In an earlier posting, McGrath wrote:

" …even among folk people there's a real reluctance to engage with this one. I think NELLIE is right about the fear people have that if they raise their heads they'll get them chopped off, so it's better to keep them down, and go on ignoring the law. This is part of an English cultural tradition I think - if you don't like the law, you don't protest, you just quietly ignore it. "

Well Kevin, so far that's been my position. The current regulations are unenforcable, except as an occasional token gesture. So, keep your head down, and hope that your pub didn't become this year's token enforcement exercise. (If your publican gets lumbered, organise a whip-round to compensate him.)

My other excuse for keeping quiet was the fear that making a fuss would only attract unwelcome attention from the powers that be, making the situation even worse. However, it seems that forthcoming legislation will move the goalposts significantly, as it offers local government a big financial incentive to enforce the new laws strictly.

Just to make things worse, the mainstream music industry (and probably the Musician's Union) will see the new law as a useful way of suppressingunwelcome competition. The general public - who prefer televised football, or a juke-box playing latest hits and golden oldies, to live music – won't give a hoot. And the style gurus of the posh newspapers will enjoy a smug titter at the misfortunes of an un-stylish art-form (one which they dislike all the more because they they have absolutely no influence over it.)

It seems that we have nothing to gain by keeping our heads down. So, if there's a petition going round, I'll sign it, circulate it, and publicise it wherever I can.
Wassail!