• David Cameron: Students need to get facts straight

Reader views (54)

 Add your view

"Question what happens when someone graduates owing £27,000 but decides to work in another country

- bazza, London, 01/12/2010 09:20"

Or indeed gets marriedand stays at home to look after the kids; or goes back home to Europe where so far almost no-one has even started paying back their loans.

- Steve, Brentford, 01/12/2010 09:46
Report abuse

It's not the lake of police or the students who run riot who are to blame, it's the twits who voted for the Tories, especially the ones who are old enough to remember Thatcher, Slowly but surely the Tories will turn us into a state like America where the poor are very poor. They do not care about freedoms, they will remove all "rights" it's only about money, if you have it you're OK, if you don't go away.

- Fredrick, London, 01/12/2010 09:29
Report abuse

I found it quite amusing watching the police on the news last night, the students had them running around like the keystone cops.Question what happens when someone graduates owing £27,000 but decides to work in another country

- bazza, London, 01/12/2010 09:20
Report abuse

I'm quite disappointed that I tried to write an intelligent response from my point of view as a student here (see below) only to be ignored so people can go on to call us 'wretches' and 'ingrates'. My degree is certainly not a '3 year alcohol fuelled doss' either.

Tess - international students not only have a very important role to play in the diversity of university life; they play a very important role in funding too. Universities have to cut budgets (thus courses, staff, resources, etc) when they experience financial losses, which are often attributed to and coincide with shortfalls in international students.

So please Wayne, do continue discussing the Scots involvement in the World Wars, while we carry on protesting, hopefully peacefully. Thanks.

- Alex, London, 30/11/2010 23:20
Report abuse

In public expenditure terms, the UK currently spends just 0.7 per cent of its GDP on higher education, a lower level than France (1.2 per cent), Germany (0.9 per cent), Canada (1.5 per cent), Poland (0.9 per cent) and Sweden (1.4 per cent). Even the United States, where students make a considerable private contribution, spends 1 per cent of its GDP on higher education - 0.3 per cent more than the UK does.The coalition's decision to triple tuition fees was a political choice, not an economic necessity.

- danny, oxford,uk, 30/11/2010 23:10
Report abuse

> You see the moment you break the law you are no longer protected by it and the moment you put innocent people in fear you lose you have no rights. As stated by Ross H, London

So Ross, is this when the torture starts?

- Richard, London, 30/11/2010 23:02
Report abuse

Wayne from Canada

If you`ve read somewhere that pipers led any charges in either of the World Wars . . . . . go and get your money back, it`s rubbish.

- Rowland, Kingston up the Thames, 30/11/2010 22:22
Report abuse

To the 'Convenient Truth' who says the 'Scots would be bankrupt were it not for the English taxpayer.' That may be true, though who led the charge for you lot in the world wars? I don't recall any Englishmen playing the pipes. Get back behind your broadsheets and tackle the crossword puzzle.

- Wayne, Fredericton, Canada, 30/11/2010 21:52
Report abuse

The students have a right to protest its them that’s being affected! Unfortunately some people join solely to cause trouble, most of these aren't even going to uni (some were far older than students).

"I worked all the way through Uni to pay my way... why can't they?..... reason is that they are lazy and expect to be provided for" You didn't work you way through £9k +living costs, you paid 1/3 of what these students will be paying. Most of them will get jobs and pay their way (lazy people dont go to uni they go on benefits instead) the fact is it will be impossible for them, to come out without a huge dept because it will be impossible to work the hours to that much money and pass the course on top!

Yet they are bring out a plan so the welsh can get grants (I’m guessing that’s going to be tax paid) so they don’t have to pay any more! How are they any different to students in the rest of the uk?

It will then be impossible to get a mortgage with that much dept. There are many other area wear money is being wasted that can be looked at, including all of the lazy people on benefits who can’t be bothered to work.

they all talk about everyone having pay their part, but the rich have barely been stretched, Infact how many of these £100k+ politicians (tax paid remember) have taken pay cuts to help the dept, NONE!

- Felicity Lynch, Bognor Regis, 30/11/2010 21:43
Report abuse

In all the comments I`ve seen in the past few weeks regarding Tuition Fees, there has never been one that criticises the Universities that make the charges.

Are the fees justified? Value for money?
Or is a "University" that deals in Fish and Chip degrees and was set up in a Technical College that had been providing worthwhile Vocational Training, simply a very lucrative business.

