Manchester Demo - Look Over There

As the Tories gathered in Manchester for their annual conference yesterday, there were the inevitable protests, with more than 60,000 demonstrating against continued austerity. As Greater Manchester Police (GMP) observed, most of the protest was peaceful and there were just four arrests. But that was not good enough for the useful idiots of the punditerati, who obediently distracted attention from the Tories’ own behavioural problems.

Yes, what may yet go down as Bullygate was totally ignored as anyone behaving badly was deemed to have been under the direct and personal control of Jeremy Corbyn. GMP telling “Ch Supt O'Hare said: ‘The fact that only four arrests have been made throughout the day so far was particularly pleasing … The overwhelming majority of people have exercised their democratic right to protest with dignity and good grace” had little effect.

Nor did my good friend James Doleman, who was there (pace most of those ranting), observing “Despite the vapours of some journos who should know better (and I am looking at you @ThatMichaelW) very peaceful day at #TakeBackMCR”, or that “Tory delegate meets egg” should be viewed against “Just FYI this particular genius thought it was a great idea to taunt the match as it went past the conference”.

And the words of Stopfordian Owen Jones, “Vast majority of protestors today were super friendly and upbeat, basically a family day out. The ones who weren't need to learn from them”, counted for nothing as the ranters fired up the indignitometer, starting with John Rentoul, who scoffed “This was tweeted an hour ago by @jeremycorbyn Nothing on his supporters spitting at journalists yet”.

How dare Corbyn talk about book signing? He must appear and prostrate himself before the great Rentoul to explain his minion’s activities immediately! It got worse, as Philip “Corny” Collins piled in with “It's a simple test here for @jeremycorbyn. Idiots at a protest threatened journalists. See @KateEMcCann. Condemn it. No equivocation. Now”. Never mind Rentoul, the munificent Collins demands the presence of Corbyn forthwith!

I’m sure that Rentoul and Collins being disaffected Blairites has nothing to do with their demands that Corbyn condemn something he probably hadn’t heard about. Which, of course, it didn’t with John McTernan, sneering “Not condemning violence is now a thing on the left. And it is not good”, on the basis of someone not doing that at all.

And then, with the inevitability of night following day, came the fourth horseman of the Blairite apocalypse, the Telegraph’s not at all celebrated blues artiste Whinging Dan Hodges, with “Good to see Jeremy Corbyn condemning the abuse and intimidation of journalists. But he needs to condemn abuse of Tory delegates as well”, which means whatever Jezza does, it’s not good enough and he’s rubbish.

Meanwhile, this quartet of clowns has given the Tories a breathing space, taking attention away from the behaviour behind an activist’s apparent suicide. Well done, chaps.