TORY BOYS GO ON THE RAMPAGE? - Unlike UK Uncut!

”We got drunk, trashed the Ritz & then walked down Piccadilly

to loot a few items from Fortnums.”

Boris Johnson, Bullingdon Club, 1986

Taken from - http://rugbyagainstthecuts.blogspot.com/

This is what 500,000 people look like!

You can see the Rugby Against the Cuts purple banner in front of the excellent Thatchers and her sons white banner at 1.23.

Lib Dems to face wipe out in Rugby elections in May?

YouGov/Plymouth University Poll says;

Lib Dems set to lose 11 out of their 25 councils

& 700 of their 1,850 councillors on May 5th

With today's (28th March 2011) Poll showing the price of shoring up the Tories in Government, local Lib Dems Councillors in Rugby may be wondering what will be their fate come the 5th May local elections.

With the Lib Dems likely to lose 3 seats in Rugby in Dunchurch & Knightlow, Paddox and Caldecott and even their current large majority seat in Eastlands not safe.

Many Lib Dems may be questioning their continue membership of what has been seen by some as a progressive party especially as Nick Clegg is trying to rebrand the party including changing its name http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nick-clegg/8408720/Nick-Clegg-orders-rebrand-amid-rumours-of-leadership-challenge.html

*Picture above - Jerry Roodhouse - Leader of Rugby Lib Dems preparing to be wiped out at the ballot box in May?

WILL THE POLICE HAVE TO PAY DAMAGES FOR UNLAWFUL ARREST OVER FORTNUM & MASON PROTEST AFTER DAMNING VIDEO EVIDENCE EMERGES?

Cuts protesters claim police tricked them into mass arrest

UK Uncut activists say Met promised to show Fortnum & Mason protesters to safety – and then arrested themGreen & Black Cross legal observers took the footage inside Fortnum & Mason and handed it to UK Uncut, which passed it on to the Guardian.

Campaigners for the tax-avoidance protest group UK Uncut have claimed senior police officers "tricked" them into a mass arrest after a peaceful protest inside Fortnum & Mason's in London on Saturday.

Activists say they were given repeated assurances by a chief inspector from the Metropolitan police that they would be shown to safety after the protest, which she described as non-violent and sensible. However, when protesters left the luxury Piccadilly store on police instruction, they were kettled, handcuffed and taken into custody.

Their claims are backed up by footage, obtained by the Guardian, showing that, rather than being asked to leave, the protesters inside the luxury food retailer were told they were being kept inside for their own safety.

In the video, shot by observers for the legal volunteer group Green & Black Cross, a police officer can be seen telling protesters they would be directed towards "the safest parts" once they had left the building.

In all, 201 arrests were made during protests in London on Saturday, at which shops, banks and hotels were attacked by demonstrators who had broken away from the main, union-organised march down Whitehall to Hyde Park.

A total of 149 people have been charged with offences, including 138 charged with aggravated trespass in connection with the Fortnum & Mason protest.

The video also shows the officer agreeing with protesters that a breach of the peace had occurred outside the store, but not inside, and that Uncut protesters were being held inside so they did not become "wrapped up" in that disorder.

"As people leave, they're going to be asked to go left," she can be heard telling protesters. "They're just going into a safe environment because there's some disorder [outside] ... so we're trying to keep it sterile, safe, so people can get away to the tube station.

"People here are non-violent. It's sensible – we don't want them getting involved in stuff that makes it difficult for them," adds the police officer in the footage. Another officer also assured the protesters no one would be kettled if they left the building. A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said it would be inappropriate to discuss the matter while proceedings are active.

One Uncut activist, Jack Winstanley, who was held in a cell in Plaistow for 17 hours, said: "I feel totally betrayed by the police. They communicated the message fairly clear that we'd be released. And our protest had been totally peaceful. We then walked out into a kettle with police with riot helmets on. Not only could we not get home, we got arrested one by one."

