Tweet Tweet, My Sweet

It’s been subdued around Westminster for the last week or so. Everyone has seemed almost afraid to make too much noise. Unlike many, those who work on the Estate are used to seeing men and women heavily armed and ready to shoot the next Greenpeace protestor off the roof at a moment’s notice or the occasional riot on our doorstep. But the footage that we have all seen since last weekend will still have shaken and enraged a great deal many people.

As a Tory I am all for strong policing and robust responses but I was not happy with the PM after this.

“So we are working with the Police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites (twitter/facebook) and services (BBM) when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality. I have also asked the police if they need any other new powers.”

It’s lazy and misleading to lay this at the door of social networks, not to mention damn hypocritical after our criticism of social media censorship in other countries. Individuals determined to cause trouble will always find a way to communicate their intensions, the police should be using social media as a tool to locate and anticipate the violence and those causing it. Those who are saying that closing Twitter for a few hours, during major riots, is ‘common sense’ are talking out of their arses. The benefits of such a network have been noted again and again.

You could almost hear a collective sigh when the PM announced that Parliament would be recalled and the Whips were quick to send out an email confirming that suitable food would be available for Members. Waste of time and money if you ask me.

The boss wasn’t at all impressed with the Government’s response and on more than one occasion I heard him muttering something about the Bullingdon Club under his breath.
He flies off on his hols this weekend and is exceptionally smug about having booked it later than most.

It was nice to see everyone back in their office best, anything to stop Denis MacShane from walking around the Estate in hippy sandals and a bright red check shirt. My eyes!

Toodles x