- Rowland, Kingston up the Thames, 30/11/2010 21:20
Report abuse

"how many times, over how many days, do these lies need to be spread?????

Nothing is payable until your income reaches a sufficient level. Nothing, Nada, Nyet, Not a bean."

And all the time interest keeps rising and they'll NEVER get a mortgage until the debt is substantially paid off deep into their future. Beam me up Scotty to your planet ans its...how many moons.

- Steve, Brentford, 30/11/2010 20:39
Report abuse

I don't mean to be rude here but I watched the video above and the young man talking was certainly not breed and born in the UK with his accent.

When we joined the EU, opened the flood gates, anyone could walk in here and put a burden on everyone of our services. I hope this young man parents are working, paying UK taxes to fund his Grants/loans. I hope this explains to him, why our Government has to put up fees - to pay for the millions of NON UK kids now residing in the UK!! Blunt but true. Does their original "HOMELANDS" provide such good services - at reduced cost - think NOT - otherwise they wouldn't all be here.

I never went to Uni but have worked all my life, plus brought up kids. I do have a daughter at Uni but she went in as a mature student at 21, after having worked/paid taxes for 3 years, knowing 100% the course she wanted to do before getting herself into £1,000's of pounds of debt and that it has a career at the end. However, her friends from school went in at 18, done courses that are now USELESS to get a decent job in and haven't a clue what they want to do at 21/22 years of age.

As for EMA - to help the poorer kids stay in education to 18, have some hope, I did agree with this. However, how did kids I KNOW from private schools, manage to obtain it? Money grabbing parents that only declared annual P60 not BUSINESS DIVIDENDS!
Again, you wonder why UK putting up prices of Uni?

- Tess, London, 30/11/2010 20:01
Report abuse

I don't mean to be rude here but I watched the video above and the young man talking was certainly not breed and born in the UK with his accent.

When we joined the EU, opened the flood gates, anyone could walk in here and put a burden on everyone of our services. I hope this young man parents are working, paying UK taxes to fund his Grants/loans. I hope this explains to him, why our Government has to put up fees - to pay for the millions of NON UK kids now residing in the UK!! Blunt but true. Does their original "HOMELANDS" provide such good services - at reduced cost - think NOT - otherwise they wouldn't all be here.

I never went to Uni but have worked all my life, plus brought up kids. I do have a daughter at Uni but she went in as a mature student at 21, after having worked/paid taxes for 3 years, knowing 100% the course she wanted to do before getting herself into £1,000's of pounds of debt and that it has a career at the end. However, her friends from school went in at 18, done courses that are now USELESS to get a decent job in and haven't a clue what they want to do at 21/22 years of age.

As for EMA - to help the poorer kids stay in education to 18, have some hope, I did agree with this. However, how did kids I KNOW from private schools, manage to obtain it? Money grabbing parents that only declared annual P60 not BUSINESS DIVIDENDS!
Again, you wonder why UK putting up prices of Uni?

- Tess, London, 30/11/2010 20:00
Report abuse

Cool.
I think a lot of students don't understand what a university is. It is not a technical college, we got rid of those. Its a place where you pay money to get a list of brand new latest edition text books to buy. Everything else is just for show.
The funds are used to sponsor investigation into wheel reinvention, and all important studies into the history of wheel reinvention.
Economically useful research comes from industry sponsorship and self funded Phd students from alien worlds.
This is all true.
Marching is a s**** form of protest. It doesn't work for orangemen, nor anybody else. A better form would simply to spread out. One student every 20 feet on virtually every street in London, holding a placard. Unavoidable, but inoffensive.
Fees are the least of my worries, its accommodation that's the biggest rip off. Usually costs 1.5 times your loan in London, before bills, before any travel costs like buspass or travel card, before food. Then all your post goes missing. Sucks.

- Henry Feather, Richmond, London, 30/11/2010 18:54
Report abuse

I am so glad the weather was nice for the great unwased.
I pity the police haing to waste time and our money on this pointless rabble. I see bus shelters and business premises' windows were smashed. I hope a large number get criminal records.
Let us hope these wretches are even less likely to get us all to pay for their socalled college services. I think most of those with silly little starter beards are probably not obtaining useful degrees in science, medicine and engineering etc.
I suppose many of the children will follow their parents onto dole with no attempt at training.

- michael, London, UK, 30/11/2010 18:47
Report abuse

Those poor coppers. Stuck out in the cold, shepherding a bunch of ingrates who are using the coppers tax pounds to fund a three year alcohol fuelled doss. I think the TSG have been quite reasonable when you consider the above.