Winstanley, a 26-year-old graphic designer from Brighton, said the Fortnum protest had been just like other UK Uncut protests. "It was creative and fun and exciting. There was a bit of cheering [and] whooping when people put up banners, and then things settled down and people were reading books and chatting and some people were talking to the staff about why we were there."

Several of those arrested said they had clothes and phones removed to be used as evidence.

Another Uncut activist, who was arrested for 20 hours and preferred to be known only as Jim, said: "There was this policewoman, and she spoke to the legal observers and said that all we had to do is turn left and we'd be free to go.

"But when we got out, they began arresting us. People in the crowd told a second female officer: 'You've lied to us. You said we could leave and now you're arresting everyone.' She replied: 'Yes, you're free to leave – to the police station. You're going to be arrested.'"

"Because we were at a peaceful protest, which had been the same as all UK Uncut actions to date, it really shocked me that they would arrest all 150 protesters. I feel tricked. Perhaps I shouldn't expect the police to tell me the truth," he said.

Also in the video is a 24-year-old female legal observer Jules Martin, who says customers in Fortnum & Mason are able to go about their business. Afterwards, she said: "The protesters never interfered with customers who wanted to browse. According to my notes, the cafe at the back was still open with waiters still moving about until after 5pm."

(Picture by Paul Hanes - Coalition of Resistance)

The TUC lift their finger (at long last) and half a million people make their way

to London to protest against the cuts!

Its the start not the finish of the campaign

Why should we pay for the bankers gambling debts?

See pictures here http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/march26/

THE START OF THE FIGHT BACK!

SCENES FROM OUR VISIT TO LONDON FOR THE MASSIVE ANTI CUTS MARCH TODAY!

From start to finish

Pictures by R Sandison

ANTI CUTS CAMPAIGNERS SUPPORT STRIKE AT RUGBY COLLEGE OVER JOBS, PENSIONS AND EDUCATION CUTS

College staff picketing one of the entrances on Thursday this week

Members of Rugby Against The Cuts were invited to join the picket lines at the Rugby campus of Warwickshire College by striking college staff (members of the University and College Union UCU) angry over the CONDEM Government’s attempt to cut £852 million form their pension scheme - which will mean that staff in FE colleges will face an hike in the level of contribution they will need to make of at least an extra 88 per month.

Workers on the picket line were supported by students and people in their cars and on foot – with a number of local people coming up to the picket line to explain how they were supporting the strike because their own pensions were at risk.

College staff also explained that the pension issues is also part of the onslaught of cuts on education, including job cuts and the chance for young people to have a decent education and future as against the dole.

Rugby Against the Cuts took along our banner and gave out our own local leaflet and also leaflets from the Youth Fight For Jobs (a campaign part sponsored by the UCU) to students and also offered to support these workers in any way we can in the future.

By Roy Sandison - Rugby Against The Cuts - Trade Union Liaison

Terminal decline of Lib Dems taking place?

It seems the terminal decline of the Lib Dems is now starting to become more apparent even in their normal heartland of support - the South West of England.

The respected polling observation site - UK Polling Report - http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/ reports a poll in the South West this week that shows the following;

CON 39%(-4), LAB 29%(+14), LDEM 18%(-17), UKIP 6%(+1), GRN 6%(+5).

This poll is very good news for the Greens who seems to be gaining support at the expense of the Lib Dems. Long shall it continue!

With a poll rating of 8-10% nationally, what price the future of Lib Dem Councillors in Rugby?

The lessons learnt from Fukushima

The lessons learnt from Fukushima

13 MARCH 2011

In the continuing aftermath of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake on Friday, Green Party Leader Caroline Lucas MP said:"Our thoughts are with the people of Japan, who have suffered such an enormous tragedy.

"The Green Party expresses our sincere condolences to all those affected by this disaster. The UK and EU governments must begin to immediately mobilise all possible aid to assist Japan.

"1351 is the estimated death toll so far, but there are perhaps tens of thousands people missing in Miyagi alone. Four million people have been left without electricity amid the destruction in Tokyo.

