BOOTS, BALACLAVAS & CUTS.

Yesterday's events around the anti-cuts demonstration in London were a disgrace.

Most of the demonstrators were there to protest, misguidedly, against action that our Government is taking and really have no choice about. The gross profligacy of the previous administration has left such a financial mess that there is only one course of action that can sensibly be taken and that is to rein back, dramatically, on public expenditure. This may be painful and some may feel unfairly affected, but that's life. We have lived, for far to long with far too much Government support, which really means with far too many people living off the taxpayer.

There is no doubt that some services ought to be given priority and, personally, I would pay for the local library long before I'd pay for a Gay or Lesbian centre or other minority interest service; I'd also prefer to pay for decent end-of-life services before I absolved parents of their direct responsbility for looking after their children in terms of free nursery and other services for the under 5s, but then that doesn't seem to be a popular choice.

What is clear is that the demonstrations were subverted by groups which had an entirely different agenda. The scenes of yobs kicking in shop and bank windows, and the occupation of a major store, Fortnum & Mason, were indications that there is a subversive element which will use any opportunity to further its own ends. The police have, reportedly, arrested just over 200 people after the protests, but how many of these had committed any serious breach and how many will ever come to court ? How many of the yobs in balaclavas were rounded up ?

Ed Miliband's appearance at a rally in support of the demonstrators was a horribly misguided and opportunistic attempt to garner support and was in no way worthy of a would-be Prime Minister. No party leader with genuine credentials should ever be seen in such a light and his performance was more that of a rabid union leader than of a potential leader of his country. The epithet of 'Red Ed' never seemed more apt and one has to suspect that his lack of judgement in overtly supporting this campaign will come back to haunt him.

The Government has said that, while it is 'listening' to the protests, it will not be swayed from its course; all well and good if the words mean anything. These are difficult times and we need strong and steadfast government; whether we shall get it, and for long enough, remains to be seen.