18.05.2011

A few coppers

Many of our readers are motivated by a political vision, writes Robbie Rix

Home secretary Theresa May is very understanding. She told delegates to the Police Federation annual conference on May 18 that she could see why they were “worried” about cuts. Some officers could see their pay drop by £4,000 a year, after all.

But the Conservatives are nothing if not even-handed - we are all in it together, you see, and so even the “finest police officers in the world” cannot be exempt from the suffering - which is so necessary for the good of the country. Perhaps this shows a degree of complacency, though. If they thought the mass of workers were about to rise up against the general austerity assault, the Con-Dems might think it a good idea to keep the police onside.

I don’t suppose there are many Weekly Worker supporters among the police. And I would suspect most of our readers take home rather less than an officer’s salary - a constable with a few years service will gross £40,000. On the other hand, many of our readers are driven by rather different imperatives than the average bobby. They are motivated by a political vision and are happy to support financially a paper that points to the kind of organisation we need in order to make it a reality.

Among them this week was MM, whose monthly standing order for £70 is always gratefully received - as is the £60 in total from other SO donors over the last seven days. Then there were those comrades who contributed online - thanks to JR (a brilliant £50), DV and PY (£20 each) and RP (£10). They were among 11,457 internet readers last week.

Thanks also to KC (£25), LG (£20) and LD, who added £10 to his subscription. All that comes to £285, which takes our fighting fund total for May to £716. But we are still quite a way off the £1,250 we need. Can you spare a few coppers - even if you’re one yourself?