"Clearly, the nuclear incidents at Fukushima, and elsewhere in Japan since the earthquake, are collectively one of the worst in the 50-year history of the international nuclear industry.

"There may have been a partial meltdown of the fuel rods at reactor #1 at Fukushima Daiichi. There may be a partial meltdown underway at reactor #3 of Fukushima Daiichi. Engineers are pumping seawater into reactor #3, a reactor that uses a mixed-oxide fuel which contains plutonium, making the problem potentially more serious. As well, at Tokai No.2 nuclear power plant, in Ibaraki, the cooling system pump has stopped. Finally, at a third complex in Onagawa, radiation levels are above safety margins.

"In terms of lessons learnt, we welcome Chris Huhne's announcement that the Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr. Mike Weightman will produce a report on the implications of the situation in Japan for the UK. (1)

"We also support the European Green Party's call for an EU-level inquiry into the wider implications of the nuclear accident in Japan. This must assess the safety of nuclear reactors in general, and in earthquake situations in particular, looking at reactors in the EU and neighbouring countries.

"It appears that the Fukushima Daiichi complex was affected not by the quake per se, but the failure of grid electricity and back-up diesel electricity supply for cooling, and that could easily happen elsewhere.

"Nuclear power carries inherent risks, and is particularly vulnerable to the potentially deadly combination of human error, design failure, and natural disaster. Given that there are cheaper, quicker, and crucially safer, ways of meeting our energy needs and emisson reduction targets, it is particularly perverse here in the UK to launch the building of a fleet of new nuclear power stations.

"In the UK, nuclear power provide less than 4% of our energy. We urgently need to meet short-term targets to prevent the risk of runaway climate change. Nuclear power cannot help with that, but significant state-led investments in renewable power and energy efficiency could.

"The problem with a centralised electrical grid is the prospect of failures that affect millions of people. Basing our energy system around a decentralised energy grid would avoid this." (2)

Notes

1) Chris Huhne, in Nov 2007, referred to nuclear power as a"tried, tested and failed technology which was clearly a costly blind alley."

2) For more info on decentralised energy systems, please click here.

VOTE YES TO AV! - DESPITE LIB DEM SELL OUT ON PR!

Despite having PR and 'Fair Votes' has a central plank of the their policy for over 40 years, Clegg and Co were so desperate to get into Government that they were willing accept a few crumbs from the Tories in respect of electoral reform and this is a referendum on AV.

The Green Party supports a fairer voting system then that currently on offer by the Lib Dem fudge but will still be campaigning for a YES VOTE in the forthcoming Referendum on the 5th May.

The Green Party Deputy Leader Adrian Ramsey explains why the Green Party will campaign for a YES VOTE:

“We want everyone who favours electoral reform to put their full weight behind the Yes campaign”

“A Yes vote would bring a step in the right direction and demonstrate an appetite for change. Greens and others who want a fair, inclusive proportional way of voting will then continue to campaign for further reform.”

“If you vote No in this referendum, nobody would know whether you were rejecting AV because you wanted genuine reform, or were simply opposing any reform. We think the only logical vote for reformers is to vote Yes to AV, because everyone who does so is clearly showing that they're unhappy with the current system”.

"AV is not perfect but it has a clear advantage over first-past-the-post: it undermines arguments for tactical voting because under AV voters can give their first preference to their preferred candidate or party, safe in the knowledge that their second preference will count just as strongly if their first preference is unsuccessful. Votes cast will therefore be a much better reflection of people's views.”

"We mustn't let the government divide us over this and win. We must get everyone who wants electoral reform onto the same side, to demonstrate the public appetite for change, to win this particular battle and then move the campaign forward from that initial victory.

"This will help build support for further reforms such as a fair voting system for local elections, and will keep pressure on the government to implement its pledge to replace the house of lords with a second chamber elected under proportional representation."

The Green Party remains committed to the Additional Member System (AMS), which authorities agree would deliver a result closer to true proportionality as well as retaining constituency.

The BBC has an excellent guide to the policies of all the parties on AV at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11609887