The UK riots - My view

By Simon Wright (Personal column)

SO, ‘BROKEN Britain’ lies in ruins after last week’s horrific scenes of rioting and looting across the country.  Note to toy manufacturers, no batteries have been included in these burnt out shops, homes and businesses.  Some shops look like the burnt out shell that was The Loft nightclub after the 2009 fire in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, whilst others remain open for business as if last week was a storm in a teacup.

     It wasn’t though.  Approximately 3,000 arrests have been made by police, with at least 60 per cent of these having been charged for the crimes.  The damage is likely to end up reaching £1billion pounds and it is a dreadful promotion for the capital city, with the 2012 Olympics now less than a year away.  Chelsea Ives, one of the rioters, was an Olympic ambassador.  That’s an embarrassing image sight for the organisers and I’m pleased the IOC (International Olympic Committee) has backed us.  I’m shocked to realise that we have so many idiots in our country.  London was the worst hit, but there were also severe disturbances in Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol, with minor damage reported in Nottingham, Gloucester, Oxford, Wolverhampton, Milton Keynes and West Bromwich.  So, why did we end up all fearing for the establishments we live and love last week in the worst riots seen in this country for many a generation.  Many reasons have been given, which I will go into detail later on in this blog.

     First of all, as I tuned into Sky throughout Monday night last week, I was appalled to see what was happening.  It shook me to a core and I felt sick to the stomach.  Anger was building up inside me; as the pictures saw London look like a disaster movie, with many industries looking as battered and bruised as you would if you’d taken on Mike Tyson in his prime.  I was leaving the country in 48 hours time and when I heard of trouble reaching my own hometown, I started to wonder what I would come back to.  Luckily, it has calmed down since then, but the damage has been done and left so many heartbreaking stories.

    Ashrof Rassle is brave to say he still loves this country and wants to stay.  The Malaysian student is recovering in hospital after he was attacked and robbed on the streets by thugs.  The video was recorded and uploaded to YouTube and is an absolutely disgraceful act.  I feel massively for Trevor Reeves, who could only watch in horror as his local furniture store burnt down in Croydon.  It had survived two World Wars and lived through four generations of family, what a tragic way for the business to end.  Then there’s Richard Bowes, who was attempting to remonstrate yobs that set fires to bins near his home in Ealing, only to be beaten to death in an act of cynical behaviour.  Finally, there are the three young lads in Birmingham, who were protecting their livelihoods (businesses and mosques) and ultimately paid the price, with their lives.  I’m so proud to see the community of Birmingham come together at a time of such overwhelming tragedy.    

     The government has taken a load of stick for their handling of the carnage to have descended on the UK and some of it is fully merited.  More organisation has to be used around holidays, with rotas the only way forward.  I’m sorry, but you cannot have the five main figureheads of the country (Home Secretary, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Mayor of London and Chancellor) on holiday at exactly the same time.  The one politician I did feel sorry for was Boris Johnson.  He was heckled in the streets, but he was trying to help and also got involved in the cleanup in Clapham.  It got worse when Boris was bullied in an interview last Tuesday night (August 9) by ITN anchor and Daily Mirror columnist Mark Austin.  Johnson did really well to get his points across, despite Austin’s ignorant attempts to butt into his answers.  The way he handled the interview was very professional and dignified.  As for Austin, it was a foul piece of journalism and a bad example of how to do it.  For me, a respected news anchor dropped the ball here.

     As the week has progressed, I have been deeply unimpressed by the way David Cameron has handled this national crisis.  If I knew he was going to be this bad, maybe he should have stayed in Tuscany after all, sipping his precious cappuccino!  Despite the destruction, he still wants to cut 16,000 jobs on the police front.  What on earth is he doing!  Has he had his eyes shut throughout?  If anything, we need more police on the frontline as the anarchy broke out.  I’m afraid Mr. Cameron has been just as clueless of late as Arsene Wenger!  One message to Dave; I’m sure they do decent deals on priceless coffees at Starbucks if you really are that desperate for a caffeine boost!

     Last Thursday, he did say this in an emergency Commons debate; “And to the lawless minority, the criminals who have taken what they can get.  I say this, we will track you down, we will find you, we will charge you, we will punish you.  You will pay for what you have done.”  At least he has stuck to that, with magistrates working 24 hours a day to send a lot of the criminals into prison cells for their actions.  However, boot camps might have to be the way forward, because it might teach all of them a lesson in how to behave.  Any confidence I had in the coalition government has disintegrated.  Nick Clegg looks like a spare part, George Osbourne would rather be somewhere else rather than the House of Commons half the time and Theresa May is under huge pressure now, probably fighting a losing battle for her job.

