NationStates Jolt Archive

Easy up.

This is kind of an addendum to the protest thread from a while ago. Anyway, there's currently a demonstration going on at the houses of parliament called "sack parliament". The basic premise is an attempt to stop MPs getting into Westminster and passing laws, sanctioning wars, giving tours etc.

Here's (http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.959337.0.police_trap_anarchists_in_parliament_square.php) an article about the current state of affairs at Westminster.

And here's (http://www.sackparliament.org.uk/) the protestor's website.

What caught my eye was the ratio of police to protestors - 16:1. I really should have gone, but;

a) I'm at work, and I don't want to be 'ironically' sacked.
b) I need to get a visa for China, so I really don't need to be arrested for this.

But there you go. What do you think of the protestor's aims? What about the police reaction? Would you have gone? Would you sanction the cracking of skulls? Can peaceful protest ever effect change? Questions that need to be debated once more, I feel.

Pip Pip!

As long as its a peaceful protest its fine. Strangely peaceful protesting is made legal by the people their trying to stop. Would they prefer a monarchy, I think not

Would they prefer a monarchy, I think not
that's a silly response. as if there's no other alternative :rolleyes:.

i would go along but i'm already awaiting a court summons and i don't think it would help my case to get arrested for anything else, plus i can't afford the bus far down to london just now or the time to take off for the trip.

that's a silly response. as if there's no other alternative :rolleyes:.


In the short term there wouldn't be. For parliament to be "sacked" so to speak then the monarch would have to close parliament and form an interim government until we re-elect a new one. Unless we are getting rid of the monarchy as well as Parliament. I nearly forgot about the Lords, how do we sack them ? Fact is these people are pissed off for the UK going to war and they are protesting about the wrong thing. If they want change then fight for something like :

Electoral Reform
Changes to the way the UK processes law (eg pro QMV)
House of Lords Reform
Even the resignation of Tony Blair

But to stand outside the Houses of Parliament and try and stop democratically elected MP's is, well childish for what of a better term.

In the short term there wouldn't be. For parliament to be "sacked" so to speak then the monarch would have to close parliament and form an interim government until we re-elect a new one. Unless we are getting rid of the monarchy as well as Parliament. I nearly forgot about the Lords, how do we sack them ? Fact is these people are pissed off for the UK going to war and they are protesting about the wrong thing. If they want change then fight for something like :

Electoral Reform
Changes to the way the UK processes law (eg pro QMV)
House of Lords Reform
Even the resignation of Tony Blair

But to stand outside the Houses of Parliament and try and stop democratically elected MP's is, well childish for what of a better term.

already established procedure is not the only way to effect change. in fact it's probably the worst seeing as all the people with the power to set in motion such established procedure have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

In the short term there wouldn't be. For parliament to be "sacked" so to speak then the monarch would have to close parliament and form an interim government until we re-elect a new one. Unless we are getting rid of the monarchy as well as Parliament. I nearly forgot about the Lords, how do we sack them? ... If they want change then fight for something like :

Electoral Reform
Changes to the way the UK processes law (eg pro QMV)
House of Lords Reform
Even the resignation of Tony Blair



It's not just the war that they're protesting against. Look at the website.

And I think 'sacking' parliament is a coy euphamism for 'overthrowing', which they'd have probably tried if there had been more than 50 people there.

already established procedure is not the only way to effect change. in fact it's probably the worst seeing as all the people with the power to set in motion such established procedure have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

Thats why electoral reform has slowly been happening?
What about House of Lords reform, the fact that hereditary peers have been removed ?
What about devolved government?

All these are core changes to the British system

How is protesting for something viable and achievable such a bad idea

If this were happening in the US I'd go in a heartbeat.