27 February 2009 – Home Office Meeting Demonstration
We held second one-hour demonstration against another closed-off Home Office "consultation meeting".
The Home Office proposed holding another round of "consultation meetings" and "stakeholder engagements" at the Carlton Hotel on North Bridge.
We wanted to protest at their refusal to engage with the real stakeholders, the general public.
'Postponed'
Shortly after our intention was picked up by the local press, the meeting was 'postponed for technical reasons'.
Another contributing factor was probably the recent strong anti-ID card statement by Fergus Ewing, Minister for Community Safety in the Scottish Government.
Scottish Government opposition to ID cards
Token
We nevertheless held a token protest, at the time of the non-existent meeting, to highlight at the Home Office's lack of openness. Lothians Green MSP Robin Harper was to have joined us, but sadly injured his back that morning.
This time the police were happy simply to stand and observe and no arrests were made.