- jimbob, Kensington, 30/11/2010 18:33
Report abuse

"that's no more accurate than helen's derranged claims."
- Scotty, London, 30/11/2010 17:05

My deranged claims? What that people leaving university with £27,000 worth of debt is too much? I understand that its not a prepaid amount, and that the govenment takes it out of your future wages once your earning a certain amount, but £27K in debt is ALOT of money.

And as for the paying it back part over time, what about the fact that for some courses for example, a social worker, doesn't necessarily guarantee a £80K job a year. Should people that want to study this be forced to give themselves a huge debt, when they're expected earning once leaving are what, say £25K? Even if they only have to pay a small amount at a time, it'll still take years to pay off a sum that large!

Oh, and Scotty, a big difference between the UK and Australia is, while it's obviously still done, it is much less common for Australian students to live on campus (unless you're from really far out of town) and most students live at home while they study, unlike here, which makes it more expensive for UK students again.

- Helen, London, 30/11/2010 18:06
Report abuse

I'd just like to fight the 'whining kids'' corner here; the increase in fees is not the only problem. The blatant disregard for the Arts & Humanities in favour of STEM subjects is another. Leading universities that have contributed overwhelming to the development of the arts, culture, social sciences and languages in this country are facing potentially 100% cuts: SOAS, for example. This means the loss of courses and teaching staff, which as a 1st year student today is not what I signed up for.
Another problem is the cuts to EMA without which I wouldn't have been able to study my chosen subjects. EMA helped pay for my travel alone to and from college everyday; of course, I could have gone to a local 6th form college, but the courses I wished to study were not available. This is an example of how the cuts affect choice in the education system.
Personally, I don't believe as some students do that education is a 'right' nor should it be free. But the government proposals are overkill and it does not feel like potential alternatives are being looked into. Whether you have a good job at the end or not, faced with paying back £27K in fees plus the additional £5-7K a year in living costs is an incredibly daunting prospect, making the choice problematic for students today.
& is anyone asking where that additional funding will come from before the £9K students start paying it back? Don't the gov budget on losing 25% of what is loaned out? 25% of £9K is a lot more than 25% of £3K...

- Alex, London, 30/11/2010 17:37
Report abuse

@Martin_Clerkenwell

Why should it be a choice?

I'd be a lot less opposed to loans, were they merely an alternative to winning a state scholarship in competitive (and hard) examinations. Such scholarships could be awarded on academic merit, and in numbers reflecting the nation's need for graduates in the various subject areas.

- Nigel, London, 30/11/2010 17:32
Report abuse

Come on students protest in the City of London if you think that you are hard enough. Bankers rule

- Grim Reaper, Hell, 30/11/2010 17:14
Report abuse

In the 70s, one could join professions such as the law, accounting, and even actuarial with decent grade A levels. You then received your training within employment.

- Stevie G, London SW11, 30/11/2010 16:46

For accountancy that is still true today.

- Scotty, London, 30/11/2010 17:07
Report abuse

It seems a lot of people forget, education is free in this country from 4 - 18, even after that the government does't charge students until they start work and earn £21k. I never had free uni education and have done ok, so why can't todays students do the same?

- Jose Luis, London SW18, 30/11/2010 17:05
Report abuse

Helen, thats exactly the point, if you haven't got £27000 you don't get the education you want, why should someone else i.e. the tax payer stump this money up, get it into your heads it's not a god given right.

- Dirk Diggler's Frozen Dongle, Dangletown, Dingleberry., 30/11/2010 16:33


that's no more accurate than helen's derranged claims.

Everyone should have the ability to pursue a worthwhile career based on academic merit, and not social or economic standing. and that is not compromised by this scheme.

It shares the cost, without impacting the accessibility.

How many people realise an identical scheme has run in Australia for nearly a quarter of a century without incident?

- Scotty, London, 30/11/2010 17:05
Report abuse

Are people like Steve & Helen being dishonest or just illinformed?

NO ONE needs to find £9,000.

for a start that only covers the very best courses, and not the usual former poly technic rubbish that won't provide the career needed to pay such fees.

I repeat NO ONE NEEDS TO FIND £9,000

how many times, over how many days, do these lies need to be spread?????

