Call For A Public Inquiry
I lived and worked in London during the 1980s - as a full-time official with NUPE (National Union of Public Employees) - which went on to become what is now known as Unison.
I worked with a fine bunch of people in the union's Acton office - just down the road from Ealing Broadway - scene of one of the 'copycat' London riots - which resulted in the death of a 68-year old man at the hands of a 16-year old boy.
One of the favourite tactics we employed - with our tongues firmly in our cheeks of course - was to call for a public inquiry via the press - every time some scandal or controversial issue came to the fore.
The only logic to this 'call' was that it sounded good on TV and radio - and if the words appeared in print it looked quite impressive in the local newspaper - as if a public inquiry would actually helps matters.
Which was all nonsense of course - because public inquiries are horrendously expensive and are usually an excuse to boot some hot potato into the long grass - for years and years.
So what has happened to Ed Miliband's demand for a public inquiry into all the rioting and looting in London - and elsewhere.
Ed demanded action - or else Labour would set up its own inquiry - I distinctly remember the Labour leader announcing last week - with a straight face.
Yet nothing has happened - and nothing will - because it's all for show.
I actually think that some kind of short-life inquiry would be useful - managed on a all-party basis and used to tackle some of the underlying problems - via the House of Commons and elsewhere.
But anything else would be a waste of time and public money - which Ed Miliband seems to have concluded as well.
I worked with a fine bunch of people in the union's Acton office - just down the road from Ealing Broadway - scene of one of the 'copycat' London riots - which resulted in the death of a 68-year old man at the hands of a 16-year old boy.
One of the favourite tactics we employed - with our tongues firmly in our cheeks of course - was to call for a public inquiry via the press - every time some scandal or controversial issue came to the fore.
The only logic to this 'call' was that it sounded good on TV and radio - and if the words appeared in print it looked quite impressive in the local newspaper - as if a public inquiry would actually helps matters.
Which was all nonsense of course - because public inquiries are horrendously expensive and are usually an excuse to boot some hot potato into the long grass - for years and years.
So what has happened to Ed Miliband's demand for a public inquiry into all the rioting and looting in London - and elsewhere.
Ed demanded action - or else Labour would set up its own inquiry - I distinctly remember the Labour leader announcing last week - with a straight face.
Yet nothing has happened - and nothing will - because it's all for show.
I actually think that some kind of short-life inquiry would be useful - managed on a all-party basis and used to tackle some of the underlying problems - via the House of Commons and elsewhere.
But anything else would be a waste of time and public money - which Ed Miliband seems to have concluded as well.
