London Student protests - Wed 8th Dec+ Thurs 9th

[Tankus]

red ed pledges not to give any pledges ....wot a twat

 

[ViolentPanda]

Yep, not very bright students.

They'll learn.

 

[twentythreedom]

excellent, they're debating the late arrivals of the 639 bus from walsall to wednesbury now

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Fuck the Coalition!

 

[ViolentPanda]

those idiots trying to smash those breezeblocks into throwable chunks need to be spoken to

True.

Everyone knows that breezeblocks just fucking crumble if you try to break them into throwable chucks.
Use the paving slabs instead, kiddies!!

 

[ymu]

I think the reality is that it's only happening because of the specific issue of tuition fees. It's something that is relatively easy for people to have clear views on. And specific election pledges have been broken. And of course, it has particular significance for students, and it's students that are making up the mass of the protests.

I think you're being optimistic to think that this level of protest will continue against spending cuts in general. But, actually I hope I'm wrong on that.

I think you are wrong. Virtually every random student interviewee made it clear that this was about the cuts in general, not just tuition fees. The banner at the front of the original march said "students and workers unite against cuts". There was a lot of TU representation there, and Brendan Barber gave good interview.

This is the beginning, not the end. The vote was close enough to show that we can bring this government down if enough pressure is brought to bear, and it will be. There is a lot more of this to come.

 

[belboid]

Aaron Porter is 'very let down'

 

[ViolentPanda]

it passed 323-302. I PREDICT A RIOT.

Crimble No 1 for Kaiser Chiefs?

 

[ymu]

It really ought to be, oughtn't it.

 

[ViolentPanda]

prostitution is not a good career choice

Cunt off, fucknuts.

 

[teuchter]

I think you are wrong. Virtually every random student interviewee made it clear that this was about the cuts in general, not just tuition fees. The banner at the front of the original march said "students and workers unite against cuts". There was a lot of TU representation there, and Brendan Barber gave good interview.

This is the beginning, not the end. The vote was close enough to show that we can bring this government down if enough pressure is brought to bear, and it will be. There is a lot more of this to come.

Well, we'll see. I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Battle of the Barriers - police seem to be winning more barriers

 

[agricola]

I think you are wrong. Virtually every random student interviewee made it clear that this was about the cuts in general, not just tuition fees. The banner at the front of the original march said "students and workers unite against cuts". There was a lot of TU representation there, and Brendan Barber gave good interview.

This is the beginning, not the end. The vote was close enough to show that we can bring this government down if enough pressure is brought to bear, and it will be. There is a lot more of this to come.

Thats the problem though - this presumption that if the Coalition falls "the cuts" can be prevented, as if we havent just had, disguised under a red rosette, one of the most right-wing, pro free-market and arguably most corrupt governments seen in Britain over the past fifty years. A government which, lets not forget, actually brought in tuition fees and commissioned the review which recommended a lot of the things that Cable has implemented.

 

[Vintage Paw]

Aaron Porter is 'very let down'

Porter was on the news this morning saying leaders shouldn't abuse people's trust.

I lol'd.

 

[claphamboy]

They'll learn.

And pay for it later.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Fuck the Coalition!

I wouldn't even fuck them with moon23s', mate.

 

[agricola]

Porter was on the news this morning saying leaders shouldn't abuse people's trust.

I lol'd.

Watching Aaron Porter's career go up in smoke has been the sole bright spot in this otherwise bleak argument.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Aaron Porter is 'very let down'

He let the NUS down, he let the Labour party down, but most of all, he let himself down.

 

[teuchter]

Thats the problem though - this presumption that if the Coalition falls "the cuts" can be prevented, as if we havent just had, disguised under a red rosette, one of the most right-wing, pro free-market and arguably most corrupt governments seen in Britain over the past fifty years. A government which, lets not forget, actually brought in tuition fees and commissioned the review which recommended a lot of the things that Cable has implemented.

Yeah... I'm not quite sure what's expected to happen if and when the current government is "brought down". A new one with very slightly less severe cuts? Not exactly a revolution.

 

[ViolentPanda]

It really ought to be, oughtn't it.

Perhaps some nice Urbanite who's also on facebook could start a petition/mass appeal a la Rage Against The Machine's "Killing in the name of..."?

 

[Mr.Bishie]

I wouldn't even fuck them with moon23s', mate.

This is just the beginning.

Oh, & fuck the filth too. A pity that animal didn't break its fuckin' neck when it fell of that horse.

 

[where to]

PORTER: some have been thinking more about their future careers as MPs than about the issues at hand.

the boy has got a brass fucking neck.

he also wants those of his members who involved in violence, who he's supposed to represent, "exposed"

 

[Mr.Bishie]

PORTER: some have been thinking more about their future careers as MPs than about the issues at hand.

the boy has got a brass fucking neck.

he also wants those of his members who involved in violence, who he's supposed to represent, "exposed"

He deserves a kicking

 

[claphamboy]

Yeah... I'm not quite sure what's expected to happen if and when the current government is "brought down". A new one with very slightly less severe cuts? Not exactly a revolution.

Good point.

I think if anything this shows how strong the coalition is and therefore will not collapse, this was ‘the big issue’ for the LibDems because of their specific election pledge – whilst there maybe objection to some other cuts, I doubt they will achieve this level of support amongst MPs.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Thats the problem though - this presumption that if the Coalition falls "the cuts" can be prevented, as if we havent just had, disguised under a red rosette, one of the most right-wing, pro free-market and arguably most corrupt governments seen in Britain over the past fifty years. A government which, lets not forget, actually brought in tuition fees and commissioned the review which recommended a lot of the things that Cable has implemented.

I'm not convinced (only going by my own experience and conversations, mind) that the presumption is that the cuts can be prevented/reversed. There seems, from where I'm standing, to be an awful lot of acknowledgement that the current politics offers no alternative, that being why, for example, the NUS hasn't been trusted by the students, and why the Labour party hasn't benefitted from a rise in membership (something that could be virtually guaranteed during the last Tory government).
What this means, in terms of either the evolution of new power structures, or a modification of the existing ones, I don't know, but I reckon it's going to be interesting finding out, if not particularly comfortable for folk like me who are on the sharp end of more than one of the cuts.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Porter was on the news this morning saying leaders shouldn't abuse people's trust.

I lol'd.

He's not the most self-aware puppy in the litter, is he?

 

[ymu]

Thats the problem though - this presumption that if the Coalition falls "the cuts" can be prevented, as if we havent just had, disguised under a red rosette, one of the most right-wing, pro free-market and arguably most corrupt governments seen in Britain over the past fifty years. A government which, lets not forget, actually brought in tuition fees and commissioned the review which recommended a lot of the things that Cable has implemented.

Few of these protesters have any time for Labour. This is about drawing lines that no party of government dare cross. Real democracy - not the pantomime that passes for it in parliament.

 

[ddraig]

porter slime on now

 

[fractionMan]

Aaron porter still fucking whining on BBC

 

[ViolentPanda]

And pay for it later.

Not wishing to sound uncaring, but it's the best way to learn a lesson. Makes it far less likely you'll make the same error again.