General Chat

That a minority of the minority objected to the majority vote. What´s the best way to deal with the objections well have a riot of course.

I fail to see what defacing the womans war memorial is going to achieve, I can´t even see what they might be thinking of it achieving. "Tory Scum" they scrawled, were the women who fought for freedom Tory ? Surely if they know this then they knew the women and defacing your ancestors memorial must make them bigger "scum" .

We want freedom they say ..as long as it´s their way. another said why be worried about a memorial they should be worried about the welfare state. Ahhh so is it all about they might lose their benefits. ?

There was a democratic vote one party won with a majority, Not everybody likes it but rioting and defacing war memorials is hardly going to win them applause from the majority or from most of the minority.

Only one person defaced the memorial. I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of protesters would be as disgusted as the rest of us.

I believe it started as a peaceful protest. The joy of living in a democracy is the right of protest. The government was elected by a minority of the population and a lot of people who voted for minority parties feel aggrieved.

It really is time for electoral reform. So that even loony parties do have a voice.

I saw a photo on my facebook timeline today with a woman holding a placard saying
"You know things are messed up when librarians start marching".

Librarians are not widely known for their militancy.

Of course it was a disgrace that the memorial was defaced but don't blame all protesters for the actions of one.

There was a referendum in 2011 about Electoral Reform. The majority (of the 40% who bothered to vote) wanted to retain the current system.

Unfortunately anti-establishment protests do tend to attract the hard core dissenters who have no thought other than creating mayhem.

I do know about the referendum but imo it was the wrong method that was offered and it wasn't very well explained.

More people have come round to the idea since Thursday. The kippers are very keen.

Wonder how many of the protestors actually voted

I'd have thought most of them did, that's why they're cross. Their voices won't be heard.

Yes they were. Other peoples voices were heard as well!

The time to protest and persuade was in the run up to the Election, not to throw a tantrum 2 days afterwards.

Tantrum? Odd choice of word.

The time to protest is whenever enough people feel they have a legitimate need to.

I think the protesters have lost their protest for defacing the women's memorial.

Disgusting behaviour for the minority of protesters.

But did you see that some of them attacking the police weren't English so they will protest that they will lose their benefits.


Peaceful protesting yes I agree with not not the way theses protesters went about it.

If a toddler doesn't get their way, they might have a tantrum. It seems to fit :-D

Had a different party gained a majority, would 'loosing' voters taken to the streets? Probably not.

I agree with Sue, peaceful protest is acceptable but when they organise these protests, especially the immediate days after the election when things are volatile, they should be aware that they will attract the people who love a riot for rioting's sake. It did their cause no good at all.

The trouble with peaceful protests is that the barking mad will piggy back on them. I think it's a price worth paying.

Most protesters were peaceful, the tiny violent minority love the notoriety.

Yes but because of the minority defacing the memorial.

The whole protest lost all credibility.

And it's not only me saying that..

I have no objection to peaceful protest at all

I think its disgusting, what they did to the war memorial.

Id also be intrested in how many of the protesters actually voted.

What is there protest going to achieve? Nothing.

One person defaced the memorial, Stray, not "they".

Of course it hasn't lost credibility because of one loony. Most people out there are employed and worried about the future of the NHS, schools and the arts.

"Ch Supt Gerry Campbell said the "vast majority" of protestors had taken part peacefully, but added that a "small minority" had been intent on causing disorder."

Has anyone actually bothered to read why they were protesting? It was against the £12 million cuts the Tories promised were coming.

Doesnt matter if it's one, or they,

the whole protest is now blurred by that persons actions. And the reason for the protest is lost.

I don't think so, Stray. It's just our opinions and we differ.

Oh yes, definitly,

It may have only been one person who defaced the war memorial but it does reflect on the whole protest.
It was only a small minority of the protesters that caused the trouble but once again it reflects on the cause.
There is also a very good chance that those who caused the trouble were nothing to do with the original protest. BUT the original protesters must have known what would happen if they marched when tempers were already fraught.

I do think that the majority of people will just see the trouble that was caused and not the reason behind it.