Blair’s Labour braced for global protest
Labour was tonight preparing for its annual conference, in the shadow of the US terror strikes and under threat of a massive anti-globalisation demonstration police fear could be infiltrated by violent protesters.
As Labour chairman Charles Clarke insisted that democratic debate would continue on the world crisis and domestic issues, Sussex police warned they were ready to deal ‘‘robustly’’ with Genoa-style activists they believe will seek to cause mayhem in Brighton tomorrow.
The planned anti-globalisation protest expected to be up to 8,000 strong, will be allowed to mass in front of the Party’s opening conference session on Sunday afternoon.
Hundreds of police officers have been drafted in from neighbouring forces to help marshal the demo, amid the already heightened conference security.
And Sussex police will use their new personal ‘‘Captor Spray’’ pepper spray weapons as a personal defence against rioters or to protect the public, the first time the spray, used like a water pistol, will have been drafted in for a major public order operation in the UK.
As outside events threatened to dominate the already curtailed conference Mr Clarke conceded that the world crisis would inevitably colour the two-day gathering, due to end on Wednesday afternoon.
As he arrived in Brighton, along with other delegates this afternoon, the Party chairman said: ‘‘Certainly, most people in the country are going to be looking at the international situation first, ahead of party politics.
As far as we are concerned we are going to debate the issues, including the international situation, very fully and we think that the right thing to do.’’
Ahead of an expected clash with trades unions on Monday afternoon over Government plans for increased private sector involvement in public services, Mr Clarke added: ‘‘We are in favour of democratic debate. We think we must continue with our democratic debate.
‘‘All these questions will be coloured by the international situation but I don’t think there’s any reason not to discuss our major proposals for public sector reform.
‘‘There are real concerns when one is talking about change but we believe the message that was sent us on June 7 is we have to get a much higher level of public services.’’
He said he was not concerned by the security situation in Britain and was happy to leave that to the local police who he said had ‘‘an outstanding record’’.
Superintendent John Dransfield, said Sussex police had been told by protest organisers to expect 8,000 demonstrators.
He confirmed the police had taken extra public order powers to limit the route and scope of the demo.
Mr Dransfield, in charge of tomorrow’s public order police operation said his aim was to allow a peaceful protest but added: ‘‘There may be other elements who undoubtedly will seek to use the cover of peaceful protest to further their own aims.
‘‘I’m referring to the sort of things we have seen recently at G8 summits. We have seen the sort of thing that’s gone on at Genoa and we reasonably anticipate there will be elements of that group coming down here.
‘‘We will deal robustly with anyone whose intention is to disrupt the life of the people of Brighton, the people at the conference and any other aspect of the life of the city of Brighton and Hove.’’
He added police had been sharing intelligence with other forces across the world who had experienced similar demonstrations but refused to elaborate further.
Shops and offices in the centre of Brighton have been warned about the planned demo and police also conceded they feared demonstrators bent on violent protest could have ready access to stones and rocks from the beach directly opposite the conference centre.
But they stressed their hope was for a purely peaceful demonstration.
Prime Minister Tony Blair did not make the Labour leader’s traditional arrival for party conference preparations today and although he is due to speak on Tuesday neither party officials nor Downing Street would speculate on when he was expected to arrive in Brighton.
