issue; a sergeant is attached to a unit of six constables and this should be a relatively easy task to comply with."

Another example of the Police without identifying numbers at the Kingsnorth protest

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne went on to say:

"Three years ago, the IPCC raised concerns that some officers were obscuring their identification numbers during the pro-hunting demonstrations.

"It is deeply disappointing that this problem raised its ugly head again during the most recent protests, particularly when we were given firm assurances that it would not.

"There have also been reports of this unacceptable tactic being used at the Heathrow and Kingsnorth demonstrations. It has got to stop. Senior officers must reassert discipline among those policing demonstrations."

The hypocrite and the thug: sounds like politics to me...but its not!

I have a number on rules that I try to follow in life. Amongst others, I Don't eat yellow snow, don't kiss women who have stubble on their faces, don't cross the motorway on foot during rush hour, don't borrow money from friends and don't hit women whatever they do. These rules have served me well throughout my life and I think I have lead a reasonable existence so far as a result.

I was disgusted to see TV footage over the last couple of days of a police sergeant (without his ID number displayed on his shoulder as he should've done) at the G20 protests in London the other week who hit a woman half his size first with a backhand worthy of Nadal and then with his telescopic kosh hit her another two times to the legs. The man is a thug, a cad, a coward and is representative of much that is wrong in our society (well...other than the stuff Gordon Brown is representative of...and there might be some cross over!!!). I thought that this situation couldn't be any more depraved and sickening.

That is until the woman who was the victim, the anti-capitalist protester who was there to make a point that money was the root of all evil in the world decided that this was her golden ticket to the big time. Social parasite Max Clifford was close at hand and has helped her sell her story for £50k (as reported in the papers). She is also preparing a compensation case against the police (which will undoubtedly run into the £millions) because she is claiming all kinds of anxieties and distress.

The thing that really upsets me is that the thug and the hypocrite only got together because a group of twenty wanted to get together for a bit of dinner. As a result of this much hyped dinner party I'm a bit more angry and a bit more disappointed in my fellow man and woman, neither of whom I would ever dream of hitting or suing.

Green Party asks more questions of Met on policing

Jenny Jones, the Home Affairs spokesperson for the Green Party (and a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority) responds to the release of footage of a police officer striking a woman protester on the 2nd April 2009:

"This new video footage confirms what many of us knew, that the assault on Ian Thomlinson was far from being an isolated incident during the G20 protest."

"I have been copied in to a large number of the reports of alleged police unprovoked assaults and misbehaviour which are now on the desk of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. It's time for Paul Stephenson to restore public trust by showing that lessons will be learned. The use of kettling has to be curtailed and all officers seen acting unprofessionally must be traced and disciplined. Any attempt to avoid accountability by hiding police uniform numbers, destroying video images, or collusion over statements, must be severely dealt with."

"I'm writing to the Mayor of London with some ideas about how to improve policing protests for the future, but I have two further questions for the Met:

1) Will they search their own video footage of 1st April for similar police abuse of peaceful protesters?

2) Will they revise their tactic of snatching protesters' cameras and camera phones?"

URL: http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/15-04-2009-further-G20-policing-questions.html

MPA vice chair Kit Malthouse responds to commissioner's request for HMIC G20 public order policing review

'I welcome the Commissioner's swift and decisive action in asking the HMIC to review the Public Order policing tactics used during G20, which will also report to the MPA.

'It is vital that the police retain the trust of Londoners and a thorough review by the HMIC will be crucial to help inform conclusions about how public order events should be policed in the future.

'The most recent footage of G20 is alarming and I also fully support the Commissioner referring the matter to the IPCC and suspending the officer concerned pending the outcome of the independent investigation.

'The MPA has already convened an urgent meeting of its members to review tactics employed during G20 protests and will be questioning the Commissioner about this matter in public at its meeting on 30 April.

'While we take this matter extremely seriously, it is worth pointing out that the Metropolitan Police are responsible for maintaining public order during dozens of protests throughout the year. The vast majority pass off peacefully, and the recent demonstration by the Tamil Community in Parliament Square is an example of this. Nevertheless we cannot afford to skate over even isolated incidents and must get to the truth and learn the lessons of both this incident, that involving Ian Tomlinson, and the G20 generally.'

A slow motion disaster: Media coverage of Tomlinson death is reminiscent of McCanns in Portugal

The slow motion saga that the media is unfolding before our very eyes is almost reminiscent of the irresponsible and piecemeal way that they covered the disappearance of Madeline McCann.

The first I heard of Mr Timlinson was as an unnamed protester who died at the G20 protests last week. Police battled to save him under a barrage of missiles and bottles from other violent and rowdy protesters.

