Anyone tell me the significance of Millbank Tower please?

[WillYouDoTheDamnedFanjo]

Just watching the student protest and wondering why there.

[bentneckwine1]

Conservative campaign office I think

[WillYouDoTheDamnedFanjo]

Heh heh just after I posted this, the anchorman asked someone at the scene to explain its significance, lots of waffle about it being of political importance to several different parties, still no clear idea.

Maybe they've just ended up there.

[ouryve]

Tory HQ is there.

[canyou]

I have sky news on, there is one interviewee [female], not a student, in full time employment, Her job is to create change ie she is paid to protest or have I miss understood her?

[canyou]

I feel sorry for those young people who want a genuine form of protest with out violence as it has totally diverted attention from them

[scaredoflove]

I was shocked by that too canyou

This makes me so angry, why couldn't our young people have shown dignity and continued with a peaceful protest

This is how all these things end up, professional 'campaigners' showing themselves up to be nothing more than thugs and Britain's youth being portrayed as uncouth, brash and let's face, stupid

This situation will now not be taken seriously, which is a damn shame

[canyou]

I really don't think those throwing slabs of concrete at police are the students, but they will get the blame as it is a student protest

[WillYouDoTheDamnedFanjo]

Thanks for replies.

[2shoes]

have to say I was horrified by what was on the news, thank god when that idiot threw a fire extinguisher of the roof it didn't hit it's target, the poor police.

[MoralDefective]

Yes i agree,the poor police.....

But it's about time we had a few protests.
The Lib Dems have backed away from all their promises....
What concessions have the Tories made in this coalition?

[RoseMortmain]

Blimey, haven't seen the news today but DH's head office is in Millbank Tower. Glad he's not there today.

[canyou]

Moral I have no issue with demonstrations and agree with you people need to make their voices be heard but that minority who went to Millbank Towers and caused trouble need to be arrested and charged and I really hope that the person who threw the fire extinguisher is caught and faces a court he/she could have killed someone,
I feel so sorry for the thousands who went marched and went home as their efforts are tainted and forgotten because of mindless thugs.
I feel strongly about violence against the emerg services as both my Dad and DP are paramedics and have been attacked in the course of doing their jobs, My heart went out to the family's of the police who may have been watching tv and seen them being injured [yes I know the same would go for parents of protesters/students who were in the crowd but I feel they could have left] day for everyone really .
I hope anyone who's DC went to protest are ok and are home safe and well

[AuntieMaggie]

Millbank Tower houses lots of people not just Tories!

We have offices there and had to be evacuated!

But that's ok... cos when we can't go to work tomorrow your taxes will be paying our wages and for us not to work!

[MoralDefective]

I do agree with you canyou.
But minorities always spoil demonstrations for the majority of law abiding,legitimate protesters.
We can't stop protests because a minority behave badly.
The police are supposed to be experienced in this sort of crowd management.
The vast majority at this protest will have been youngsters trying their voices for the first time.
The media will focus on the bad stuff.Makes good press.

[canyou]

Atually AuntMaggie I wonder how much it will cost to fix up Millbank Towers and the policing today and NHS costs for the injure. I will say that the minority were students [how many students knew where Tory HQ actually was] the rest were 'professional protesters' or that seems to be how it is being reported.

[AuntieMaggie]

exactly canyou!

we usually receive some sort of warning when there is something like this going to happen but we had nothing about this and then it all kicked off!

[canyou]

I don't think that area was on the march route or at least that is according to my Niece

[Jenski]

I think often with protests of this kind, there is a rent-a-mob, perhaps rented from the government to bring down the name of the protestor, perhaps not?

However, it has brought the protest into headline news, which may not have been the case if the march had gone on peacefully!

I feel for the students today.

[muminlondon]

You will always get political groups like the SWP, anarchist groups or just individual troublemakers at this sort of protest. But if I were a student or a teenager now I'd feel ballistically angry with the coalition and anyone over 40 right now. It feels like the eighties again (but without the enterprise allowance scheme or housing benefit and dole for students in the holidays). Where are my DMs?