Oh its on now

The march started off rather peacefully, but slightly muted.  My guess is that the group of protesters stopping traffic shot themselves in the foot, perhaps their intention was to get these people blaming the police for cancelling the march (obviously which has been reversed) and to get them angry. maybe they thought by blocking the min road to gleneagles they could stop all the politicians coming in by helicopter *rolls eyes*

But as to be expected really - the protesters breached the agreed route.  A few hours ago they marched across a field to a closer and more heavily defended barricade a mile from Gleneagles.  And a few moments ago things started to look a little scary as objects began to be hurled over at the police.  A squad of riot police came through the barricades and dispersed some of the crowd as things got rowdier and many backed off, but as i type the second of two chinooks has arrived packing out a squad of fully armoured riot police and it looks like a standoff is beginning.  and we all know what that means.  Objects are already on their way towards police and a fires just been lit.  Peace man, fight The Man. pfff.

In auchterader itself, there appears to be some kind of standoff. this is possibly more alarming.  Its a small town, and i think the name means long road or something, highlighting the fact most of it is well, you get it.  So riot police are scrambling about building the roman style phalanxes and dismantling fences to make room for the police wall.  The field nearer Gleneagles could get nasty, but the protesters in the town are feeling castrated not getting to gleneagles and theres high likelyhood that their frustration will be taken out on the town itslef.  Not good. or big or clever.

 

The police appear to have done well, theyve created a wall and moved them back towards the road and original allocated area of the route.  Theyve been relatively reserved, thereve been a few charges but mostly its careful moving forwards in a pincer movement.  They have mounted police on the protesters side to use probably more for psychological tactics, the sight of the thirteen or so horses galloping towards them is more likely to get some of the less militant hard-liners moving away before their riders need to do anything.

And blair, so far, i have to say has been handling himself very well.  Hes expressed annoyance that htey have had to be penned into Gleneagles, he would have much rather stayed in Edinborough itself, but knew that there would be too many hard line trouble makers who would rather disrupt everything cause damage and generally bring any chance of doing something for the poor to a standstill.  He appeared quite early on alongside Geldof Bono and Richard Curtis making statements and answering a few statements, Geldofs speech was quite good, but think would have made more impact if he could meet the PM's eyes.  there was also a black woman present, obviously of some importance, but i did not know who she was and ironically considering Geldof's last efforts for africa, didnt get to say anything.  Blair hid his discomfort well and appeared quite honest and realistic in his comments, actually mentioning the importance of climate cahnge (thank you) being hand in hand. I believe he will do what he can for the poverty question - not that it will ever go near peoples expectations or respect.