Just making sure the kids are all right
I think I might need to apologise to the young man from Cornwall College who was responsible for taking about 70 students from Cornwall up to London for yesterday's demo. On reflection, the rising note of incredulity in my voice when I spoke to him on the phone was misplaced. He's not a member of the National Union of Students, he's not a member of any union, he's not even a student, he's a full-time member of college staff. There was a prior risk assessment. It was his job to organise the coach trip and make sure everyone got to London and back without any problems. And thanks to the wonders of modern communications, the Cornish students were steered safely away from the pitched battle outside Conservative Party HQ. Everyone got home after an exciting day in town. I'm relieved that no-one from Cornwall was hurt. But it does sound a bit more like a Duke of Edinburgh Awards trip than a political protest.
I'm ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 11th Nov 2010, backofanenvelope wrote:An exciting day in town! Yes - just what we all do on our infrequent trips to London (I'm an OAP). Attacking the police and damaging someone else's property. And they attacked the wrong place. The Labour party introduced university fees, not the Tories. And your informant - what is his day job and how much is he paid?
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Comment number 2.
At 11th Nov 2010, Phil wrote:I think I'm even older than Graham and can be almost twice as grumpy. In our day schoools and colleges didn't, so far as I know. organise trips to demonstrations. Billy Graham gatherings yes; anti war demos no. If they did I'm sure they would have taken just as much care about safety but with one tenth of today's paperwork.
Graham appears a little schizophrenic about protest. It almost looks though he's in favour of a good punch up so long as nobody gets hurt? It would be interesting to know what he really thinks, on what did he march and whether he protested too much. Also so does a good punch up have more influence on social policy than a well organised and well behaved march?
I went on some beginning with an anti Vietnam war march in London after a row with my parents who were concerned that their suburban streets would be unsafe because all the police would be in London. On my return those streets were reassuringly still intact and any thoughts of my becoming an International Marxist had been dented by a ludricrously pompous Tariq Ali prancing about on the back of a truck..
In retropsect late 1960s early 1970s British protest was but a pale imitation of what went on in the Europe and the USA. It is interesting that there were very big protests about Vietnam where thanks to Mr Wilson British troops were not dying. Today our soldiers are dying but since 2003 the protests have been muted. Perhaps cutbacks will provoke a new wave but to what extent is the motive self interest rather than idealism however naive it may have been?
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Comment number 3.
At 11th Nov 2010, Graham Smith wrote:Phil, I'm not sure that you are older than me, or at least, not by much - I'm 55 today, which gives you some clues as to how I might have mis-spent my youth. Not old enough for the Jarrow Crusades, or Aldermaston, but many of my young opinions were also formed in the crucible of Vietnam. For clarity, I can assure you I am not in favour of punch-ups. I think one of the most interesting aspects of yesterday's violence is the poor police intelligence. Perhaps they thought all of the protestors were going to be as well behaved as those from Cornwall.
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Comment number 4.
At 11th Nov 2010, Phil wrote:Happy Birthday; I hope you can put your feet up with Keith Richards. For the record I'm 4 years older.
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