liberty central's civil liberties hero of the week: The Lib Dems' G20 observers
Tom Brake MP acting as a legal observer at the G20 protests Photograph: Dave Cook
One group of doughty parliamentarians are ably demonstrating the important role our public representatives can – and should – fulfil.
This week, Liberal Democrat MP David Howarth, shadow secretary of state for justice, and Tom Brake, shadow minister for the home office, gave evidence to two parliamentary committees investigating the policing of the G20 protests.
In the lead up to the event, Howarth, concerned that police quotes suggesting the G20 might be the epicentre of a "summer of rage" could lead to what he described as a "self-fulfilling prophecy", chaired a meeting between the Metropolitan police and representatives of the Climate Camp.
After the meeting, still concerned at the potential for public violence, a number of parliamentarians announced plans to act as external observors hoping they might be able to help "defuse any tension between police and protesters, as well as providing independent witnesses to any incidents that did arise."
At the time this decision was the subject of heavy criticism. In the lead up to the event, the Times's Daniel Finkelstein called the parliamentarian's actions "an extraordinary insult to the police".
Yet now we have the full details of the Liberal Democrats' valiant attempts to minimise clashes between police and protestors and keep open channels of communication. They have produced open–minded reports detailing what they witnessed on the day of the G20 protests and they have asked important questions of the police.
The roll call of honour includes:
David Howarth MP, secretary of state for justice
Tom Brake MP, shadow home affairs spokesperson
Baroness Shirley Williams
Simon Hughes MP, shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change
Martin Horwood MP, shadow environment spokesperson