Test of strength

This reality will not be lost on the mass ranks of the police who will be hoping, probably forlornly, that the conduct of peaceful protesters with genuine grievances is not silenced by the mindless minority intent on causing as much mayhem as possible.

Yet, as the consequences of George Osborne’s Budget slowly dawn, the reality is that the Government has little scope to accede to the demands of those opposing cuts.

The extent of the Chancellor’s manoeuvring to achieve a headline-grabbing 1p cut in fuel duty, on a day when many petrol stations put up the price of petrol and diesel by that amount, is indicative of the parlous state of the public finances.

It is why those taking part in today’s protest have to answer a key question: how would they fund the services that they wish to safeguard?

Criticising the Government, and ridiculing Nick Clegg, is one thing; coming up with a viable alternative is an altogether different proposition as the Government’s own calculations become compromised by inflation, the eurozone’s debt crisis and the continuing turmoil in countries like Libya.

All three issues have the potential to place the public finances under even greater strain – and force Mr Osborne to demand even greater savings in the years to come.

While it is right that people voice their opinions on these matters, it is also important that the Government and trade unions work together, wherever possible, to ensure pragmatism is put before dogma. As such, it is not just the Metropolitan Police’s tactics that will come under scrutiny today – but the credibility and realism of the TUC.