Kate,

I can see the basis of your complaints, but can’t see what you think is the solution. After all, every revolution has just put a new political class (generally less tolerant of dissent and more enamoured of procedure to protect them) in power.

Mr Hambolu had valid points that needed addressing, sure. But what do you think the politicians involved should actually have done? I’m not sure that allowing the person who comes in late, shouts and swears to dictate proceedings is actually a sensible way to run a democracy; the impression I get from your post is that we should only listen to those with the right issues to discuss however they present them (incidentally, I agree those were more important issues) but I have no idea of how you think we should do this without losing out to the man with the biggest megaphone.

Thank god for people like Tony Hambolu.

Where is the rage? We’re all sat on our arses while the poorest in society pay for a crisis caused by some of the richest and we get shafted by the Tories and their Lib-Dem beards.

Anytime right up into the 1980s we’d have been on the streets about this. Why are we so passive now?

Compare and contrast the denizens of Lewisham with one Gillian Duffy.

perhaps that’s the north/south divide; deference is weakness up there?

I admire and applaud Mr Hambolu for speaking up with real spirit. It’s just a shame that his complaint highlights what seems to me to be an appalling sense of entitlement.

Who’s going to PAY for him to live in better accomodation in one of the most expensive cities in the world? Me? I don’t think so, pal.

If his flat’s so shit, why doesn’t he get down B&Q and get some paint and some brushes. Borrow a steam cleaner. Get a bottle of bleach. Get a …errr.. it’s on the tip of my tongue… a JOB!?

As for people in council flats with 6 kids? Don’t get me started on such disgustingly irresponsible fecundity.

Honestly, talk about missing the point, Kate.

Best,
AJ

As much as I agree with you about how boring and sterile most hustings, council meetings etc can be and as much as I agree that the issues Tony Hambolu raised and the passion he brought were entirely necessary…

…I have to disagree with how he conducted himself. At the end of the day, if he had bit his lip a little bit, presented what he had to say in a more reasoned manner, he would have had much more impact than causing a fuss then stomping out. You may call it “arse-tight etiquette”, and it may well be – but unfortunately that’s the way it is.

Without wanting to sound like the reactionary fogey I am – six children?

WTF??

@ John T Capp – I meant to take the arse bit out, tbh, and just leave etiquette…

Couple of things, though – I don’t necessarily think council meetings or hustings are boring. I attend a lot of them and although some are horrors, some are lively and they’re pretty much all worthwhile.

There are a couple of points I’m making –

Tony wasn’t that bad. He did raise his voice and swear, but he had something to say. I think it would have been a good idea for one of the prospective politicians to go after him and say look, hear what you’re saying, calm down and come back in and let’s talk things through. The thing is – nobody did that, and – perhaps more to the point – nobody seemed to want to. He left, and that was that. And that’s fine, except that everyone keeps rattling on about engagement with disengaged voters. When an opportunity to engage presents itself, surely it ought to be taken?

You say that’s the way it is, but does it have to be? What is this unwritten rule about behaving ourselves in front of the political class? Surely, Tony was right to say that people whinge about politicians – then just sit there when presented with them.

Aj old boy – no, I don’t think he was talking about entitlement. Tony has a job. I think he was talking about addressing the issue of people on benefits and people being stuck in the poverty trap.

cjcjc you old whanger – you sound like a reactionary old fogie.

Anyone who’s ever watched any amount of so-called Parliamentary business by so-called “honourable” members would see that politeness and etiquette are not necessary for engagement with politics.

Excellent stuff, Kate. Thanks. Thanks for listening to Tony Hambolu and for caring. Today’s budget totally stuffed people like Tony and me.

Kate,

No thanks to Internet Exploder, I’ve now been able to see your video clip. So what does Tony want the state to do?

His passion is evident, but why is it always up to someone else to come up with all the answers and sort it all out?

It’s an underpinning assumption that has ruined our country. Well, mine anyway. Dunno about yours. :-p

AJ

My objection would be more realpolitik than anything else – if you are seeking to Win Friends and Influence People, you need to communicate in an appropriate manner. Swearing at meetings, especially like the one you have described, is a definite no-go, if you are wanting to make an impact on the meeting. In other contexts, and in other meetings, swearing might not be so bad.

I would also point out that there seems to be a kind-of inverse snobbery at work, where working class people are almost encourage to come across as loutish and uncivilised. So swearing at meetings is celebrated as being ‘authentic’ and ‘passionate’, whereas a working class person who presents a calm, articulate and intelligent contribution is almost regarded as ‘selling out’.

If you’re not angry, it’s already too late. You’ve been assimilated.

You’re one of the people who fucks others over for money, or one of the people who doesn’t notice it happen, or doesn’t care.

‘You’re all full of shit, man.’

And that is the most accurate and coherent political commentary I’ve heard all week…

AJ, my little freckle – I think mainly he wanted to be heard.

And what are you doing with explorer, anyway? Get yrself onto FF.

@9 earwicga – how were you stuffed by the budget?

“If you’re not angry, it’s already too late. You’ve been assimilated”

Be fair. The budget just came out. Some of us have been at work all day and haven’t had time to find out what there is to be angry about yet.

“His passion is evident, but why is it always up to someone else to come up with all the answers and sort it all out?”

AJ you say you saw the video, but you clearly didn’t listen to what he had to say.

His complaints were about things that he was powerless to change. You could see his disgust for the crackheads and that he thought that sorting out that issue would help improve the area. You could see that he was worried about crime, about the safety of people walking in the local area.

But what could he do about it? Nothing. That is what the police are for and he felt that the police had ignored them.

Housing was an accute issue during the New Labour years and their only solution was to continue the very Tory Housing Association policy. But housing is getting to breaking point, and this government is not willing to do anything about it. This is certainly a potential for a flashpoint, and I do hope that Grant Shapps realises this and takes measures to defuse it.

You’re right of course Richard.

I’m only here to yank Kate’s chain, the commie Kiwi bint.

AJ

AJ – Come to mama.