Once again anti-war demonstrators have prevented the Oxford East MP Andrew Smith from taking part in a public meeting.

They have previously disrupted his weekly surgery meetings and forced a Labour club to cancel a scheduled event with the MP.

The so-called Oxford Pledgers will feel that last night's disruption at the New College Labour Club was a victory for their cause. They have, in the words of one of the group, denied him a platform to deliver 'spin' and, for one evening at least, silenced a 'warmonger'.

But this presumes that Mr Smith had 'spin' on his agenda and that he is indeed a warmonger.

Mr Smith, as a member of Tony Blair's Cabinet, is bound by collective responsibility, adhering to the consensus view. That is how Cabinet government works.

All the Pledgers did last night was stifle free speech. We all know how dangerous that can be.