Tom B. has written in the comments on this blog this morning:
For anyone reading this and thinking this country has lost its soul, consider this.
A few hundred, to the low thousands are “protesting” migrant hotels in Norwich, Epping, other places.
Yesterday 100,000 people showed up for an LGBTQ march in London. That's where this countries true soul is, not the cynical calculation of our leaders or a misanthropic minority wanting to tear it all down because they aren't invited to the party anymore.
Starmer would likely be very surprised at the turn around in Labour's fortunes if he actually took action on Gaza. Sadly, it's not the British people he is listening to.
And nor are the Mail and others who are listening to the few hundred, and who are ignoring the hundreds of thousands.
You're right, Tom. One hundred per cent right.
Thanks for reading this post.
You can share this post on social media of your choice by clicking these icons:
There are links to this blog's glossary in the above post that explain technical terms used in it. Follow them for more explanations.
You can subscribe to this blog's daily email here.
And if you would like to support this blog you can, here:
Buy me a coffee!
It’s all about “divide and rule”, surely. That’s been obvious to me even before I read all the literature on the subject.
Put briefly, the rich and their supporters/lackeys create the conditions – through the MSM (which has always been the main way, going back centuries), various agents and agencies, and now propaganda on social media – whereby all those poorer souls – who actually have far more in common than with the rich – are “encouraged” to fight amongst themselves (over immigration, pay, “wokeness”, health, are any other resource), thereby deflecting attention away from the the real enemy – the rich.
To take a few examples from my personal experience. At the pit I worked at most of my fellow miners read the Sun, Express or Mail (it was the same when I worked on the railway). Consequently , at snap time, or any other time we gathered in groups (e.g waiting for the cage to pit bottom), it was common to hear people talking about topics in a way that was completely contradictory to our position (or ‘station in life’, if you want to use an old fashioned, but highly relevant, expression) as workers.
Never was this more so than in the run up to industrial action by workers in in other industries (e.g. tanker drivers, rail – particularly if it was an ASLEF action – firemen, etc), when it was commonplace to hear my fellow miners repeating the narrative, often almost verbatim, that they’d read in that morning’s Sun, or over the weekend in the Mail. It seemed to be beyond their comprehension that when other workers were threatening strike action for more pay or better conditions they were doing so for almost exactly the same reasons nearly everyone working at the pit moaned all the time about our pay and conditions (to be clear, the period I’m talking about here is the mid 1970s to early 1980s).
Furthermore, the narrative/lie “private sector good, public sector bad” was swallowed almost hook, line a sinker – even though we worked for the NCB, which was a nationalised industry. I can still recall this argument being used to great effect at the pit I worked at (in south Notts, so not “left wing” as other pits in north Notts were supposed to be) when the NCB wanted to bring in a bonus scheme. This is what they did in the private sector, so it must be good. When the union tried to point out that it wasn’t a good idea precisely because a coal face wasn’t a production line producing thousand of the same thing, this was rejected as “old fashioned” and anti progress.
And so a bonus scheme was voted through and sure enough, what the union had argued proved true, with some miners working on certain coal faces earning over a tenner a week in bonuses while other got hardly anything. For example, the coal seam me and my comrades worked on (known as A21 and A22) was 36 inches deep. The seam that some of my other “comrades worked on (A4 and A7) was between 60 and 70 inches deep. So it doesn’t take a genius to work out who might cut the most coal in a shift – barring roof falls, equipment failures, etc).
Anyway, sorry to bore everyone with old stories of times long past, but I hope it illustrates my point. “Divide and Rule”, whether it’s worker against worker, nationality, race, creed, colour, gender, or whatever. That’s how it’s been done for centuries and it still works as well as it ever has.
Manufactured and deliberate scarcity, in other words.
That is the reality we face.
And, thank you.
Economic starvation
If they are trying to divide us, it doesn’t seem to be working as well as they think. We certainly aren’t dividing equally, and one side is having to be amplified while the other is supressed.
Ivan
Andrew Fletcher was a late 17th/ early 18th century Scottish politician who wrote
“Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”
I don’t endorse it but if we look at the media and its power, it does sort of apply. Murdoch has had more power than any politician I can think of. Labour has run after the Daily Mail vote -even as its sales have fallen drastically
I am in favour of PR, banning most donations to parties, more regional power and an elected Senate but unless the power of the right wing media is confronted and largely replaced, it could be in vain.
See my article in The National today.
Thanks for adding the point about Andrew Fletcher, Ian. And Murdoch has followed that advice to a great degree, through his ownership of MSM, as you say. And yes, what an impact he’s had on British, Australian and US politics over several decades now. As Richard argued in another blog today, perhaps it’s possible to break that grip on the “narrative” through social media. Personally, I suspect not because in many ways that’s already owned and run by the rich and their cronies – or if it isn’t they fund people to “flood the zone” as they say nowadays.
