Ain't No Civil Rights Movement
Boris Johnson - the Mayor of London - is in the headlines again
This time for suggesting that the Labour party leadership would be quietly satisfied at the damage and disruption caused to the capital city at the weekend.
Presumably the point Boris was making - albeit not too well - was that Labour would see some political advantage from the government being under attack - on the streets and in the media - and not in control of events.
Well if so, he should have made his point more clearly - the London Mayor is after all a journalist to trade - and well used to choosing his words carefully.
So the likelihood is that Boris just wanted to start a punch up - probably in retaliation for the remarks of the Labour leader at the TUC rally.
Ed Miliband compared the protesters - and by extension himself - to the Suffragettes in Britain, civil rights campaigners in 1960s America - and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
The Labour leader knew what he was doing as well - but his attempt to portray himself and the Labour party at the forefront of something new, historic and momentous - was a big mistake.
For a start - it took the trade unions many years to embrace the Suffragettes and the right for women to vote - so that's not a very apt comparison.
Nor is it very sensible to compare the sacrifices of the civil rights and anti-apartheid movements - with the protests of anti-cuts campaigners.
To do so is an insult to the many people who fought - and sometimes died - for fundamental human rights, democracy and freedom of speech.
No, whatever the anti-cuts campaigners are - they ain't no civil rights movement.
This time for suggesting that the Labour party leadership would be quietly satisfied at the damage and disruption caused to the capital city at the weekend.
Presumably the point Boris was making - albeit not too well - was that Labour would see some political advantage from the government being under attack - on the streets and in the media - and not in control of events.
Well if so, he should have made his point more clearly - the London Mayor is after all a journalist to trade - and well used to choosing his words carefully.
So the likelihood is that Boris just wanted to start a punch up - probably in retaliation for the remarks of the Labour leader at the TUC rally.
Ed Miliband compared the protesters - and by extension himself - to the Suffragettes in Britain, civil rights campaigners in 1960s America - and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
The Labour leader knew what he was doing as well - but his attempt to portray himself and the Labour party at the forefront of something new, historic and momentous - was a big mistake.
For a start - it took the trade unions many years to embrace the Suffragettes and the right for women to vote - so that's not a very apt comparison.
Nor is it very sensible to compare the sacrifices of the civil rights and anti-apartheid movements - with the protests of anti-cuts campaigners.
To do so is an insult to the many people who fought - and sometimes died - for fundamental human rights, democracy and freedom of speech.
No, whatever the anti-cuts campaigners are - they ain't no civil rights movement.
