Stoppers don’t like to be ignored

On the same page as my letter today the Guardian carries one from two members of the Stop the War Coalition. They are annoyed that the paper, along with most others, carried no news of their demonstration in London on Saturday. They sound like petulant children showing off in the park who have been ignored by the grown ups.....

I have no doubt that most people who went on the march were well meaning but what did they think they’d achieve? I’m sure it got even less attention in Israel or the Lebanon than it got in Britain. Perhaps they should have given the money they spent on bus or train fares to UNICEF or one of the other charities working in that troubled region. But that, of course, wouldn’t have been such a grand empty gesture.

John McDonnel MP who wants to lead the Labour Party seems to be a fan of empty gestures. A Councillor Writes wrote quite convincingly about why he won’t be voting for John....