There is little doubt that we live in difficult and hard times. So many people strugg;ing to make ends meet and a millionaire like David Cameron (yes, he is) and hisd cabinet of millionaires (yes, they are) tell us to we have to accept cruel and wicked spending cuts. I spoke to one of my prisoners in the DSPD unit at Frankland prison; he has been their for four years and they have only now decided that he does not meet their stated admission criteria - this could have been established long ago- and it has cost £96,000 a year to maintain my prisoner on this awful unit. Considerign that there are five others in the same position as my prisoner this issue alone has cost the tax payer well over half a million punds a year. The cost of the DSPD project the value of which is highly questionable runs into millions.This is clearly not a good state of affairs and leaves any thinking person in doubt about the competence not only of the government but the political system itself.Protests against increased tuition fees are continuing and will escalate and become more angry - I have been invited to a local event on Thursday and intend going. I find the violence of recent times understandable and it could have been avoided.I am a past victim of 'containment' known also as 'kettling' I know it to be unhelpful and dangerous and one area among others where the relevant authorities would be well advise to think again! Police vioence and brutality are also not unknown to me
Well done to all who protest and stand against what they believe to be totally wrong. All strength and courage to them Walking by on the other side may well be an established past time for the switched off and unconcerned but its not for me