MEMBERS of the Socialist Youth Network members may well be dangerous firebrands, but one wonders if it was really necessary for the Metropolitan Police to threaten one of them with a year’s imprisonment for trying to hold a demonstration near Downing Street – which they’d already organised. Her Majesty’s finest told Owen Jones of the Labour Representation Committee that the “Where Is Our Bailout” Budget day protest, timed for around midday, couldn’t go ahead because of two other demonstrations, including one about carers – even though he only wanted people to stand on the pavement holding placards. Budget day duly arrived… but one of the demonstrations didn’t. “It’s now past 12, and the carers are nowhere to be seen”, fumed Mr Jones as he nursed his coffee.
