THE FIRST permanent Speakers' Corner outside London was officially opened in Nottingham's Old Market Square by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

Mr Straw said the spot next to the statue of Brian Clough was particularly appropriate given the former Forest manager's reputation for being outspoken.

Known for standing on a soap box in his constituency of Blackburn, the MP even invited hecklers towards the end of his speech yesterday.

"No one has heckled me, which is unusual," said Mr Straw, who was embroiled in controversy in 2005 when 82-year-old Walter Wolfgang was ejected from the Labour Party conference after shouting "nonsense" as he defended the Iraq war.

A member of the crowd instantly responded: "There are too many coppers here, that's why."

Another shouted: "Just read out the cabinet minutes!", a reference to his vetoing the release of cabinet minutes relating to the invasion of Iraq.

Mr Straw declined to read out the minutes, but did acknowledge Nottingham artist and satirist Dave Bishop, also known as Lord Biro, of the Church of the Militant Elvis Party, who offered to sell him a caricature of himself with the heading How I Sold The War.

Insisting that direct contact was "vital", Mr Straw said: "I've always said there is no point trying to make pretences to people, you've got to tell them straight."

He talked about his regular soap box sessions which started in 1983, and were regarded as "barmy" to begin.

Mr Straw hoped Nottingham Speakers' Corner will be the beginning of vigorous and vibrant debate in the city.

The launch follows a pilot which was sponsored by the Ministry of Justice's Innovation Fund. A temporary Speaker's Corner was set up on the north side of Old Market Square in February 2008.

The Speakers' Corner Trust, a charity trying to develop platforms around the country, is behind the project.

caroline.lowbridge@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk