This persecution shows contempt for Britain’s laws

✒ FANTASTIC news: a victory for common sense and simple justice. The High Court has dismissed the application of Robert Courts MP, the Solicitor General, to imprison Trudi Warner, a 69-year-old retired social worker, for holding a sign outside Inner London Crown Court in March 2023. The High Court judged it fanciful to suggest that Ms Warner’s conduct amounted to common-law contempt.

It is heartwarming to see UK judges defend this woman from an outrageous attack on her freedom from an out-ofcontrol Government intent on crushing all opposition by authoritarian means more in line with the traditions of Soviet Russia than the Great British tradition of free speech. We can all breathe a little easier: but Ms Warner is not the only one under attack.

Dr Sarah Benn was found guilty of “professional misconduct” by breaching an injunction obtained by Valero, a US oil company. Her crime: again holding up a sign, which this time said: “Stop New Oil”. She faced the threat of being struck off as a doctor. The BMA fully supported her, saying: “There is no possible public or patient interest served by holding such a tribunal and threatening a doctor’s licence to practise”. A UN Special Rapporteur is also considering whether such a move could breach Article 3(8) of the Aarhus Convention which the UK is legally bound by (Dr Benn was susbsequently suspended for five months – Editor).

This is another outrageous attack, especially since she had already spent 32 days in prison as punishment for her ✒ AS a proud Ambassador of Alzheimer’s Society, I know all too well the enormous impact dementia is having on families all over the UK. Over 900,000 people’s lives are presently turned upsidedown by this cruel illness.

There is so much we can all do to help and support people walking this very hard road. I support the Forget Me Not Appeal in honour of my late aunt, and up and down the country many other people give their time, their energy and raise their voices to make sure people with dementia and their families don’t feel forgotten. This May, you too can help ensure people with dementia are remembered by wearing a Forget Me Not badge to show your support. I’m asking you to donate to Alzheimer’s Society’s appeal and wear your Forget Me Not badge with pride. Every three minutes someone in the UK develops dementia. There still is no cure but, thanks to huge advances in medical research, there is finally real hope.

You can purchase your badge or other Forget Me Not items, volunteer as a collector or take part in a range of fun activities from crafting to climbing; just visit alzheimers.org.uk/forgetmenot

This little blue flower has come to represent remembrance. I’ll be wearing mine for my aunt. Who will you wear yours for?

Sir Jonathan Pryce CBE