Laurie Penny defends war memorial vandalism at anti-Tory march

After David Cameron won a surprise Conservative majority in the general election, angry anti-austerity protesters gathered near Parliament Square today to let their outrage be known. During the demonstration, a war memorial, honouring the women of the Second World War, was vandalised with 'F--- tory scum' graffiti.

While the crime was greeted with outrage by both the left and right, Laurie Penny, the Guardian feminist, appears to have defended the vandalism on Twitter, saying she doesn't 'have a problem with this':

I don't have a problem with this. The bravery of past generations does not oblige us to be cowed today. https://t.co/QS6Oq55n5q

— Laurie Penny (@PennyRed) May 9, 2015

No, what's disgusting is that some people are more worried about a war memorial than the destruction of the welfare state. — Laurie Penny (@PennyRed) May 9, 2015

Although most users were quick to suggest that she ought to show more respect, Penny has at least managed to find one kindred spirit. Charlie Gilmour, who was jailed for his behaviour at the student riots during which he swang from the Union Jack on the Cenotaph, claims that the women the memorial is for would agree with the anti-Tory sentiment:

Can see why people upset by this but the women of WWII - who saw the birth of the welfare state - would probs agree pic.twitter.com/9B4vOQAXwX

— Charlie Gilmour (@charliegilmour) May 9, 2015

Well, they do say two’s company.