New speakers' corner is unveiled

Mr Straw said the city had a 'radical' history

A speakers' corner has been officially unveiled in Nottingham city centre by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

An area near the Old Market Square has been designated as a location for the site as part of a pilot project run by The Speakers' Corner Trust.

The corner was due to be unveiled earlier in the month but the opening was delayed because of snow.

Nottingham is the first city in England outside London to have a speakers' corner installed.

Mr Straw said: "Nottingham has always been a go-ahead city.

"It's got a great radical tradition... in politics and in its football with Brian Clough or in social reform with William Booth the founder if the Salvation Army.

"So, there's no better place to start than the city of Nottingham."

Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, London, was established in the 19th Century to give the public a platform to have their say on a topic of their choice.

The trust was set up in early 2007 by Peter Bradley, former MP for The Wrekin in the West Midlands, and Euan Edworthy, whose work led to the first speakers' corner in mainland Europe in Prague in 2004.

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