Train Builder's March, Derby

by Craig Chapman - 16:34 on 23 July 2011

They assembled on a rec area near the centre of Derby, upwards of 5,000 I'd say, many in dire trouble because their jobs are about to disappear if they haven't already, with at least half of the 3,000 Bombardier staff being made redundant thanks to an EU ruling that German company Siemens has more upfront cash to supply the UK based Thameslink contract with rolling stock.

The usual red brigade was out in force, banners, hooters, newspapers, placards, you name it, David Cameron was not "man of the day" by a long chalk. The whole league of Unions came along - Nurses, teachers, train drivers, Unite, Aslef etc, it was like the 80s again without the mulletts and donkey jackets. Health & Safety yellow seems to be the garb of the day. There were also a number of upside down Union Jacks being waved - I hope the wavers realised the relevance that when flown upside down, our flag sends a warning of danger - quite relevant on the day, but most likely not realised.

Popular Alliance circulated with fliers and chatted with many who really didn't back the Unions but had no-one else to ask for support. They were mostly a really nice crowd of people, many willing to discuss the possibility that Mr Cameron might not be the only one to vent some spleen at. In fact, the common wish was for Cameron to vent some spleen himself in the direction of Brussels. The Tories really do not practice what they preach and need to get off their backsides and act on our behalves. Crook that he was, at least Tony Blair believed in what he said and did, no matter how wrong or pompous - our present coalition don't.

Brown and Blair signed the piece of paper that allowed companies like Siemens to bid and win what really should be home-banker contracts (I bet they are in Germany & France) and yes, many agreed that they aren't blameless either.

So why vote for them ??? Labour care little about manufacturing, they just want everyone living off the state, but without making any provision to pay for them.

Popular Alliance fliers majored on the EU and the British Constitution.

Everyone had certainly heard of the EU although many didn't have much idea exactly who allowed what to happen in that regard. The really worrying trait however was that only 1 of 400 flier recipients had heard of the BRITISH CONSTITUTION (Bill of Rights 1689). It might be a 322 year old paper, but it has more relevance than anything on that field on Saturday morning.

These are OUR RIGHTS and they are being denied to us.

Popular Alliance have ample references to the Constitution in our writing and work - (see most other blogs and policies). This should be taught in our schools and be the basis of all policy making, but our last few governments, the BBC and the rest of media ignore it, almost as if under instruction to do so ???

Only 6 years ago, Tony Blair had to pass a Constitutional Reform Act to update a section regarding the change of who appoints judges, taking the role from the Queen to a bunch of slimeballs in Westminster who then make sure their appointees will not oppose the almighty European Union.

The simple fact is that, the Bill of Rights 1689 states that an outside law making body (a potentate) cannot force laws upon our island without defeating us in a war.

We have a constitutional right to petition our Monarch and her administrators in a specific referendum,

A constitutional right that Labour, the party which all the Unions fund and support, denied these very workers they claim to represent.

The good people in that field on Saturday needed help and what they got was a bunch of hypocrital union bullies aiming insults at many of the wrong people. I'm quite sure Brown, Straw and Mandleson would have done as little as the coalition have to help these people. Our government's hands are tied, but the scary aspect is that they tied the knots themselves.

I went over to the BBC reporters and asked them why they were here, as the BBC supports the European Union, which was repsonsible for all the job losses. They honestly replied that they didn't know how to answer that question.

Popular Alliance fully supports the Bombardier staff and all British manufacturers - many of us work for UK based manufacturers, we're not some elite band of hooray Charlies that one guy levelled at us on the Facebook Thameslink threads. We've done our research and know exactly what we are talking about and who is (ir)repsonsible for the mess we're all in. Knowing the facts that we do and making the effort to publicise it, imagine how pissed off we are to see so many people going tribal every time the ballot box comes around and voting for the same 3 parties, with the same inevitable results time and time again.

PA don't bible bash, but the good book says "the Lord helps those who help themselves." Perhaps taking a bit more interest in who is doing what to us and wasting our taxes might result in a pro-active approach and not relying on hypocritical bully boys to bolt the gate after the horses are long gone. Bombardier isn't the first this has happened to and they won't be the last, but unless the UK population stands up and demands to have a say in our destinys, then we'd all better get used to these occurances. One little politically minded group like the Popular Alliance can't do this on our own and you can be sure UKIP aren't going to lift a worthwhile finger. 

Good luck, we're all going to need it.

The banner "nationalise Bombardier" summed up the confusion, with Bombardier being a Canadian company. Popular Alliance's Transport Policy calls for the railways to be nationalised again.

The most poignant banner however was waved by a 3-4 year child in his push chair. It said "who is going to teach me a trade ?"

This really summed up the path down which consecutive governments from both sides of the house, have led us. The British Constitution states clearly in black and white that allowing outside bodies to enforce laws upon our land without losing a war or allowing the people a say, is an act of Treason.

Quite !!!

Not sure how to make this last point, so here goes - Derby's population is at least 20% Asian. We saw a few old guard Indian guys on the march, but none of the Muslims. On the day Derby wanted support and to tell the nation what it is going through, this often demanding section of the local society were deafening in their absense. Also, in handing out 400 fliers and and talking to so many, not one Eastern European accent was heard.

5th Aug - we've had someone try to add comments to this blog 3 times, but each entry just shows the figure "1." Perhaps you;'re having problems getting through, in which case feel free to email me at C.Chapman@popularalliance.org. Thanks

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