Bush Must Hear Protestors Voices - Hughes

12.29.01pm GMT Wed 12th Nov 2003

Commenting on the visit of President Bush to London, Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes MP said:- "It was an unusual, controversial and high risk decision to invite President Bush on a state visit in the year that he is up for re-election. Given the events of the last year it seems ill-judged, ill-conceived and inappropriate."

"However, now the decision has been taken, the big issue now centres on what the appropriate arrangements should be. State visits must be the responsibility of the state and paid for by all of the British taxpayers. There must also be a command structure that makes sure the ultimate responsibility for safety of the President rest with the British authorities."

"The proper security concerns must be balanced with the democratic rights of peaceful protest. Police must also use their stop and search powers under the Terrorism Act with careful discretion rather than in an arbitrary nature. The President and his entourage must also be aware of the protests that occur and must not be shielded from the opinion of the British public."

"Whatever our long standing and good links with America, the war in Iraq has generated huge concern amongst the British people, and President Bush should get to know about these first hand."

ENDS

Mr Hughes also today revealed that just one in fifty of the 'stop and searches' under the Terrorism Act 2000 have resulted in arrests and no records are kept of either what people were arrested for and how many resulted in convictions

For further details please contact;

Richard Stokoe

Senior Liberal Democrat Press Officer for Simon Hughes MP.

Mayoral Campaign tel. 020 7227 1236, mobile 0772 08 38 351, fax 020 7227 1313 or pager 07659 114613