Monday was quite a day. On Sunday 100,000 of us marched and
rallied against the undemocratically elected Tory government (votes from 24% of
the electorate is not a mandate).
On Monday morning walking into work I witnessed several Tory
delegates en route to their conference sneering and laughing at some homeless
people trying to debate with them. I challenged them of course but they ignored
me and hurried to their police escort past the ridiculous ring of steel that
encloses Manchester Central at present
At lunchtime I popped back to support the DPAC, Disabled
People Against cuts protest. Lively and noisy and I witnessed two police thugs
hauling away a protester, falsely claiming he threw an egg and willing to use
that as an excuse to throw him against the nearest wall. Had I and others
(steward, photographer, members of public) not intervened they would have taken
it further I am sure.
In the evening there were 8000 people inside and outside the
Cathedral for The People’s Post Rally (take back the Royal Mail from the greedy
and selfish Tories and shareholders who stole it from us and privatised it).
Some inspiring speakers including Green and Labour Party leaders Natalie Bennett
and Jeremy Corbyn.
Then hot footed it across town for the Beat Back Gig – Here are
the wonderful Public Service Broadcasting playing their set, which was followed
by Charlotte Church and the zany and captivating Super Furry Animals.
Hope is in the air as I post for Our World Tuesday.
Everywhere the same it seems. Money has the power.
ReplyDeleteWell done Chrissie, I wish I could share your optimism - I fear for our future.
ReplyDeleteSome of the same seems to be happening here.
ReplyDeleteIt's all happening in Manchester this week. Wonderful turnouts for the marches and rallies.
ReplyDeleteThe 'no mandate' complaint only seems to apply to the Conservatives since 2010.
ReplyDeleteI can remember all elections since 1970, and despite every single government since then being elected by a minority of the electorate, I cannot remember this strange and desperate 'no mandate' argument ever being used before 2010.
We certainly never heard it when Labour won a majority in 2005 with 21.6% of the electorate voting for it, and with nearly 2 million votes fewer than the Conservatives got in 2015.
Nobody claimed that the 2005 Labour government was 'undemocratically elected'.
There were no indignant, abusive, egg throwing and spitting Tories outside the Labour conference that year, or indeed in any year.
I've always maintained those govts also had no mandate. Spitting is disgusting, shouting abuse is understandable when lives ae lost as a result of extremist policies like current govt. Egg throwing is vile, bad enough that they are eaten let alone wasted.
ReplyDelete