Brian is allowed to stay of course, but only if he agrees to police demands that he reduce the size of his protest from the entire south side of the square to 3 metres in any direction. Refusal to comply means he can be arrested at any time, even though he and his lawyer have offered to negotiate the size and nature of his protest.

A consensus emerging amongst Brian's closest supporters is that police are waiting for media interest to die down, prior to making an arrest in the wee, small and probably wet hours when nobody is around. London will wake up to an empty square, the horrific visual reminders of Blair's wars having been whisked away on a Met Police flatbed.

Of course his arrest will lead to his day in court.

And seeing how Brian is now a worldwide folk hero, he is eloquent and he's got plenty to say, that should be a day to savour.