Nicola Woolcock reports in The Times today about Oxford University’s successful attempt to secure an injunction against animal rights activists preventing their screaming through megaphones and taking photographs. The earlier injunction had placed no restraints on noise, which enabled the activists to use amongst other things, horns, whistles and tapes of dogs howling. They had also photographed and videoed staff, students and construction staff.

The report continues,

"However, the University’s attitude towards freedom to demonstrate is called into question by its decision to apply for an even more stringent injunction at a full hearing next month. It wants the weekly protest cut from four hours to one and the maximum number of demonstrators reduced from fifty to twelve."

Why is the University’s attitude towards freedom to demonstrate called into question? The animal rights activists are not there to demonstrate, they are there to intimidate. They have not just turned up in their hundreds, had a noisy march, called their opponents a few rude names and having made their point, then gone home. They are there every day, causing a nuisance and making it very clear that if anyone disagrees with them, that person’s property and/or health might suffer. It is arguable that the University should have sought an even more stringent order. The animal rights daily gathering in Oxford is nothing to do with freedom of expression.

Henry Lui is a restaurateur. He is the proprietor of the Chinese restaurant called the Kar Ling Kwong, which is situated in East Street, Farnham, Surrey. For decades Mr Lui has selflessly, tirelessly, successfully but quietly fund-raised for local charities. A couple of years ago he was awarded a well earned MBE. The awarding of an honour in this particular instance shows our Honours system working as it truly should.

Contrast this to the granting of honours to donors of political parties. The gongs handed out to these people are worthless. They are but cheap baubles. The awarding of knighthoods to senior civil servants and their like is not much better. These establishment personnel are paid well for their service to the Country. It is not only a matter of their handsome salaries and perquisites, the power, the kudos, just look at their pension entitlement. There is too much establishment back slapping of this kind. It is unedifying, but Tony Blair just does not “get it”.

The general population understand and applaud a well earned honour. The bravery exhibited by an individual, devotion to duty or selfless hard work for the community or a particular cause for instance, set an example to the rest of us. There should be some element of personal sacrifice suffered or exceptional service before anyone is considered for an award. The handing over of a sack full of dosh for a baronetcy is just cheap.  Substantial reform of the Honours system is needed.[1]

[1] See the article by Andrew Pierce in The Times, “Lords nominees are blocked in Labour loan row”.