     Now onto those who caused so much damage, fear and grief to the innocent.  It is inexcusable what they have done and an utter disgrace.  This was thuggery of the highest order.  Some don’t look sorry at all – I’ve heard stories of them smirking in court and laughing away without a care in the world.  You are a disgrace to society and I only wish we had bigger wheelie bins to tip you into!  I say to the courts, lock them up and throw away the key.  Boo hoo that you can’t afford the latest Nike Pegasus trainers, a Dell laptop or a 4-pack of Carlsberg Special Brew – it’s a tough life and we have all had to make sacrifices in the recession.  If you don’t like it, we don’t need you in the country, bugger off onto another planet!

    Despite some of the compensation packages that have been set-up by the government for affected businesses, it will end up being us that pays for most of the damage, not the loonies who did the damage.  Most taxpayers wouldn’t mind seeing these clowns having benefits and hand-outs being taken away from them.  It might help them learn, though that’s unlikely. 

    The parents need to take some responsibility too for the actions of their children.  For some of the criminals, running back to Daddy is probably the best option.  Oh wait, your Daddy probably encouraged you or is getting smashed out of his head at the local watering establishment!  The parents must take more control of their kid’s actions.  I’m pleased to have seen many parents hand their kids into the police.  Well done to you, no matter how hard it must have been, you’ve done the right thing.  To those parents who are protecting their violent youngsters, hang your head in shame, because you are not much better!

    Historian David Starkey will also probably need to find a new occupation.  His comments on last week’s edition of Newsnight have no place on television and he’d better hope that TalkSport offer him a place on their radio programming for sporting history.  After all, they seem to accept those disgraced professionals who make barbaric comments on TV.  Richard Keys and Andy Gray spring to mind!

     After what has happened last week, I have to ask myself, do I want to be a part of this country anymore?  I have to question it.  Our country might recover – but it will take lots of work to repair the burnt-out buildings and shattered glass windows.  I’m afraid, unless these police cuts are reviewed, the EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) is restored and parents take more responsibility, this could easily happen again anytime soon.

     Lastly of course, my symphonies go out to those who have lost loved ones and been significantly affected by these devastating riots.

Royals caught up in tuition fees violence

SHOCKED: Charles and Camilla were caught up in the riots

PRINCE Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were lucky to escape injury, when their car was attacked by student protestors on Thursday evening.  Paint was thrown and windows were smashed by the demonstrators, as they arrived at London’s West End to watch the Royal Variety show at the London Palladium.  Clarence House soon confirmed that both were unhurt, but clearly shaken up by what had just happened.  Ten police officers were injured and around 30 protestors needed hospital treatment, on the bloodiest day of violence in the capital since the controversial Poll Tax was passed through by Margaret Thatcher’s administration in 1990.

All the trouble came on the day when the crucial vote was held on tuition fees.  After a five hour debate in the House of Commons, parliament approved the increase from 2012, which can allow higher institutions to charge student’s upto £9,000 a year to continue their studies.  Despite a late rebellion from some Liberal Democrats, the coalition majority passed by just 21 votes (323 to 302), far closer than what many anticipated.  Simon Hughes, the Deputy Leader for the Lib Dems elected to abstain from voting, whilst former leaders of the party, Charles Kennedy and Menzies Campbell were amongst those against the increase.  Crucially, the under-fire deputy leader of the coalition, Nick Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable, voted for the proposal to go through.

RIGHTFUL: Demonstrators turn their anger on Nick Clegg

Outside, ‘Shame on you’ was the chant used by the peaceful protestors.  Clegg’s broken promises that he made at the General Election have angered many, but there could be no excuse for the violence throughout Thursday.  Some complained about the excessive police tactics, charging at some with horses.  Once again, although they can’t take the whole blame, the Metropolitan Police lost complete control of the situation, which will fill no-one with much confidence, should Britain come under attack again from international terrorist organisations.  Nevertheless, the head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Paul Stephenson defended his force for their actions; “The police have done as well as they could today, and we were appalled with the significant number of people who behaved very badly today.” 

