Mixed Messages from Marchers
Today's protest march in London - organised by the TUC - promises to be a friendly, peaceful affair.
I wish the marchers well - but fear they are sending a very mixed message to the wider public.
Because all the mainstream political parties - at a UK level - agree that public spending has to be reduced in order to heal the damage done to the economy - by a debt driven recession.
Even the Labour party - which the trade unions support and fund - believes that 'cuts' are a necessary evil and that there are no pain free solutions.
So what the marchers are really saying is - "Don't cut my job or something that affects me, cut something or someone else."
And the problem with that is that no one is prepared to say - on a practical level at least - where these pain free cuts would come from.
A poll in today's Guardian seems to confirm that the wider public - is not swayed by the anti-cuts rhetoric - from Labour or the trade unions.
In an ICM poll published today only 35% think the government's plans go too far – down 10 points since November.
But 28% agree that the government has found the right balance - while a surprising 29% say the cuts are not severe enough.
Which amounts to 57% support for what the government is doing - or going even further.
So the TUC and the marchers have a battle on their hands to get their message across - because at the moment their strategy isn't working.
The Labour leader - Ed Miliband - is apparently addressing the marchers when they reach journey's end in Hyde Park - maybe things will become a bit clearer by then.
I wish the marchers well - but fear they are sending a very mixed message to the wider public.
Because all the mainstream political parties - at a UK level - agree that public spending has to be reduced in order to heal the damage done to the economy - by a debt driven recession.
Even the Labour party - which the trade unions support and fund - believes that 'cuts' are a necessary evil and that there are no pain free solutions.
So what the marchers are really saying is - "Don't cut my job or something that affects me, cut something or someone else."
And the problem with that is that no one is prepared to say - on a practical level at least - where these pain free cuts would come from.
A poll in today's Guardian seems to confirm that the wider public - is not swayed by the anti-cuts rhetoric - from Labour or the trade unions.
In an ICM poll published today only 35% think the government's plans go too far – down 10 points since November.
But 28% agree that the government has found the right balance - while a surprising 29% say the cuts are not severe enough.
Which amounts to 57% support for what the government is doing - or going even further.
So the TUC and the marchers have a battle on their hands to get their message across - because at the moment their strategy isn't working.
The Labour leader - Ed Miliband - is apparently addressing the marchers when they reach journey's end in Hyde Park - maybe things will become a bit clearer by then.