Then it turned out that he wasn't even there to protest. He was a 50 year old newspaper vendor who had been caught up in the "riots" on his way home from work. He was a great guy according to all his friends and he would be leaving behind a wife and grown up kids.

A couple of days ago it was suggested that he was in fact beaten by police as he tried to get home and then all of a sudden there it was...all caught on camera. He was blatantly beaten...twice it turns out. At this point I was looking forward to writing a scathing article about police brutality and failure of the state (for a change). Immediately after the attack he looked up from the floor in confusion and bewilderment. When he got up to get away, I felt sick as I saw the man stumbling and looking confused, innocent, vulnerable and violated.

In the morning news today it was announced that the police officer caught on camera beating Mr. Tomlinson has come forward and has been suspended until the IPCC can conduct a full enquiry. A bit strange I thought, a bit brave perhaps and in reality absolutely inevitable I suppose. His family who by this time had made double page spreads in most of the national papers had demanded answers and it looked like they were going to get them...with a well deserved lynching.

Then the evening news breaks that Tomlinson had in fact been at the protests for a while and wasn't perhaps on his way home from work at all but for a slightly different reason. He was said to be inebriated. In fact the article also said that he had been estranged from his previously stated loving wife and family for a while and was living in some kind of half-way house for recovering alcoholics. He was wearing a Millwall football top and had been spotted all over the protests at varying times causing trouble and being manhandled by the police as a result. At one point he stood in front of a police vehicle and refused to move when asked and then ordered to do so. The article seemed to suggest that he was in fact there in the spirit of trouble and this is where I really started to wonder what on earth is going on.

At this point I wouldn't be surprised if the next story contains a statement from Jacqui Smith in which she announces that he has links to Al Quaida and is in fact Bin Ladden's number two in Europe, or that the policeman who beat him was Sir Fred Goodwin. It's a slow motion mess. We need to leave it alone until the IPCC and other officially appointed and authorised bodies report on findings based on full facts, otherwise what's the bloody point of having them. We might as well decide everything on the limited information and hunches that the media give us. It clearly worked well in the case of the McCanns! didn't it? I think the papers only lost a couple of £million in libel damages if my memory serves me correctly.

Either way, when the smoke and mirrors are taken away, I still struggle with the fact that nothing that came out of the G20 meeting is worth the death of anyone, however innocent and loved or wretched they are. The point is that we shouldn't be in any kind of position whatsoever where people are dying for politics in this country. Too many people died in the last century (as a consequence of economic failure) protecting the freedom and political values that are taken for granted today. If the loss of life at the hands of the authorities whilst exercising ones right to disagree with the government and protest, to get home or simply get drunk is still possible then we're no further forward than we were 100 years ago and that both makes me sad and mad!!!

Howarth: Full-scale criminal investigation into G20 protest death needed

The video which shows the man who died at last week’s G20 protests in London being hit from behind by a police officer, has been described by David Howarth as "sickening".

Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Howarth, who attended the protests to monitor police behaviour, went on to say:

"This video clearly shows an unprovoked attack by a police officer on a passer by. It is sickening.

David went on to call for criminal investigation to find out the facts of the incident:

"There must be a full-scale criminal investigation. The officer concerned and the other officers shown in the video must immediately come forward.

"Questions must also be asked about the hyping up of the prospect of violence in the run up to the demonstrations. An atmosphere was created in which this sort of conduct became more likely."

[Green Mail] "The police here are stopping peaceful protest"

Jenny Jones, Green Party Home Affairs spokesperson and London Assembly member, has called senior police in the Met "complacent" over their belief their officers behaved professionally at all times during policing of the G20 protests. Jones labelled the aggressive tactics used by police offices to manage G20 demonstrations as a threat to public safety.

Jones is calling for officers who were needlessly violent to be suspended from public order policing, pending the outcome of an inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Jenny Jones: "The police's primary objective at all times should be to maintain community safety. Their management of the G20 protests clearly failed in this respect. Any officer involved in needlessly violent actions should be identified and suspended from public order policing pending the outcome of ongoing inquiries."

On Newsnight (7th April 2009), Jones added that:

"Kettling [of protesters] is probably reaching a point where it's a very violent thing to do, and you're beginning to punish the protesters, and potentially, completely innocent people."

"Kettling could create problems of its own -- people get crammed in, and begin behaving differently."

"The Met used to rush in and take troublemakers out of the crowd, and I think that was effective. Treating everybody as guilty is not the way forward."

"Several people have said to me that they won't ever go to demonstrations ever again. That's putting off the very people who want to be there, the people who are not lawbreakers, and want to protest peacefully. The police here are stopping peaceful protest and that is clearly against the law."