INFERNO: Protesters set off a fire in Parliament Square

Most of the blame though must run with those who turned up in London, determined to cause trouble.  Whether they were students really doesn’t matter, because it still is simply unacceptable.  By the end of the evening, some were trying to smash into The Treasury and windows were smashed at The Supreme Court.  Others disembarked from parliament square, attacking Christmas shoppers in Oxford Street and smashing windows at the TopShop building on the same road.  Many just seemed intent on causing destruction; far more than those who stormed Conservative party headquarters in the first set of riots on November 10.  The Home Secretary, Theresa May was quick to condone the actions of the rioters; “What we have seen today has nothing to do with peaceful protests.”    

The attack on the Royal car must put into serious question; the amount of Royal Security present at the time.  The Duchess of Cornwall brushed off the incident afterwards; “We are both okay, and there’s a first time for everything!”  Major investigations have already been announced into the disturbing trouble.

ITN’s political editor Tom Bradby summed up the general consensus of Thursday’s events on News at Ten; “There were shocking pictures of officers being set upon and it was clear that although many came to make their point fairly, the hardcore minority became intent on causing trouble.”

The coalition government have done something many don’t like; and Nick Clegg has proven for many students, that he is a dirty, shameful liar.  However, when the Winston Churchill statue was defaced by protestors, you know just what a dark day it was for our country.  The violence was destructive, unacceptable and those responsible should be brought to justice.

However, on London’s worst day since the 7/7 attacks in 2005, some will wonder whether this is just the start of a frequent event to dominate the headlines.

Tax demonstrations add to coalition issues

LAST weekend, the fast-growing movement UK Uncut stepped up their campaign over evasion of taxation regulations.  Across the country, demonstrations and blockades of shop entrances led to several major top-chain stores being forced to close their branches on their busiest day of the calendar year.  Why are these big businesses and individual avoiding the system and is it fair?  Journalism student Simon Wright looks into this controversial detail in closer form.

WITH the highly anticipated tuition fees vote in the House of Commons tomorrow, the budget cuts that the coalition government have come under severe fire in recent weeks. 

DEMOS: Protests take place last weekend at Oxford Street

One issue that seems to be dodged by all politicians is the lack of action on tax avoidance by some of the wealthiest in our country.  Last Saturday, campaigners from UK Uncut carried out some deep pop-up protests about the regulations, which force several branches of TopShop and Vodafone around the country to close their doors, on one of the busiest trading days of the year.  Several campaigners and journalists were ejected by security guards as demonstrations took place in 21 towns and cities across the UK.

UK Uncut is a fast-growing movement that is gathering growing support via social networking sites Twitter and Facebook.  Already, demonstrations have been planned this weekend for Aberystwyth, Chester and Bury St Edmunds.  A website was set-up as recently as November 28, with many people already getting involved.

A spokesman for UK Uncut, James Kelly told the Guardian; “Tax avoidance is a big issue and we believe this is the alternative to the cuts the government are making.”  UK Uncut is taking their action on two organisations in particular.

Vodafone dodge

TAXING: UK Uncut's strong opinion of Vodafone

OVER the last ten years, communications giant Vodafone have been fighting tooth and nail to avoid paying the government around £6billion in tax.  After a defeat this summer in court to HM Revenue and Customs, current chancellor George Osbourne let Vodafone off the hook, rather than force through the payment in October.  The UK Uncut called the action ‘shameless’ and furious ex-Vodafone customer Tamika Short agrees; “Everyone has to pay their way and the higher should pay more than poorer families and students.  What Vodafone are doing is an absolute disgrace!”

The campaign continues against Vodafone, and they aren’t the only businesses to be affected, with Boots, HSBC and Barclays Bank avoiding similar laws.

Greedy Green

THE ninth richest man in the UK, Phillip Green is also taking a lot of stick from UK Uncut.  Green, whose wealth was, estimated at £4.4billion in 2008 runs some of the biggest names on Britain’s high streets.  His retail empire includes TopShop, BHS and Dorothy Perkins.  Even though Green lives in the UK, he runs the Arcadia retail group that he doesn’t even own.  His wife does, and by living in the tax haven of Monaco, doesn’t have to pay a single penny.  One of the demonstrators, Chris_Coltrane posted this chant on Phillip Green in London on his Twitter account last weekend; “Where did all the money go?  He sent it off to Monaco!”

In 2005, Green awarded himself a cool £1.2billion, and divided it via tax havens in Monaco and Jersey.  It is costing the annual taxpayer around £300million, which angered protestor Benjamin Neem.  Neem told the BBC; “Phillip Green’s missing millions need to be reclaimed and invested into public services, not his wife’s bank account.”

