London- Speakers Corner

[#1]

The police was there a day or so ago and told everyone that was up on ladders to get down off them. It is now illegal to use ladders at speakers corner. The police used a law from 1997 I believe but they are only enforcing it now. Make of that what you will.

[#2]

Quite likely the Police do not want people looking down on them.

[#3]

Been there more than a few times back in the 60s and do no recall anybody using a ladder and anyways, those paparazzi use them all the time. 

I do recall a heckler saying to one speaker, "I can see right up your nose from here". 

I wonder if stilts are allowed? 

[#4]

As far as I am aware nothing is allowed now except the two feet you stand on. Ladders have always been allowed at speakers corner but probably when you were there nobody was up one.

[#5]

Different times Steve as step ladders were exclusively made of wood and the not much lighter aluminium ones we see today but as you say, not when I was there.

One job we had was installing air conditioning at the Mercedes showroom which was situated at the top end of Park Lane and just over from Marble Arch - so speakers corner was just opposite. 

Happy days.

[#6]

I've seen a few up ladders when I've passed by in the past, but what's wrong with the traditional soapbox?

[#7]

Some of them did use a soap box. There's a new inspector that has taken over and is making the police enforce a law from 1997. Whether the police can be there all the time to enforce it is another matter.

[#8]

"......but what's wrong with the traditional soapbox?"

I still have mine, although I'm often told to get off it.  

[#9]

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@Jonpe wrote:

I've seen a few up ladders when I've passed by in the past, but what's wrong with the traditional soapbox?

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It doesn't have the same stile(s).  

[#10]

Update: Ladders are allowed at Speakers Corner once again  providing the ladder only has two steps.

[#11]

At least that's two steps in the right direction.

[#12]

Who needs Speakers Corner when you have PlusNet chat forum?

[#13]

Well there is things you can discuss at Speakers Corner that you certainly can't here.

[#14]

Not quite fair as most subjects have been discussed here. The only real restriction I've noticed is in the use of bad language. 

[#15]

There light censorship here even if you are discussing the C4 programme about the President Kennedy Assassination or the history show about that Egyptian God ISIS