Tony Blair set out new plans today for a nuclear power policy, as him and other cabinet ministers attended a Labour Party forum, at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham. The conference centre is based at Nottingham University, where students jumped into action after it was leaked to Nottinghamshire Indymedia that Tony Blair was to visit the Uni. A call out for a demonstration, meeting at 10am at the Portland Building (on Notts Uni campus) was supported by a number of local campaign groups including the Students Union, Nottingham Stop the War, Nottingham Student Peace Movement, Lenton Anarchist Forum and the arts activism collective the Mischief Makers.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | photogallery
Read: report and timeline
From the newswire: Union pushes for urgent energy reform | Prime Minister visits Nottingham University :: Surveillance Operations | Prime Minister visits Nottingham University :: piccys 1 | Prime Minister visits Nottingham University :: piccys 2 | Pic's of Tony Blair visit in Nottingham | Blair hypocrisy over nukiller power | PM rallies for nuclear power in Nottingham | Blair to visit Nottingham Uni THIS Saturday
Background links: Greenpeace target climate changer Blair at Downing Street | Blair nuclear announcement scuppered | Meacher condemns pro-nuclear 'spin' | Blair Reignites Nuclear Debate - American lobbying adds to pressure | Blair must not back new nuclear power plants
Report: Up to 100 people, including the President and the Social Justice Officer of the Student Union marched down from the Union Building and managed (due to a clever diversion through some woodland) to stage a sit-in protest and block the front entrance to the conference centre for an hour and a half, while the shouting and screaming could be heard in the Labour Party meeting. The police penned in the group, including some children. Dozens of police vans filled up the streets on campus. Although no-one got arrested, various people were stopped and searched under section 60. After it was leaked that the PM was to meet at the uni, various groups met up to spontaniously organise to counter this meeting, which was meant to take place in secret. Some affinity group actions were planned but were made impossible due to the heavy police presence. Nevertheless, the word about Tony Blair coming to campus spread around the university like wildfire, resulting in a good turnout for the demonstration, something the police and Labour Party officials did not expect. At about 13:20, after rain, an hour and a half of being penned in by the police and Tony Blair leaving in a high speed convoy from the back entrance of the conference, it seemed the end of an exciting and wet day which seemed to have left people inspired that something was pulled off within 48hrs notice.
Timeline of events:
[09:15] Conference centre heavily guarded by scores of police vans and university security.
[10:08] Around 50 people have gathered at the Portland building for a demonstration towards the conference centre.
[10:35] Demonstration leaves for conference centre.
[10:55] Using a diversion through some woodland on campus, while still escorted by lots of police, the demonstration manages to blockade the entrance to the cenference centre.
[11:10] The demonstration is penned in by police. No one is allowed to leave.
[11:15] Someone outside the pen, handing out flyers to conference delegates is 'temporarily arrested'.
[11:20] A group of protesters at the Central University Library are spreading the word about what's going on. Announcements are made at various places on campus.
[11:30] More people start to gather outside the pen, supporting tthe protesters who are still penned in by police while having a sit in at the conference centre entrance.
[12:00] Various people outside the pen are being searched by police under section 60. Some are being held and questioned, but not arrested.
[12:10] People are negotiating with police about being able to leave as a group. Some children are still being held within the pen. It has started to rain.
[12:30] People are told they are allowed to leave, but are still being stopped by police. At an attempted break out, the police push people back in the pen, using force.
[12:35] A heavy guarded convoy of vehicles, including some with blanked windows, leaves from the back entrance of the building at high speed.
[12:40] More and more people outside the pen are joining in, shouting slogans and blowing whistles. People within the pen start a countdown from 60 to about 45, when the police opens up their cordon, letting the demonstration continue, towards the other group.
[13:10] Demonstration continues for about another 10 minutes outside the conference centre grounds.
anything much still happening?
14.01.2006 12:05
***
Blair at Nottingham
14.01.2006 13:52
A Nottingham Student - 'Dan'
..
14.01.2006 14:09
...
Update
14.01.2006 14:10
Protestors
Police outside centre
Not allowed to leave
Pushing after police delaying
Around 70 people gathered directly outside the conference centre entrance and refused to move to a police-designated area.
Another 30 late arrivals had to remain in the designated area after officers stopped them joining the group.
Activists gathered at 10.00am and marched, chanting, through Nottingham University grounds, to arrive outside the heavily policed venue at about 10.30am.
Armed with megaphones and banners from Stop the War and anti-nuclear campaigns, they sat down, resisting attempts to move them away.
Police allowed the group to stay for some time before announcing that they would have to move to the designated area.
The officer said: "I have been generous in allowing you to stay here this long."
But protestors were aware that being further from the centre would reduce their effect.
They continued chanting and singing against the Iraq war and against expanding nuclear energy, the policy Mr Blair has today been advocating.
Officers at first threatened to issue a warning, and then begin arresting people.
After deliberation on both sides it was decided the action could continue for another hour, until 12.30pm, when protestors would disperse or stay in the designated area.
