to wonder whether protest marches ever achieve anything

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and what's the point in them

It was quoted from The Millitant. I admit I'm slightly too young for Poll Tax. I remember seeing the riots on TV but was a self absorbed teen and not that interested.

I could tell it was The Militant. They always tried to take all the credit

the most common response to socialist workers and publications like the militant is to give them a wide berth

I want to thank everyone who PEACEFULLY marched.

I think that protests will make a difference. The lib dems will hopefully chicken out and the coalition governant will fall apart.

Council workers in Hertfordshire are facing a pay CUT. They are going to lose their london fringe benefit which is worth £500 and unlike the NHS, police, or civil services lowly paid council workers are not getting a £250 pay rise. £500 is a lot for a dustman who may well be on 14K. Ironically it will not save the country money as many people on very low incomes are dependent on governant support. (Ie. working child tax credit, housing benefit etc.)

Yet I suspect that many mumsnetters will be shocked if dustmen go on strike in the height of summer.

There is also a proposal that the first three days of any period of sick pay should be unpaid. This is very harsh on school support staff who have no choice when they take annual leave. I think it would be fairer if they had limit on the number of days someone could take paid sick leave without a doctor's note. (Prehaps 5 days maximum without a doctor's notice and 3 months max with a doctor's note.) The present system does allow a minority of workers to take the p*ss and some reform is required.

Yes, there does need to be cuts in public spending, but the way these cuts are being done is wrong and ill thought out. Front line staff are being sacked and the managers are safe in their jobs.

The marches won't achieve anything in terms of affecting government policy I wouldn't think.