Jeremy Corbyn Elected

anniebach Ian Tomlinson's death was a tragedy, but to infer from it that 'at some demonstrations [the police] do deliberately stir up conflict' is like inferring that some doctors murder hundreds of their patients, just because Harold Shipman did.

Peaceful protest has always been a 'given' in our democracy, and a good thing too, but too often are taken over by rentamobs, anarchists, chancers, looters and angry young men generally.It's keeping this lot in line ( and the police in a riot can't always tell who is who) that is the difficulty.That is why a march or demo needs to be out in a spacious public place and not in the streets of a city.The police have a duty to protect us ( not in the demo) and shops and business nearby. The wide Pall Mall for instance, instead of narrow London streets would be a better place for a protest.

Janeaisworth, perhaps you can explain why at some demonstrations police cover their numbers - which are to be visible at all times

Ian Thomlinson's death was indeed a tragedy. And made the police seem like bullies and thugs. Which they sometimes are.

Jane is quite right, and having members of my family at present serving in the police force, I can tell you, they do not look forward to these encounters at all. sometimes they themselves agree with the protest, sometimes they don't, but it's their unenviable job to keep the peace at them and not allow it to develop into a full blown riot.When you think how few in number they are compared to the demonstrators, you will understand that under their 'poker faces' they are often very scared.The Ian Tomlinson case was different, there were few people around when the officer assaulted him, and the demo was over.The officer in question was already viewed with suspicion by his own fellow officers and superiors for other dubious actions, and that was the last straw.

Very good point ab.

Let's live in the real world shall we?

People who constantly bellow about ' police brutality' at these demos, should perhaps have a go at policing them to see how it feels from the other side.

Will that include the Russian contribution to spreading the war?or is it just to be a exercise in West bashing?!

The Stop the War coalition is about stopping the war in Syria at the moment, so of course it includes Russia. To pretend otherwise is ridiculous.

The reason they are in Manchester is because that is where the Tories are, and they are the ones who can stop the war, not Labour, as the Tories are in power.
That makes sense to me.

stopwar.org.uk/index.php/news/john-pilger-in-a-world-of-big-lies-telling-the-truth-is-a-revolutionary-act

Those police who cover their numbers are probably doing it for the same reason that peaceful demonstrators don't hold up a sign with their name, address and phone number on it.

Just being present and identifiable is enough to get them retaliation from extremists (in whichever direction).

The difference Elegran is demonstrators are not required by law to hold up signs with their names on them. Police in uniform have to have their number visible , for some time several police forces have their uniformed officer with both their name and number visible , the name being visible is not compulsory in all forces their number being visible is compulsory

I will ask police in the family this question. I know that they show their number 'On the beat' as it were , but not sure about riot/ crowd control situations to answer now.

Jen,I so respect John Pilger ,it was his award winning documentary which exposed the disgraceful treatment of the people Diego Garcia and other islands , the British government forced them out of their homes and off their island to live in slums in Mauritius so the Island could be handed over to America to use as an airbase , it was called 'Stealing A Nation '

The officer who killed Mr Tomlinson had previously been thrown out of the Met because he couldn't control what they choose to call 'his red rage' he moved to another force - no matter he had been dismissed - after a while he rejoined the Met

If police do not look forward to these demonstrations why do so many offer to do overtime and turn up for them ? to protect their mates or for the extra pay

Just heard today that 3 more of my friends have become Labour members, all oaps so it isn't just the young joining up.

A bit of both I daresay!!! Incidentally, although there have undoubtedly been awful incidents committed by Britain, other nations in the world have done equally if not worse injustices to other people/countries, but it's always Britain we have to indignantly hear about as if we were the only ones! If we're such an intolerable country a) why are a good proportion of the world desperate to live here and b) Why do people who clearly dislike this island and everything about it, go on living here? Surely it would be more sensible to go somewhere more convivial, with a more acceptable history. We can do absolutely nothing about the past, so going on about it in order to pull ourselves down is just pointless. It happened, it was disgraceful, but we can't alter it, so why go on about it?!

Of course we have to get indignant about Britain. We're British!

If we can celebrate past glories what is wrong with decrying past injustices

On that basis America can just forget about the fact that they have just bombed a hospital in Afghanistan, can they?
It's happened, it's over, let's move on.
How ridiculous.

I think you know perfectly well what I mean! I note no criticism of Russia!

Of course it's devastating that this has happened, and I bet the US are as on the floor about it as anyone.

Jeremy Corbyn sounds a very sweet old man if I'm honest. But I don't he will survive in today's politics.

All better now, America has said sorry

Can anyone on here say they would push that button? Even in retaliation? I hope not. He should never have been asked that question. We need Trident as a deterrent. Whether we would ever use it should be kept to ourselves.