Earlier this year we all watched as revolution spread across North Africa; we cheered as Egypt was “liberated” after Mubarak’s 30 year rein. We have intervened in the subsequent crisis in Libya, and seen 2011 as a turning point for the Arabic world, even touching Tehran.Further afield, the world’s longest Communist government in West Bengal, India, was defeated my Mamata Banerjee’s Trinool Congress. It has been a year of revolution, of protest and anger.

Today, we watch the riots in London, Birmingham and elsewhere in the country. I am at a loss. I am all for human rights. I once spent an uncomfortable night in the cells at the Houses of Parliament after protesting against the extortionate top up fees proposed by Tony Blair [yes, 2001, the government who came into power blathering on about "Education, Education, Education."] I didn’t injure anyone, or get anything from it myself, other than a criminal record.

What is clear to me is that the uprising in London has very little to do with Mark Duggan, whose death is being used as the reason for the subsequent violence. If indeed the police did make a mistake, as they did with Jean-Charles De Menezes after the July 7th attacks, then this clearly needs addressing. However, I struggle to make the link between the death of an allegedly innocent man, and the burning of people’s homes, businesses and livelihoods; not to mention the looting. What began as a peaceful protest has once again been monopolised by rent-a-riot, as seen at the student protests in London last year. The stereotypical image of angry young men in hoodies may be exaggerated by the media, but the pictures, the videos, the witness accounts do not lie.

There is an atmosphere of highly charged anger spreading across the country. Is this anger about Duggan, or about the high unemployment and rising taxes? Does it matter? Is such behaviour ever acceptable? Is this some Robin Hood ideology, whereby looting is excused because of the current economic climate; because people believe they are entitled to everything for free, by whatever means available.

I do not envy David Cameron as he recalls parliament today; nor do I envy the Metropolitan police as they struggle to keep control of the streets. This is not a “revolution” as one friend suggested this morning; – this is violence for violence sake. It is sickening, and sends out a worrying message to the rest of the world.

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here