Leave the St Paul's protesters in their tents - clearing them would cause more trouble than it's worth
In a fit of curiosity, I headed off yesterday lunchtime to see the happycampers who have been dominating the headlines and bringing about the downfallof various prelates.
Coming out of the tube station, I walked around the corner expecting mayhem.Instead I saw some rows of tents and a few groups of youngish studentish typessitting about in a relaxed and carefree fashion.
The usual mix of Londoners walked past unhindered and seemingly unbothered.Spotting an upmarket coffee shop opposite the tents I bought a take-away coffeeand walked into the encampment.
There I was, Tory MP in a suit with a poppy, symbol of the capitalist societyto be overthrown, wandering up and down in the midst of the anarchists. Whatwould happen? From the point of view of writing an interesting article, I amsorry to report that nothing happened at all. Not a glare or stare, let alonethreats or acts of physical violence were offered. Many of the protestersactually looked and sounded like bankers having a day off.
Other members of the public went about their business unmolested. Nothingseemed to be preventing people from getting into the Church. A few policeofficers stood about trying not to look bored. They didn’t seem to be expectingtrouble.
A debate now rages across the press between those whosupport the protestors and those who want to kick them off St Paul's.
I wish to offer a truly alternative voice. What about those who don’t supportthe protesters but don’t think its worth kicking them off either?
Nobody should have the right to park their tents on a piece of ground andremove everyone else’s right to use it, especially if they are then going todisappear home for a shower and a sleep.
But if, after a long and expensive court battle, the protesters are orderedto leave we know what will happen. Their numbers will suddenly swell as violentagitiators join them.
The police, if they are met with violence, will have to use force. This willmean demonstrators being hit with asps, pushed by shields and sprayed with apepper solution.
In short, a huge punch up would be inevitable, recorded by a thousand mobilephones. Impressionable teenagers from upmarket homes will get carried away andthrow things at the police, get arrested and face imprisonment, while otherscaught up in the melee will receive minor injuries then spend months appearingon the television to moan about the fascist state and “police brutality”.
Those who ask the police to go in will probably be the first to condemn themwhen the complaints pour in. It is all so depressingly foreseeable.
So let us just put up with the slight eyesore and the minor inconvenience ofthis demonstration. Let them have their fun.
Instead of sending in the riot squad, perhaps we could ask the head ofrecruitment for the Financial Services Authority and the Serious Fraud Office topop along with some job application forms and explain that making a differenceto banking regulation and tax fraud is possible, but it usually involves monthsor years of hard unglamorous work, not 15 minutes of fame in front of thecameras.