Nothing is payable until your income reaches a sufficient level. Nothing, Nada, Nyet, Not a bean.

and as that sufficient level will be 50% higher than it is now, then that can only help those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

what's more if these untruths, obfuscations and lies continue, it might actually discourage some people from applying to Oxbridge thus making it easier for the smart and ambitious to win a place. It sure isn't the smart ones who will be discouraged by this scheme, they are highly likely to be able to read and think for themselves.

- Scotty, London, 30/11/2010 17:02
Report abuse

@Convenient Truth: "There is nothing to protest about.
Under the new system, poorer students will do better than now." You mean low-achieving students, not students from low-income families.

The only people who will be better off will be the weakest and least-motivated students, who possibly shouldn't be going to university at all. The ones who'll never earn above the national average.

For anyone who ever gets a job earning above the national average salary after graduating, they'll be repaying upwards of £40K with compounding above-inflation interest for 30 years under the new scheme, compared to £9K inflation-linked under the old one. Better-off, you say?

Something to ponder. In twenty years time if the new scheme goes ahead, today's students will be shaping the politics of health care and pensions for the elderly. Do you think they'll be sympathetic? Who exactly will it be who forced them to start their adult lives with £40K of debt, compounding at a rate well above inflation?

And if you're planning on downsizing your house to fund your retirement, you'd better sell soon. Who do you think is going to be able to afford to buy it at today's prices a decade or two hence, when all graduates enter the housing market already loaded with £40K debt plus compounded interest? I anticipate the average house price dropping £80K for so (in today's money).

- Nigel, London, 30/11/2010 17:01
Report abuse

Helen - London

you are absolutely correct - attendance should be based on academic criteria not wealth. So we can move back to a system where the top 10% go and the taxpayer foots the bill - which is affordable OR the we have 50% attend and it has to be funded in another way...That's the choice......make up your mind...

- martin_clerkenwell, london, 30/11/2010 17:00
Report abuse

Mr Plod needs to realise that students are not totally dumb,they not going to be cornered and locked up like last time.

- dave, london, 30/11/2010 16:56
Report abuse

Why would you need £9000 lying around? The money is collected later, once you have a job paying over £21000. The alternative is the state pays everything and you pay higher taxes. Plus all the people who didn't or won't go to uni have to chip in.

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 30/11/2010 16:54
Report abuse

In the 70s, one could join professions such as the law, accounting, and even actuarial with decent grade A levels. You then received your training within employment. Consequently only a small proportion of the population actually needed to go on to further education - people such as doctors, vets, teachers, nurses, and architects.

Then we had the lethal combination of (a) rampant A-level grade inflation which started in the 80s, reached its zenith under New Labour, and eventually rendered A levels of limited value to employers, together with (b) New Labour's lamebrained desire to have 50% of the population go through higher education, which is now insupportable.

Hence much wailing and gnashing of teeth by students because the taxpayer cannot afford to pay their fees any more, which is understandable. However, students also need to take on board the reality that higher education is not a right.

I know that this all sounds horribly simplistic but the system in the 70s worked well - it certainly did for me. If the government were to strengthen A-levels and avoid the need for people going university for degrees which are so often second and third rate then perhaps there will be sufficient money to go round for those that do need it.

- Stevie G, London SW11, 30/11/2010 16:46
Report abuse

Why don't you whining kids just shut up and realise the world has changed and you're not "entitled" to anything.
If you get a good degree in a decent subject, paying the loan back won't be a problem as you will have a good job. Other than that, you can't all be captains of industry, you know. Someone has to sweep the streets.
Live with it.

- Stewart, SW19, 30/11/2010 16:42
Report abuse

Helen, thats exactly the point, if you haven't got £27000 you don't get the education you want, why should someone else i.e. the tax payer stump this money up, get it into your heads it's not a god given right.

- Dirk Diggler's Frozen Dongle, Dangletown, Dingleberry., 30/11/2010 16:33
Report abuse

"I worked all the way through Uni to pay my way... why can't they?..... reason is that they are lazy and expect to be provided for..... god help us all.

- Ross H, London, 30/11/2010 14:41"

Not at nine grand a year plus todays accommodation prices, no you didnt matey!

- Steve, Brentford, 30/11/2010 16:24
Report abuse

@Peter Mason

I'm sorry Peter, but there are millions of people in London, and many thousands of them will be trying to go about their daily business today.

The protestors have chosen to protest, but the many thousands who work/live/visit the City today have chosen not to. Why should the overwhelming majority have their lives disrupted just to accomodate the protestors?

The police kettle the protestors to contain potential disruption to specific areas, to maintain order and to keep London functioning.