[Green Mail] G20 outcome "a kick in the teeth for British industry and global sustainability, " says top Green

Surveying the outcomes of this week's G20 summit, one of Britain's leading Green politicians today called the summit's outcomes a "kick in the teeth for British industry and global sustainability."

Darren Johnson AM, Green Party spokesperson on trade and industry, said:

"British industry needs a shot in the arm, but it's been given a kick in the teeth.

"Gordon Brown's approach, in Britain and globally, has been a huge missed opportunity. In Britain he's pushing for jobs-poor, environmentally dubious technology in the form of so-called 'clean coal,' and equally jobs-poor but dangerous technology in the form of nuclear. And on the world stage he's managed to pull off a global stimulus that includes less than seven per cent climate-friendly investment." (1)

Mr Johnson, a London Assembly member since 2000 and the Green Party's parliamentary candidate for Lewisham Deptford, continued:

"Britain's over-reliance on financial services has been a spectacular failure. It's time we re-built the real economy. There are a raft of emerging technologies waiting for government investment to kick-start the Green industrial revolution that will give us the economy of the future - a balanced economy that includes heavy industry and self-reliance on energy. We have a golden opportunity to beat the recession and the climate crisis in one - and we're wasting it."

**UK carbon boost exceeds climate-friendly stimulus**

Darren Johnson's comments reflected those of the broader progressive movement. Glen Tarman, chair of the Put People First coalition of trade unions and NGOs, said yesterday that while the G20 had made progress on some critical issues, there were also "missed opportunities, especially on building a green economy" (2).

Friends of the Earth's executive director Andy Atkins accused G20 leaders of "short-changing the planet" (3).

Meanwhile Kim Cartensen, director of WWF's Global Climate Initiative, was telling journalists at the UN climate talks in Bonn: "Unfortunately, the packages reveal inadequate incentives for greener technologies or any pronounced move away from high-carbon investment." A joint study by WWF and E3G found that for the UK, the amount of carbon-intensive stimulus has actually exceeded the amount devoted to climate protecting measures (4).

And Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, said: "I'm afraid some of the European stimulus packages are still relatively vague on the criteria that would create a green new deal dimension" (5).

**G20 "has put back chances of stopping runaway warming"**

In today's _Independent on Sunday_, widely-respected environment editor Geoffrey Lean said: "It was meant, in Gordon Brown's words, to strike 'a global green new deal' to tackle climate change and pull the world out of recession at the same time. In fact, the G20 meeting has sharply put back the chance of an international pact to stop global warming running out of control" (6).

Darren Johnson concluded: "Every time we see evidence of progress we also see evidence that governments are dragging their feet. They don't seem to understand that the policies we need for tackling climate change will bring huge social and economic benefits.

"We need more Greens in elected office, because we need to push parliaments and assemblies and local councils towards a better understanding and a better set of policies."

Death of Ian Tomlinson: did police "kettling" of demonstrators contribute to death of innocent man?

Jenny Jones, the Metropolitan Police Authority member who has formally complained over police tactics during the G20 demonstrations, has spoken out again today (1).

Ms Jones, a Green Party member of the London Assembly and her party's spokesperson on home affairs, said today:

"I'm very concerned about reports gradually coming out about the death of Ian Tomlinson.

"He appears to have been an innocent man. Did he get caught up in attempts by police and dog handlers to clear this area? Are the reports that he fell while being chased by police true?

"And did the policy of 'kettling' demonstrators contribute to his death?"

She continued: "I will also be seeking reassurances from the Commissioner that there will be no possibility of collusion amongst police officers over statements regarding his death and the IPCC iinvestigation. This was one of the recommendations from the IPCC following the Jean Charles inquiry."

**Eyewitness to death of Ian Tomlinson**

Meanwhile reports have continued to come in to the Green Party's central office from party members who were at the demonstration - including a report from a Manchester Green who watched as Ian Tomlinson died (2). Gayle O'Donovan said today:

"The behaviour of the police was the worst I have seen on any demonstration. Late in the evening we got a call from a friend trapped in the police cordon outside the Bank of England. He had been there for several hours in the heat with no water after receiving a head injury. We were concerned for our friend and others trapped in these conditions. We wanted to bring them water but the police, for reasons best known to themselves, would not allow us to give it out.

"A few minutes later we crossed the road and saw several medics begin CPR on a man lying on the ground. We later found out this to be Mr Tomlinson, the man who died. I certainly didn't see any of the paramedics being pelted with bottles or stones, as was reported by the police.

