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Originally Posted by andygrif
What possible use is coverage in the US, Australia and Asia on a purely UK based story?
Also, if the government has decided that there are no votes in it, then why are they bothering to have some talks with the various F4J-esque groups in the first place. The discussions were already planned several days before this incident.
However, you're right that no-one was hurt, and this does widen the discussion into security arrangements at the HoP.
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As I said, the global media coverage
illustrates that direct action can be a very clever way to get yourself to the top of the political agenda. Domestic media coverage will be of more direct use to F4J in this case and I have no doubt there will be tons of it on tonight's TV and radio and in tomorrow's papers. And if even one national paper runs a feature article on F4J within the next 2 weeks as a result of this, they will have gained a huge victory in their campaign. But having said that, never underestimate the vanity of a politician. Blair will be sorely peeved that the people he has to deal with on the world stage got to watch him being flour-bombed in his own back yard. These guys have hit him where it hurts - in the ego.
As for why discussions are being held, I already said ... offering 'talks' is a time-honoured way of attemptnig to get people to stop direct action, thus neutralising the political damage to the ones offering to talk.