Prince Charles and Camilla/student protests

[varicoseveined]

So who else thinks this is a bit of propaganda to decrease public support from students? It's London, there are so many possible routes but the driver HAD to drive into the thick of it?

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/8193570/Prince-Charles-and-Camilla-car-attack-someone-could-have-died.html

[Dragonwoman]

Slightly OT, but I don't think Charles & Camilla can be classed as an elderly couple, as several posters mentioned. They are 62 & 63 respectively. Which isn't old these days.

He at least is not an OAP as he is under 65. Don't forget those under the age of about 50 (men and women) will be working 'til 68 & beyond! Charles has both parents living and only lost his grandmother a few years ago, so comes from physically robust stock.

I'm sure it was a frightening experience for them, but they aren't as frail as painted!

[Pixel]

Anyone who goes to a demo armed with snooker balls, fireworks etc is a vicious criminal. They meant to cause damage to somebody regardless.

[dotnet]

kate1956 you are absolutely right, from what I heard of what was going on inside the police traps (I was lucky and didn't get trapped this time) - there can be no excuse for treating huge numbers of decent young people like vicious, dangerous criminals. Why the hell can't the police just arrest the small number who start kicking off in a big way? I thought police were supposed to look after public safety. Are they just bullies? The policy of trapping thousands of people at a time indiscriminately and for hours on end, looks very much as if they are.
That poor boy, Alfie Meadows - I really hope he makes a perfect recovery. It's always bad news to hear someone has had to undergo neurosurgery. I wish him well and my thoughts are with his family and friends.

[kate1956]

as I would say to the kids I work with - "if you can't take it dont dish it!" - you were the one who started on my parenting skills (which for your information are fine thank you!)

[RockinRobinBird]

Oh you're a mindreader? Amazing! Because I haven't said one word here about how I think one way or the other about the issue itself. You're just making yourself look very stupid now. Carry on....

[kate1956]

Lets hope she doesnt take too much notice of people like you who think that a car being paintballed is more important than the hundreds of children who were batoned and attacked by the police that day!

[RockinRobinBird]

because a couple of parasites got their car paintballed and kicked are just bizarre

Let's hope your daughter doesn't take too much notice of her mother then because that attitude is disgusting.

[Mumi]

It's not really a lot of places as such. Do you know London well? If not, look between Parliament Square to Oxford Street on the map, and you'll see they're only just over a mile apart, with all those places in one line. It's only about half an hour's stroll which I've done many times, only that day I made sure to wear my trainers.

Twitter's also very handy for being in the right place at the right time and without it I would be writing about Westminster Bridge instead.

[expatinscotland]

Um, ok, Mumi.

You sure were in a lot of places that day, at just the right times, too.

[Mumi]

nightmarebeforechristmas - there's nothing to "admit": I am merely telling you what I saw.

expatinscotland - actually I wasn't just "stood there". A lot of shoppers were just "stood there" though. Should they "think black burning shame" of themselves too?

I was shouting at them not to do it, as I did when I saw people attacking each other in Parliament Square, climbing and attempting to burn the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, knocking over postcard stands in Piccadilly Circus and breaking windows in Oxford Street.

I helped form a human barrier around a policeman who had been assaulted in Leicester Square and offered his colleague the small first aid kit I had which meant I would've had to go without later. Many backed me up in that but you didn't see any of that on the telly though, did you?

What did you want me to do: take them on myself, on my own?

[expatinscotland]

'Perhaps worth pointing out that these particular changes to student funding will not actually be in place for some time. They will consequently have little effect on the immediate & current financial crisis.'

Immediate and current? Our grandchildren will be paying off this debt. They need to get used to paying for more stuff themeselves and not expecting it for free unless they're willing to pay much higher taxes.

[expatinscotland]

What SparklySoiree said.

I don't support the protests because I think where there's a will there's a way when it comes to tertiary education and that it's not sustainable for it to be fee-free if so many school leavers are going.

I support fewer people going to university and those that do contributing to the cost because we can't afford otherwise.

Yes, other people got it for free in the past. Well, a lot of other people also bought houses at a reasonable price and a final salary pension.

That ship has sailed. There's no point crying over it, we can't get that back.

