Published: November 13th 2011 - at 8:55 am

Veterans join #Occupy; Vince Cable sympathetic


by Sunny Hundal    

This is a potential game-changer and a big publicity disaster for their critics; the Observer reports today:

At least 15 former service personnel have now pitched up outside the cathedral and at nearby Finsbury Square, many in protest over treatment of veterans or the conflicts that have burdened them with mental or physical scars.

Their presence is an indication of the evolving support base of the anti-capitalist Occupy movement, which has been endorsed by a senior figure at St Paul’s, just weeks after the protests led to the resignation of three of the cathedral’s leading clerics.

Among the veterans is Michael Brandon – known to friends as Ace – who left the army 20 years ago.
…
Other veterans at the Occupy sites also claim to suffer from problems linked to their service. Matthew Horne, 23, served in Iraq with the Scots Guards for eight months, until June 2008, and his experiences left him pondering the “futility” of war. He left the services 18 months ago, and says the Occupy movement has provided a platform to campaign for veterans who fought for a democracy but were denied support.

Even Vince Cable admits they have a point!

The BBC reports:

Business Secretary Vince Cable has said he sympathises with the feelings of protesters outside St Paul’s Cathedral.

He told BBC’s Politics Show that the anti-capitalist demo reflected feelings about those who had prospered in the economic crisis, as many more suffered.

Mr Cable added that legislation could be introduced to curb executive pay.

Cable will obviously be ignored by the government. But the addition of military veterans may change the reporting the #occupy movement is getting.


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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. cynicalHighlander

This is what Occupy is against The tax haven in the heart of Britain and Cable has sympathy but will do nothing about it because he is powerless against the money men who rule this country and others.

2. Toby Chambers

We need change. No More Bank Bailouts for the wealthy. It is time to face reality

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/17979

3. Cherub

Sympathy? More like Vince spots an opportunity to try and revive his tarnished sainthood. Means nowt.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Veterans join #Occupy; Vince Cable sympathetic http://t.co/fXIHs0QK

  2. Chris Jarvis

    Veterans join #Occupy; Vince Cable sympathetic http://t.co/fXIHs0QK

  3. TentCityUni LSX

    Veterans join #Occupy; Vince Cable sympathetic http://t.co/fXIHs0QK

  4. sunny hundal

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  5. David Smith

    Veterans join #Occupy; Vince Cable sympathetic | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/5o1IADlO via @libcon

  6. Andew Moreton

    Veterans join #Occupy; Vince Cable sympathetic http://t.co/fXIHs0QK

  7. random

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  8. Gerry Power

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  9. #occupyLondon Bot

    RT @sunny_hundal Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/dzXC9D0g & Vince Cable sympathises

  10. Paul Wynter

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  11. House Of Twits

    RT @sunny_hundal Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/om9V2tSt & Vince Cable sympathises

  12. Jane Bradley

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  13. lindsey morgan

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  14. Gideon Osborne

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  15. Lee Chalmers

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  16. Geoff_Hackney

    Veterans join #Occupy; Vince Cable sympathetic | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/qzHxK523

  17. Brnch Sec Ruth H

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  18. Keith Parkins

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  19. David Sketchley

    Veterans join #Occupy; Vince Cable sympathetic | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/z9H7pD4B via @libcon

  20. Risaala

    Veterans join #OccupyLondon; Vince Cable Sympathetic http://t.co/jwtUQlQy #Occupy #OWS #OLSX #OccupyBritain #OccupyUK

  21. Oppressors.org

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  22. Gildas ApCaw Sapiens

    Veterans join #OccupyLondon; Vince Cable Sympathetic http://t.co/PAIxlhCs #Occupy #OWS #OLSX #OccupyBritain #OccupyUK

  23. Gildas Sapiens

    Veterans join #OccupyLondon; Vince Cable Sympathetic http://t.co/2aTiEDJW #Occupy #OWS #OLSX #OccupyBritain #OccupyUK

  24. #OccupyUK

    Veterans join #OccupyLondon; Vince Cable Sympathetic http://t.co/IioUnW9L #Occupy #OWS #OLSX #OccupyBritain #OccupyUK

  25. Veterans join Occupy London; Vince Cable Sympathetic | #OccupyUK … @UKOccupy

    [...] from Liberal Conspiracy This is a potential game-changer and a big publicity disaster for their critics; the Observer reports today: At least 15 former service personnel have now pitched up outside the cathedral and at nearby Finsbury Square, many in protest over treatment of veterans or the conflicts that have burdened them with mental or physical scars. [...]

  26. Dave Robinson

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  27. Gareth Hughes

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  28. Survivalist Chick

    Veterans join #OccupyLondon; Vince Cable Sympathetic http://t.co/CNH7c0ZM #Occupy #OWS #OLSX #OccupyBritain #OccupyUK

  29. Chris Gravell

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  30. Janet Graham

    Veterans join #Occupy; Vince Cable sympathetic http://t.co/fXIHs0QK

  31. Janet Graham

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  32. Emmet McDonoughBrown

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  33. Jules Clarke

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  34. NickJosh

    Veterans join #OccupyLondon; Vince Cable Sympathetic http://t.co/2aTiEDJW #Occupy #OWS #OLSX #OccupyBritain #OccupyUK

  35. David

    RT @sunny_hundal Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/om9V2tSt & Vince Cable sympathises

  36. occupybristol

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  37. Abu Al Haran

    Potential game-changer: military veterans join #OccupyLSX, reports Observer http://t.co/aMvgFlEK & Vince Cable sympathises

  38. Blade

    Veterans join #OccupyLSX http://t.co/rnxSYNuP #Occupyuk #uknews #occupymcr #occupyglasgow #Occupynottingham #xfactor #OWS #Occupy





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