There was some anger when police refused to let those who wanted to leave the group - including parents with children - to do so.
Their delaying resulted in some protestors pushing a police line.
Eventually, at 12.40pm, campaigners were allowed to move. A policeman said Mr Blair had left 15 mintues before, again by the back door.
Nottingham Stop the War's John Shemled said: "I think the protest was very successful given the short notice."
It was only discovered two days ago that the Prime Minister would be in Nottingham.
Education secretary Ruth Kelly and Labour chairman Ian McCartney are also to speak at the forum, which continues tommorow.
D West
e-mail:
dwest@nnagency.co.uk
...
14.01.2006 17:17
brief article, although ignored by tv news, etc.
Other info:
- only one press representative from each media outlet allowed at the conference, who were not allowed to attend the Q&A after Blair's talk.
- as usual, constant police photography and videoing of all protesters.
Jeff
Some more photos
14.01.2006 17:53
Forwarded from email
...
14.01.2006 18:48
It was a great day, 'twas good to know nottingham students aren't as apathetic as they're made out to be! amazing stuff.
Additional info, it did get on the local BBC news - apparently some protesters confronted Blair round the back entrance when he left, but there were only about 2-3 of them.
Student
One known arrest
14.01.2006 19:31
This seems highly dubious to me, demanding people's personal details under threat of arrest. Not anything new though, the police love to bullshit and bluff until they get name and address.
Apart from that though, a good day, congrats to the main crowd on blocking the entrance.
Captain Swing
Corrections
14.01.2006 23:54
legal observer
...
15.01.2006 09:01
...
Successful Protest,Wrongful arrest,intimidation&compensation
15.01.2006 13:50
successful protest, at least 80 coppers with reinforcements, horsebox & weird police prison type lorry parked at Dunkirk firestation. All Notts constabulary it seems,controlled by Secret Service,I feel sorry for them babysitting Blair.
Protesters gathered at Portland, but afew people went & ahead & scouts where unable to give info to everyone before the a microphone went off giving orders.
Can we try & share information & try to work more via consensus
before setting off, if we are to protest & survive,yesterday we were lucky.
Some police & unmarked vehicles were swerving at people,this was monitored
& media were informed of this. Plus Sgt 2268 was very stroppy & confrontational, if he had asked nicely & not physically pushed people without giving a legal reason things would have been less heated at the gate, even his own were laughing at him though.He repeatedly went up to people who questioned him & threatened to feel their collar, this combined with his abusive attitude,maybe he needs to be checked out for the register.
Police said they were allowed to stop us because it was private property, but the only confirmed arrest was a Notts uni student handing out flyers, that was a
smart move, I'd try & sue for wrongful arrest if it was me maybe a couple of grand in it.
Blair had military helicopter its a collective guess it parked up on Downs & then waited at Chetwynd barracks, looked Russian but cold war was 15yrs ago so MOD must have their bluprints now.
When it landed Blair came in around back in convoy of about 5 estate & espace vehicles with him in a black landrover. His security was tight. I got v.close, but the security & their snipers know Iam peaceful & with safe people otherwise I woudnt be typing this,
Trogluddites 2-BLair 1,
Nice one especially to Indymedia
for the scoop & Gary & Tash for brilliant photos,as usual, lovely
solidar,
Joni
ps Firemen are going out on strike this week, if anyone knows any info I would like to help, unity is strength!
Robin Ludd
pics & vids
16.01.2006 10:22
this is what democracy looks like
that's not what democracy looks like
I also got some good video footage. But that'll need some cutting fist. Will let you know.
Good marching with you all!
f.
feline
e-mail:
foundation.frf@gmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.illuminatus.uk.com
Nottingham Evening Post Article
16.01.2006 12:55
Article text:
Tony Blair used the back door to enter a policy meeting in Nottingham to avoid anti-war protesters.
About 50 protesters from the Stop the War Coalition, demanding British troops leave Iraq, were out on Saturday as Mr Blair and other Government figures arrived at the East Midlands Conference Centre at the University of Nottingham.
The National Policy Forum, aimed at shaping future policy, was attended by more than 150 Labour Party members and activists.
Mr Blair used his speech to tell his party to "renew continually" in order to maintain power.
He defended his controversial education reforms, which some believe could lead to schools selecting pupils on the basis of ability.
"They are emphatically not about backdoor selection," he said.
The event also involved a group of Notts youth workers and teachers not associated with the Labour Party talking to ministers about antisocial behaviour.
Six ministers - including Ashfield MP and Leader of the House of Commons Geoff Hoon - met the group.
Among them was Jackie Overton, head teacher of the Gedling School.
She said: "We have to be tough with youngsters who do not respond. But most of those who mess up do so because they are young, and they need to know that adults will support them."
Ann Archist
Homepage:
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=195917&command=displayContent&sourceNode=134241&contentPK=13843949&folderPk=78486
thanks!
16.01.2006 13:06
and i look forward to the video(s)!!
a student protester