Life isn't fair.

Cuts have to be made and everyone will have to take a hit.

That's how it is.

[SparkleSoiree]

Lobby your MP with that very fact then Kate.

[knit1purl1]

Perhaps worth pointing out that these particular changes to student funding will not actually be in place for some time. They will consequently have little effect on the immediate & current financial crisis.

[kate1956]

Easy - try claiming the tax from the corporations that own it eg vodaphones £7billion!
as for other alternatives you might find this interesting
ukuncut.org.uk/blog/what-were-arguing-against-and-what-were-fighting-for

[SparkleSoiree]

None of that changes the fact this country's financial position is through the floor and cuts have to be made.

If not education, where would you suggest?

[kate1956]

You lot need to get a grip - people saying that they won't support the protests against cuts in education or fee rises because a couple of parasites got their car paintballed and kicked are just bizarre - so you don't care about a whole generation who will be written out of education because you believe the daily mail crap that passes for news these days.
My 16yr old daughter was on the protest - she desperately wants to go to uni and is an A* student so is certainly bright enough - however under this disgusting government if she goes she'll start her working life with more debt than I have as a middle aged parent with a mortgage - no wonder people are angry!
And frankly comparing climbing on a few statues with the incredible violence of the police towards protesters is insane and really shows that some of you really really value property rather than people - suggest you look at the coverage of what happened to Alfie Meadows who was clubbed so hard that he ended up having brain surgery and was only treated at the hospital due to the incredible ambulance workers who insisted he was immediately looked at. Although the publicity has concentrated on Alfie he was one of many injured.
Children and teenagers were 'kettled' for many hours - my daughter for over 8 hours, firstly in parliament square and then pushed onto westminster bridge by police who pushed the crowd so hard from both ends that people began shouting that it was going to be Hillsborough.
I really hope that those of you who think that if you are being peaceful you have nothing to fear never have to go through a similar experience because it is terrifying both for the children involved and for those of us at home helpless to rescue them.
And of course rather than put people off not only are the young angry but there are now plenty of very very pissed off parents - what price democracy if you are not allowed to peacefully demonstrate without being held against your will and battered by thugs in uniform!

[SparkleSoiree]

Forget the politics of it all, it is totally irrelevant. Having a political view does not justify violence. It may have been a demonstration about fees but the strength of feeling does not justify violence in any way at all.

People were hurt in and out of the car due to mindless thugs, the majority of whom I assume were students; unless somebody now tells me not to be stupid and that students don't do such things.

Front pages tomorrow are now saying that Camilla was jabbed with a stick in the ribs through the window. People were shouting 'off with their heads'. Talk about behaviour harking back to medieval times.

Makes me ashamed to be British.

[EggFriedRice]

I think what gets up peoples noses is that one generation of politicians who were entitled to FREE university education are telling the next generation that they are not, hardly surprising our young people are fed up and want to voice their anger, also have we not been led up the garden path by Nick Clegg, ummm I think so, good on the students for demonstrating, showing Clegg what a dishonest politician he is
never, ever voting Liberal Party again, never

[LadyBlaBlah]

I know I will get shot down for this, but it brightened up my day somewhat. I was in shock that they actually drive around London in a car from the Thunderbirds complete with Parker and all. It is ludicrous. Yet people think that this is fine. Especially considering what most people are pissed off about wrt to government.

No-one was hurt. No need for the hysteria.

[nightmarebeforechristmas]

i am with Expat, who puts it much better than me

[Georgimama]

expat, you're wasting your time. I know you are no Tory but there are some people who are so entrenched in their Tory/establishment = BAAAADDDD mindset they'll say anything. Clearly if a vehicle in an emergency response situation (allegedly) accidentally knocks into a pedestrian (and no one has been reported to have been injured by this alleged incident) it is clearly OK to batter the windows of the car with posts and threaten to kill the occupants. Particularly if they are a bit posh and talk funny.

[expatinscotland]

Oh, I'm certain people will lose their jobs over this.

[LynetteScavo]

The Royal protection officers didn't do their job very well, did they!

wrong route....wrong car....(IMHO)

[expatinscotland]

By throwing paint at it and threatening to kill the occupants?