"It was later divulged that Mr Tomlinson was on his way home from work and probably not a protester. I believe he most likely became trapped due to police tactics on the day. The police were indiscriminate about who they corraled. They shut off an area trapping everyone inside. Parents and children, the elderly and passers-by can often get caught up."

Ms O'Donovan concluded, "The tactic's known as 'kettling' because of the effect it has on those enclosed - basically it raises the temperature and makes an outbreak of anger far more likely. It is a dangerous tactic that I think must now be investigated."

Labour's economic mess will still be there after G20 leaves town

George Osborne welcomed many of the measures passed at the G20 Summit, but warned that Britain will be clearing up Labour’s economic mess “long after” the world leaders leave the country.

The Shadow Chancellor praised the decision to increase the resources available to the International Monetary Fund, but said it was “a shame” that the Doha trade round was not completed.

He explained that the $1 trillion programme to tackle the crisis was “a trillion dollars of loans, credit lines and guarantees” - and did not, therefore, amount to a fiscal stimulus:

“That is exactly as it should be. It is a vindication of the argument made by the Conservative Party – and it must mean that the Chancellor now pays attention to the advice from the Governor of the Bank of England and rules out a second significant fiscal stimulus in the Budget.”

George stressed that the British people would be asking what happens once the world leaders leave Britain:

“No trillion dollar boost for the IMF and trade finance will help us deal with a trillion pound national debt that we are leaving to our children thanks to this Government. The truth is Britain will be clearing up the economic mess created by this Government long after the G20 show leaves town.”

Global Plan for Recovery and Reform

G20 leaders have committed to make an additional $1.1 trillion available to help the world economy through the crisis and to restore credit, growth and jobs.

Leaders of the world’s major economies also pledged to “clean up” the global banking system while committing not to resort to protectionism.

Announcing the outcome of the G20 Summit, Gordon Brown said the parties at the meeting had drawn up six pledges to shorten the recession.

These included repairing the financial system to restore lending, and doing “what it takes” to restore global growth.

They also pledged to fund and reform international financial institutions, act decisively to kick-start international trade, and to build an inclusive, green and sustainable recovery.

The Prime Minister said:

“We will not hesitate as long as people are losing their jobs and their homes to make the difference that we can by improving their prosperity. Today’s actions of course will not immediately solve the crisis. But we have begun the process by which they will be solved.”

Gordon Brown added:

“These are not just a single collection of actions. This is a collective action – people working together at their best.”

The measures that leaders agreed to in the statement titled Global Plan for Recovery and Reform included:

- trebling resources available to the International Monetary Fund to $750 billion

- ensuring $250 billion of support for trade finance

- using the additional resources from agreed IMF gold sales for concessional finance for the poorest countries

- establishing a new Financial Stability Board (FSB) with a strengthened mandate to collaborate with the IMF to provide early warning of macroeconomic risks

- extending regulation and oversight to all systemically important financial institutions, instruments and markets, including hedge funds

- taking action against non-cooperative jurisdictions, including tax havens

- calling for the heads and senior leadership of the international financial institutions to be appointed through an open, transparent, and merit-based selection process

- refraining from raising new barriers to investment or to trade in goods and services

(DECC) Ed Miliband statement on G20

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband said:

"The Summit communique makes building a green and sustainable economy one of the six core commitments of economic recovery made by the G20 countries, and 'accelerating the transition to a green economy' one of the goals of fiscal expansion.

"The leaders also agreed a strong commitment to achieving a deal at Copenhagen - the first time all major countries have collectively done so.

"This provides an excellent platform for discussions at the upcoming Major Economies Forum. The Prime Minister welcomed the decision by President Obama to re-establish the forum including a Leaders' Summit to discuss climate change.

"These are good outcomes, establishing the central role of climate change in economic policy even in the midst of this financial and economic crisis."

The glitz of G20 is over - now we must focus on Britain

The G20 has been in town, and London has been full of motorcades and police outriders.

Many of the agreements reached by the G20 are right and good, although I think it's a great shame that no timetable was set for getting the Doha trade round completed.

The one thing that Gordon Brown has been endlessly calling for is yet more debt-funded fiscal stimulus in the UK - so I was relieved that he was not able to use the G20 meeting to justify this. The warning by the Governor of the Bank of England last week made clear that Britain just can't afford it.

But now we must focus on Britain and the families and businesses struggling so hard to get through this recession. The glitz and glamour of this week must seem very remote to the small businessman who still can't secure the credit to stay afloat - or the mother worrying if she'll be able to keep a roof over her children's heads.

This week I also had the chance to discuss the economy - and other issues - with President Obama, and the Presidents of Mexico, Indonesia and South Korea, as well as the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and the Czech Republic.