If the protestors are just allowed to do whatever they like, splinter off into various groups and run amok around London they cause mass disruption, risk safety and inhibit the lives of the overwhelming majority of Londoners.

The police are trying to keep London moving and protect those who aren't protesting and who are just trying to get on with their lives. They cannot do so with the protestors gifted free rein.

If you go to one of these protests you have to expect that the police are going to try and contain your movements and co-ordinate the protest with regard to what is best for the safety and functionality of the rest of the city.

We saw exactly what happens when the police take a hands-off approach at the first protest... anarchy!

- Mark, London, 30/11/2010 16:21
Report abuse

I work right near New Scotland Yard and we had all the protesters near us, and honestly I don't blame them! The fees are tripling, and for people who say "pay their own way" who has £27,000 lying around for an education? And this isn't including living expenses, just for a basic 3yr course!
People shouldn't be able to go to university becuase they don't have the academics, not because they don't have the funds, otherwise this country will become even more class divided than it is now, with university education being for only those who can afford it.
And Ross H, you worked through uni? And how much did you pay? £9000 a year + living expenses? I think not.

- Helen, London, 30/11/2010 16:20
Report abuse

Kubrick, London - "Unbelievable! Where has everyone's intelligence gone? These comments are mostly illiterate garbage."

Please explain your statements, as I have had no issues reading & understanding the comments posted below?

- Dom, London, United Dustbin of Europe, 30/11/2010 16:16
Report abuse

Unbelievable! Where has everyone's intelligence gone? These comments are mostly illiterate garbage. This is supposed to be one of the most intellectual nations on earth and we can barely string a meaningful sentence together about this subject. And this is with a working further education system!

- Kubrick, London, 30/11/2010 15:50

Ok another wannabe film student from a former polytechnic. great.

you call the comments of others' illiterate garbage and still weren't clever enough yourself to address & refute ANY of them.

maybe you need to worry less about sentence structure and more about content. which you are pathetically lacking.

the facts are this:
- there is a right to freedom of assembly, nothing more.
- there is no right to cause damage or a public nuisance. which should cover the effluent from your keyboard but unfortunately doesn't.
- Poor students are greatly advantaged under this new scheme.
- the repayment threshold is up nearly 50% on graduation
- there are no upfront fees, so there is NO impact on social mobility.

now "Kubrick" once you've moved onto "Kazan" maybe you can offer something of content and interest for us to read.

- Scotty, London, 30/11/2010 16:15
Report abuse

it's time to cut police overtime and allow these protests to be self-stewarded and then we see who are really proteting and not just giving YOU and the Media a voyeristic thrill?
lock up MP's

- will moriarty, leics, 30/11/2010 14:36


You're not an "A" student are you Will?

- Scotty, London, 30/11/2010 16:07
Report abuse

Unbelievable! Where has everyone's intelligence gone? These comments are mostly illiterate garbage. This is supposed to be one of the most intellectual nations on earth and we can barely string a meaningful sentence together about this subject. And this is with a working further education system!

- Kubrick, London, 30/11/2010 15:50
Report abuse

Peter - yes protesting is legal and it is a very important democratic right. Though in this case they are acting illegally so the law no longer protects them.... they are just thugs causing public disorder and should be treated as such. As such I advocate robust action by the Police including kettling if necessary. You see the moment you break the law you are no longer protected by it and the moment you put innocent people in fear you lose you have no rights.

- Ross H, London, 30/11/2010 15:38
Report abuse

This type of legitimate protest, inconvenience to others , violence , damage to property and millions spent on security is totally justified to protect the rights of thise wishing to read media studies and social humanities dont you agree.

Anyone involved in violence or damage prosecute them, they wont need to incur a huge bill for tution fees as they wont get a job anyway ..

- Paul, London, 30/11/2010 15:37
Report abuse

Peter - yes protesting is legal and it is a very important democratic right. Though in this case they are acting illegally so the law no longer protects them.... they are just thugs causing public disorder and should be treated as such. As such I advocate robust action by the Police including kettling if necessary. You see the moment you break the law you are no longer protected by it and the moment you put innocent people in fear you lose you have no rights.

- Ross H, London, 30/11/2010 15:35
Report abuse

@Peter Mason

"Protest is legal in this country, in case you'd forgtotten..."

