An AM, two MPs and a fire engine

A bracing first-leg from Cardiff to Newport for the @futurethatworks campaign march.

Following the tradition of arriving fashionably late the marchers from Cardiff were welcomed by the progressives from Newport Trade Council. Bethan Jenkins AM had walked from Cardiff. Jessica Morden and I sedately sipped coffee in the cafe at Newport Town Centre Campus studiously planning our welcome.

The marchers were blessed with fulsome messages of goodwill. They will do well to enjoy the media attention they deserve. No national media reported the rally and march in London last Saturday to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the start of the Afghan war. Cunningly staged acts of violence were permitted by the police in the last anti-cuts rally. They stood by watching acts of minor vandalism. The dramatic pictures of the attacks obliterated coverage of the messages carried by tens of thousands of marchers. 

Jessica Morden MP and I delivered some words of wisdom and inspiration. The star of the show was a scarlet  Fire Brigade Union engine that outgleamed us all.

Newport has hosted other historic marches. Soon we will celebrate the sacrifices of the Chartists who marched down Stow Hill on November 4th 1839. Their banner called for 'Cyfiawnder'. The same message of all the Newport marches - a call for 'Justice.'  Let's hope the country is listening.

 

 

 

Bon voyage for the rest of the march.

 

Comments

[D.G.]

Thanks for the response. I've not had much time to look far beyond the headlines, but I'm guessing there's a long way to go before this gets put in place?

[Paul Flynn]

Generally agree DG. this is a facile solution with all the dangers you point out. About 30 years ago Tory MP Peter Walker suggested share shops on the high street where we could pop in to buy shares with the groceries. That never happened either.
lost your original message because I saved blog twice and deleted the first one. Sorry.