Henry Porter raises the taboo question

Henry Porter in The Observer raises the taboo question (the first time I have seen it aired) only to dismiss it: "...some even believe the Met held back to make their point about the effect of government cuts. This cannot be true..." Can't it?

Already the pressure to exempt the police from the cuts is building. The Government is - so far - resisting (in private they are probably furious with the police), but I expect (another) U-Turn.

Mind you, the riots have helped the Tories: they wiped the Hacking scandal off the front pages and have boosted a "law-and-order" lock-em-up-and-throw-away-the-key agenda.

Wandsworth Council meanwhile appear to have opted for Israeli-style collective punishment. They have served an eviction notice on the mother of an 18 year old boy accused (but not yet convicted) of violent disorder and attempted theft. Why leave it at that? Does he have grandparents?