Losing London? Permanent protest, police priorities – and the rights of Londoners

with
Rt Hon Lord Blunkett
Former Home Secretary

Lord Carlile of Berriew QC
Former Chair London Policing Ethics Panel

Sonali Parekh
Head of Policy, Federation of Small Business

Sir Mark Rowley QPM
Former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police

Mike Schwarz
Senior Consultant, Bindmans LLP

Chaired by

Rupert Reid
Director of Research & Strategy, Policy Exchange

About the Event

Key routes have been brought to a standstill by protesters. Traffic has been blocked from Parliament Square, Oxford Circus, Marble Arch and Whitehall: all have been given over at times to 24-hour protest. More than 50 bus routes have been disrupted, affecting an estimated 500,000 commuters, and the DLR to Canary Warf has been targeted along with parts of the City. Key transport infrastructure has also been taken over, including Westminster Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge. There have also been threats by protesters to close down Heathrow Airport.

This event asks: has the right balance has been struck between the right to protest and the rights of London’s businesses, residents and commuters?

Policy Exchange’s Liveable London Unit is a major new policy programme launched by Policy Exchange to champion new ideas to make London a better place to live and work. Its focus is on the everyday experiences of Londoners, addressing both the big structural and small but symbolic challenges the capital faces.