The Sun carries a leader today arguing that council "killjoys" are threatening to wreck royal wedding street parties due to "town hall red tape". The Sun says:
"Most of the councils taking such a preposterous hardline are Labour run - and are hiding their Stalinist hatred of all things Royal behind a smokescreen of health and safety."
It's more than a little unfair to refer to republicans (and Labour party members) as Stalinists.
But this problem with councils and street parties can cut both ways. The Labour-run Camden council has refused permission for the anti-monarchist group, Republic, to stage a "not the royal wedding" street party in Covent Garden.
According to a statement on its website, Republic believe the council initially gave them the go-ahead to use Earlham Street for their event.
It says that the police and the council "had confirmed as late as Tuesday that they had no problem with the nature of the event and were happy that there were no public safety concerns."
Republic's executive officer Graham Smith called the decision "a disgraceful attack on the rights of republicans to make their voice heard."
But a spokeswoman for Camden council denied that permission had been previously granted. She told me that there were "strong local objections" to the party, plus concern from the police about possible disorder.
In a statement, she said: "Many local businesses were opposed to the event taking place as it would directly contradict the royal wedding theme in terms of their merchandise."
Sources: Republic/Camden Council press office
