I have actually said in the past week I would take part in peaceful means to protest if I thought it would do any good. There is a very real threat that any peaceful groups on the street could be used by those with less peaceful motivations and that is scary. None of us can help our loved ones if we get locked up and lose our jobs as a consequence.

I suspect some people will be in a position of thinking they have nothing else to lose and would go along with street demonstrations but, as has been seen in the very recent past, these too are not safe from hijacking by mobs or violence from the police. There is no way I could ever support violent means to bring about change. We have to keep the faith and believe tht in a democracy we should be able to find a way to bring change by peace. Naive, I know, but I have to live in the hope.

My great hope is that somewhere along the lines the backbenchers will revolt and threaten the coalition with more fear than any of us could do on the street. If they start getting it through their heads that the people are not saying we do not need to do something but are saying we need to protect the vulnerable, then maybe they will relent on some of these new cuts?

Violence wil beget violence. It always does. In the end getting around a table and talking is what will bring this hopefully to a better conclusion. Lobbying your MP and using your vote could be a good start if enough people do it?

mp