Absolutely right, and most of us haven't forgotten, but the harrassment of members of the public and the destruction of other peoples' property is not. As a tax payer, I have no qualms about paying tax towards the education of people who are going to provide a public service (doctors, nurses, etc.) but I do believe some students go to uni to study worthless degrees - that will not enhance their career prospects - in order to enjoy the social life and avoid work for a few more years.

- Jules from the South, London, 30/11/2010 15:34
Report abuse

There is nothing to protest about.
Under the new system, poorer students will do better than now.
Many courses are lightweight & not really degree level. Be like the Americans & work your way through college.
If they want to protest, how about rioting about the way Scots universities discriminate against English students.
Especially bearing in mind the Scots would be bankrupt were it not for the English taxpayer

- The Convenient Truth, Reading, England, 30/11/2010 15:30
Report abuse

@Peter Mason. Liberty and legality have limits and if they bother people going on about their work, as this gentleman's preganant wife and son are doing, they lose their liberty and legality. The fact you equate both cases is pathetic. I am for banning these marches as they seem to be not capable of self-managing.

- John, London, 30/11/2010 15:28
Report abuse

Ross i dont think you can blame police as they are doing all they can, yes its sad to hear about your wife and child but come on dont blame police. my brother is a police man and he is policing the protest today and he has been drafted in from essex no one knew how bad it was going to be last time but this time they are prepared. it is wrong what these students are doing and a waste of police time, no one talks about the police that get hurt do they? and are they not as innocent as your wife and child at the end of the day? these students are just giving all students a bad name and making them out to be thugs etc, as a recently graduated student i can understand not wanting to pay such high costs but when it comes down to it its my choice to pay it and go or be stuck doing something i dont want to for the rest of my life. its sad to think these people are our future work force.

- Fi Drapes, London, 30/11/2010 15:28
Report abuse

Give these rioting students a few wallops of the truncheon they they know that violence on the streets and causing criminal damage will not be tolerated.

- Barry from Bermondsey, London, 30/11/2010 15:18
Report abuse

Thats the way to do it,breaking of into numerous small groups and running amok,keep the police guessing and on the run,dont tell the police nothing. make em work,make the state goons run about. Good luck.

- Mugwump, London-UK, 30/11/2010 15:16
Report abuse

This is no longer a protest movement, but a smokescreen to cause some mayhem. The organisers have alternatives and think that they can hold the Government to ransom by nuisance and intimidation. Grow up. We all make sacrifices and you should at least research the origins of the deficit rather than trotting out the completely eroneous and trite "it's the bankers" line.

- Mark, London, 30/11/2010 15:16
Report abuse

>My pregnant wife and two year old son had to put up with them jumping on our car and rocking it in Victoria.

Sorry to hear that. BUT the protestors had to put up with being illegally detained for up to 6 hours last week and upon arrival at the organized route start today, they were instantly met by Met Police saying "You're going to be kettled again until 6pm"

Do you wonder they were trying to avoid the same again? Protest is legal in this country, in case you'd forgtotten...

- Peter Mason, London, UK, 30/11/2010 15:12
Report abuse

@will. So you think students are law abiding and do not valdalise in the absence of police? Either you are naive or more likely stupid. The public are greatly inconvenienced by these young thugs. Let the students pay if want university education.

- John, London, 30/11/2010 15:11
Report abuse

Ban these protests. These are interested in study and looking for any reason to stay away from schools, colleges and universities. There should be no loans,but ask them to pay the fee upfront if they want a university qualification.

- Christine, Manchester, 30/11/2010 15:06
Report abuse

If the police do their job then they are too tough and if they stand back then they are too lenient. No win situation.

Weekday protests in Central London should be banned and anyone breaking the ban should be swept up by the police and kept in holding pens for 24 hours.

- BJ, East London, 30/11/2010 14:59
Report abuse

My pregnant wife and two year old son had to put up with them jumping on our car and rocking it in Victoria. I am furious, where were the Police. My wife and son were seriously traumatised. Should they have been put through this? They are innocent. We live in a namby pamby state where good citizens are not protected. What happended to pro-active Policing or do we have to sort this out ourselves.....?
I worked all the way through Uni to pay my way... why can't they?..... reason is that they are lazy and expect to be provided for..... god help us all.

- Ross H, London, 30/11/2010 14:41
Report abuse

it's time to cut police overtime and allow these protests to be self-stewarded and then we see who are really proteting and not just giving YOU and the Media a voyeristic thrill?
lock up MP's

- will moriarty, leics, 30/11/2010 14:36
Report abuse

Add your comment