Recently, Green was made an advisor on the spending cuts by David Cameron, which adds to the pain for many protestors, including James Kelly; “Phillip Green is a well-known tax avoider and today, we’re bringing our campaign right to the heart of the empire.”  In fact, his £285million dodge could pay the salaries of 20,000 NHS nurses and the full tuition fees of £9,000 for almost 32,000 students, an extraordinary statistic. 

Link with students

I ASKED accounting and finance expert at the University of Northampton, Christopher Cook on the issue, but he declined to comment, only saying “It would cause heated and long debates.”

The evasion of tax payments links in with the tuition fees issue, as these were two of the Liberal Democrats four key pledges that have been broken from their manifesto.  The newly-formed group UK Uncut is also believed to feature public sector workers, the unemployed and pensioners.

This is one debate that won’t go away, and the coalition government have now got major tests infront of them, if they are to control the growing frustration from many on the spending cuts.

2010 General Election Results - Hung Parliament Is The Outcome, What Happens Now?

   

So, the country (or most of it) has had its say and it is quite clear from the results that Britain wants change.  Although he failed to get the magic number of 326 seats in the House of Commons, the Conservative Party and David Cameron have the most seats and this lunchtime, Cameron is the favourite to form a government in the coming days.

With 294 seats so far, the Tories did very well last night, though not the landslide that everyone predicted at the start of the year.  Labour finished a confident 2^nd, but lost at least 80 MP’s last night, and looks set to relinquish power in the country, after thirteen turbulent years of British politics.  The main Labour men, including Deputy Leader Harriet Harman and Peter Mandelson, had hoped that Gordon Brown would be able to strike a deal with the Liberal Democrats, to form a strong government.  Those final hopes were dashed at 10.45am, when Nick Clegg returned to the Liberal Democrats headquarters and confirmed, he thinks the Conservative Party should have first choice in being able to form the government.  Clegg has firmly put the ball in Cameron’s court now, with the condition to change the electoral reform system, which has plagued Britain in this election.

For the Liberal Democrats, it was a very disappointing outcome.  Nick Clegg had hope for nearly a hundred seats in the new House of Commons.  Instead, they dropped at least ten seats short of what they did in 2005.  After all the promise from the three hotly-contested TV debates, their potential turned as flat as a giant pancake.  This morning, he admitted the disappointment, but is still confident of positive change for the future. 

Despite not gaining the majority he was looking for, David Cameron seemed fairly satisfied with the result.  At 2.30pm today, he will release a statement to the media, with his plans of how to form a government.  The keys to No.10 are getting ever closer, and if he can work together with Clegg, by making some minor changes to his manifesto, for the best of the country, this ‘Hung Parliament’ combination might not be so bad.  However, with no overall winner, the chances of a five-year term look increasingly unlikely.

Gordon Brown has returned to Downing Street and as things stand, he is still Prime Minister.  However, he has released a statement suggested “he is open for discussion for civil parties to form a government, for the good of the country.”  Most people in Westminster seem to think that Brown has to step down today for the best of the UK.  I would agree with these suggestions, I struggle to see how Gordon can survive now, because although Labour figureheads will deny it, it was a bad night last night.  Although they prevented a landslide that hit the Tories in 1997, they lost a lot of seats, especially in the East Anglia region, with the Tories snatching Ipswich, Colchester, Northampton and Milton Keynes from long-standing Labour leaders.  I’m afraid Brown’s time is up, and the sooner he calls the removal van from Downing Street, the better for the country’s stability and its future.

The Green Party won a historic seat in Brighton, their first ever in the House of Commons and other significant figures that lost seats last night include former Education Secretary Charles Clarke, beaten in Norwich by the Liberal Democrats and the ex-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, overcome by the Conservatives in Redditch, after thirteen successful years.  Ed Balls held onto his seat, denying the media a ‘Michael Portillo 1997’ moment.  He then went onto accuse Sky News of patriotism bias throughout the election campaign, much to the chagrin of its political Journalist, Adam Boulton, who looked flabbergasted by Ed’s outburst.

It means that we have our first Hung Parliament since 1974, and it is probably not what Britain needed, especially as we are still dealing with the fall-out from the crippling worldwide recession.  The question is now, can we cope with this scenario.  If the parties bang their head together, we might be able to limit the damage.  What I can say for sure, is that the future is very unpredictable for the country, anything is possible….anything.