To think that all the thugs at the protest are scum.....

[cookcleanerchaufferetc]

Okay, protest about whatever but those people who have gone round London smashing windows, looting, damaging property, throwing lightbulbs of ammonia at the police and generally acting like scummy lowlife should be sent to places like Tripoli or Afghanistan and let our good troops come home..... They are worthless scum.

Hmm they are general idiots, can't really agree about "the good troops" and tripoli/afghanistan. Sounds a little bit too much like some of the braindead shite that pops up on facebook.

I just wish all the little shits would fuck off somewhere else.....

thinking isnt their strong subject thats for sure

I agree. My DH was on the march today, and he didn't see any violence whatsoever. It was only when he went to the pub whilst waiting for his train home and saw the news reports. He was appalled. He texted me and said that the news was nuts, it wasn't like that for the majority of people there. Yet a few stupid bastards have to create trouble and that's all that is reported on the news.

It may only have been a "few" who caused trouble, but that trouble affects many more. The shopworkers who were probably terrified. The passers by who were also probably very scared to be caught up in the middle of it. It also spoils it for all of those who were simply there to enjoy a peaceful demo.

All it does is downgrade everyone who protested peacefully, and makes people who disagree with the government look like thugs, thereby bolstering the government's position...

I thought it was very interesting that the troublemakers seemed to be surrounded by the press. I'm sure they weren't tipped off or anything

The press (like the police) have been following the thugs on Facebook and other internet sites..they've been openly saying they're going to cause trouble, so they didn't need 'tipping off'

Well the press (or the police) were offering protectors £25 to throw a brick. There are definitely agents provocateurs involved.

£15,000 worth of damage been done by anarchists in Fortnum & Mason. Someone knocked over a jar of olives.

BOF that really did make me

The press goes where the eye-catching action is. Nothing sinister about that, and from the time the horsie went up in flames it was easy to move around with the mob.

Brick throwing stuff doesn't sound right (remembering Grosvenor Square).

bof HA, HA. The fact is though although the police and journo incitement is wrong, most people still wouldnt even consider being violent and in what was a peaceful protest it is so awful to see people behaving so terribly.

It is irritating when every single worthwhile protest is hijacked by thugs. The TUC were protesting about public sector cuts - which includes emergency services ie police, paramedics, and who did those thugs target? Hmm. I don't know any ordinary people (including police officers) who want the cuts - yet those thugs played into the coalition's hands. Either they are very thick or... they are paid by the govt to make the demonstraters look bad?? Who knows, it's pointless watching the news anymore :(.

I don't think they're either thick or pro-coalition. Just on their own separate agenda (and still at it, in Trafalgar Square now, with ordinary Saturday night revellers thrown into the mix).

All the 'thugs' should just attack parliament during PMQs instead (not shops where people try to scrape a living).
The Eton boys at the top will never care about state schools, NHS, social services, housing, day centres, making the streets safer, etc, etc.
Because they are very very rich. If they get kicked out of parliament it won't matter to them - they will still be very very rich.
So they will continue to fuck up the country to suit their agenda (and sorry but their agenda clearly isn't about 'cuts' - or why are we still in Afghanistan? And now Libya FGS! )
And breathe...

Except if they attacked parliament they'd be shot...

Bryan Ferry's son tried that on the last administration - don't see why it would be any more effective on this one.

This Govt is still hoping to leave Afghanistan by 2014, which us a step forward on the last.

Libya - hmm: am I alone in thinking there's a difference between protecting civilians and humanitarian aid, and facilitating armed rebels in their actions?

Paid by the govt? Oh, come on with your conspiracy theories!

Are you really saying there are no naughty lefties? Really?

Thugs should attack parliament during pmqs instead?

I don't get this. Violence is ok as long as it's against people who don't agree with you?

No tawdry - there's lots of us left!

I take it all those who hate 'the rich' are typing their protests on a computer made from twigs by an eastern european collective, which are run from generators powered by goat farts.

Or did you buy it from a shop with money you earned from your job, like a proper capitalist?

it's bit more complicated than merely hating, or being envious of the rich. And my laptop is made out of knotted yogurt tops and powered by yak cak.

Glad to to hear it!

If it's more complicated, surely 'the people' should do something more than go for a walk or throw things at the ritz, then?

Like, for example, turn out to vote in the elections...