It was fascinating to watch the network coverage of Gordon Brown's departure and David Cameron's arrival at 10 Downing Street last evening. When I was working in Whitehall, back in the early 1970s, you used to be able to walk down the street. The IRA's rocket launcher put a stop to all that, and now it looks like a not very elaborate movie set, a Potemkin village.
Sky News had deployed its helicopter to Portcullis House to track David Cameron's drive to Buckingham Palace to meet with the Queen. It was a bit surprising (but also encouraging in its own way) to find that no special police procedures had been set up to speed his journey. His three-car procession was stuck in traffic along with everyone else. At one point, close to Buckingham Palace, he was lodged behind someone taking a driving lesson.
Sky reporters assured us that motorcycle outriders would be in evidence for his return journey as Prime Minister. Wrong-oh! Once again it was out into the evening traffic for the three cars, with no escort and no special help from the police. Bicycle couriers were weaving in and out of the procession, which had to wait for pedestrians at the end of St James's Park. The motorcade (can three cars be called that?) then scrupulously avoided using the bus lanes on Whitehall before turning into Downing Street. Evidently, in London it's still Boris Johnson who sets the rules.
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