It is rare, in Opposition, to have the chance to meet a large number of leaders of other countries in a few days. The meetings gave me an insight into how other countries are coping with the recession - and the chance to discuss key issues like Afghanistan and Iran.

Sam also met with Michelle Obama, and was very struck by how friendly and down to earth she was.

But while the G20 was of course the main event of the week, I'm sure that the subject of MPs expenses has also been discussed in the pubs and bars up and down the country.

I used PMQs to ask the Prime Minister for an urgent meeting - with the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg - to try and resolve what is a deeply damaging issue for all politicians.

Gordon Brown has agreed to that meeting, but still seems set on the idea of waiting for an independent review. I feel strongly that we've gone beyond that point. Trust and belief in politics is being eroded on an almost daily basis by the drip-drip effect of more scandals.

We badly need political leadership to sort this out. That cannot wait until after the next election.

Have a good weekend.

G20 protests: police behaviour "disproportionate and provocative" say Greens

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP has described the tactics used by the Metropolitan Police at yesterday's G20 protests as "disproportionate and provocative."

Throughout today, reports had been coming in from Greens who had been involved in the protest.

One party member involved said she had "returned shaken and appalled at the policing tactics employed at the G20 protests."

Like many others, she described the way lines of police officers had kept groups of peaceful demonstrators "penned-in" for hours without access to water or toilets. She said:

"It is only thanks to my NUJ press pass that I managed to (eventually) escape the terrifying crush imposed by aggressive police. By that point I had spent at least two hours rammed in with other peaceful rotesters, bursting for the loo and battling against a resurgence of a phobia of being trapped in tight crowds."

Another Green Party member involved in the demonstration said: "In thirty-one years of active participation in peaceful street demonstrations I have NEVER before been close to the threat of being trapped by police."

Darren Johnson AM commented today: "A number of activists have already fed-in similar experiences and I agree that this is completely inappropriate policing tactics. While they need to act swiftly to tackle any violence it is wrong and totally counter-productive to treat the vast majority of wholly peaceful protestors in this way."

This morning Jenny Jones AM, who had acted as an official observer with the police but who was denied the opportunity to go and observe where she wanted to, was promised a full opportunity to question the Metropolitan Police about their tactics.

Meanwhile Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP was receiving reports from people who had been at the Climate Camp, including the following allegations against the police:

* That no warning was given to the camp that they were about to be contained - so, for example, families with babies and children were not given the opportunity to leave.
* That when the police attacked the camp to take away the sound system and move people on, no warning was given and nobody was given the opportunity to leave of their own accord.
* That when the police entered the camp a second time, people were sitting down with their hands in the air being very passive - but the police dragged, kicked, punched and hit people with shields to move them away from the area and disperse them.

At around 2 o'clock this afternoon (Thursday) an armed police unit reportedly raided a convergence centre on Earl's Street. The officers, who did not have a search warrant, claimed they were acting under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Caroline Lucas commented: "There seems to be a good deal of evidence that the police used tactics that were inappropriate.

"The law on preventing a breach of the peace should not be used as an excuse to deny people a right to demonstrate in a peaceful and law-abiding manner. And it definitely shouldn't be used as an excuse for mass detention of demonstrators who, in many cases, just wanted to go home."

She concluded: "I think the police should provide evidence of the basis on which they are apparently using anti-terrorism legislation to act against peaceful legitimate protesters."

Cameron hails "productive" meeting with Obama

David Cameron stressed the Conservatives have much “common ground” with Barack Obama’s administration after meeting the US President ahead of the G20 Summit.

The two men discussed economic and foreign policy at a private meeting described by David as “productive” and “excellent”.

Afterwards, David praised Obama’s personal qualities, saying, “He is a very easy person to talk with and exchange views with.”

And he stressed, "(Barack Obama) is an incredibly impressive politician and leader but he is also an extremely personable human being and someone it is easy to get on with and strike up a relationship with."

Howarth: G20 policing must not be heavy-handed or provocative

A delegation of Liberal Democrat MPs will be on the ground in the City of London tomorrow to observe and monitor the policing of the G20 protests.

It is hoped that their presence will help to defuse any escalation in tensions between police and protesters, as well as providing credible witnesses to any abuse of police powers.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice SecretaryDavid Howarth, who is organising the delegation, said:

“We do not want to see a repeat of the policing of last year’s camp at Kingsnorth, which was disproportionate, heavy-handed and provocative.

“I was encouraged to hear the Metropolitan police talking seriously about proportionality when I met them today.

“I very much hope that the rights of the protesters to make their important point peacefully will be fully respected.”