Martin Francis harks back to the attempt to award Nelson Mandela the Freedom of the Borough back in 1990. As I understand it, the problem came before the injunction.
The Tories had been informally consulted and indicated that they would support the award. At the last moment they pulled out. This created an issue because then as now, freedom of the Borough could only be awarded with a two thirds majority of councillors voting for it (44 at that time). The injunction was then served to stop the award going forward despite a majority vote in favour, and also used as a basis to sue the then Mayor Len Williams and then Leader Dorman Long for costs arising from the legal action.
It is hard to imagine people going to such lengths to protest against an award to Nelson Mandela today.
More information about the history of anti-apartheid activities in the UK is available online, including an excerpt from then Labour Leader Hugh Gaitskell condemning apartheid.
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