So, again I agree with your final comment entirely. A (more) level playing field needs to be created and that could be done through PR and, yes, we need to get private money out of politics through state funding of political parties. The claim that this is anything other than trying to buy influence is laughable in the extreme – and anyone who claims such is simply dim or a charlatan (just look at the appalling state of US politics since the Supreme Court ruled that corporations and unions should be treated the same as individuals when it came to donations to political parties).
Many workers wouldn’t be their own worst nightmare if they actually bothered to think for themselves rather than rushing in to swallow the media lies of the ruling class. Critical thinking is an accquired skill that isn’t pushed as hard as it should be in schools. Any political party worth its salt would have this as a main plank in its manifesto.
AS/A level Critical Thinking is still available, it’s simply that since League tables and OFSTED rocked up, and especially Gove, the curriculum in most schools has narrowed considerably. Some independents still do it, usually as a fourth A level, for the already dedicated. Where it would be most useful of course, it doesnt get a smell, but if you experienced the increasing feral and detached nature of students, you wouldn’t consider it. My current, lovely, bunch of 20 Sociology students couldn’t compare to a class 20 years ago for thoughtful and meritorious work, and now ChatGPT is here, book or article reading is SO out.
The last is so true
Comments from Ivan I thought were bang on the money.
The comments about Soul and the LGBTQ march versus white protesters abouts ASs housed in Epping, etc isn’t on the money.
For years from the so called progressive Left we have had lots of “identity politics” ably stoked by the likes of the Guardian and the DT.
Its been a huge diversion away from basic economic and social needs of the 99% who lets face are white but increasingly multi-ethnic. The progressive Left’s basic acceptance of the Thatcher Settlement and their focus on identity issues has been deeply damaging to all of us who seek such fundamental things like decent affordable housing, education for all, improved pay and working conditions, good health and care services regardless of income.
Rant over.
Well said Ivan.
When you look at the second Trump inauguration, there were the media barons of the 21st century, in their suits and ties, in the front row.
Well the ignoramus Guardian explains why in publishing this obsequious crap today:-
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/28/uk-debt-doom-loop-hedge-fund-chief-ray-dalio-tax-rises
A hedge funder apparently is worth noting on this
I disagree
Absolutely, Tom. It’s so important to recognize where the heart of the country truly lies. The overwhelming support and solidarity shown at events like the LGBTQ march reflects a spirit of inclusion and hope. The voices of a few shouldn’t overshadow the values and compassion that the majority uphold. Leadership should listen to that greater, more united community — not just the loudest minority. Thanks for putting this so clearly.
Thank you.
Seemingly without irony the Independent leads with this:
“Trump gives Starmer the green light to recognise a Palestinian state”
The Saturday before last, a total of 80,000 of us showed up in London to march in the rain in protest over the deliberate starvation and genocide in Gaza. I got thoroughly soaked leading the march in my wheelchair, but it was heartwarming to see so many turn out in the rain. As usual the media kept that protest discreetly under wraps. Friday just gone, thousands of people gathered in cities all over the country, 1000 here in Oxford. This was a very noisy protest with lots of pot-banging, but not a solitary beep out of the media.
In stark contrast, if Tommy Robinson just threatens to show up at a pathetically poorly attended protest against migrants, it is guaranteed to make instant headline news. The powers that be are sending out a really dangerous message: peaceful protest will be ignored no matter how many protesters show up, but violence and destruction of property will get a significant media response. In addition the speculation over the potential for future violent protests has featured prominently on Newsnight; this is sickening.
Much to agree with.
Exactly. Starmer has been warning about a summer of violence, when the largest protests have been peaceful and organised. It makes me wonder whether he intends to manufacture the threat so he can stamp out all protests.
Agreed
What the heck is he trying to do?
The msm is bought and paid for. They will continue to ignore protests against hypocrisy and injustice because that is the nature of the world and the elites, but any splutterings of Robinson, Farage etc will be followed and published as if holy writ, because they stir sh*t quite frankly and that is what the establishment wants, division, chaos and troubles.
I think I’d given up assuming anyone in this country had the energy to fight back – until the marches for Gaza. The sudden pouring of people onto the streets in their hundreds of thousands gave me a shock. However, that was the point at which I realised that we do indeed have the capacity to get noticed. So although the reason for the marches is an unspeakable horror, it has removed whatever was clogging up the pipes.
Likewise, the protests about the cuts to health related benefits. Thousands of people who had felt isolated and vulnerable sent letter after email to their MPs. Disabled people – those who could – took to the streets and the airwaves, often at great cost to themselves. The result is a Bill which had 85% of its contents stripped out. Backbenchers have seen that they DO have power, and they’ve used it.
The fundamental problem has always been successive Governments’ ability to divide us, aided by the MSM (and vast amounts of financial backing). There was no attempt to heal the enormous rifts after Brexit; and likewise no acknowledgment of the damage done in every arena by the pandemic.
This might be the time when those chickens come home to roost. I sincerely hope so.
Really? You are obviously not working class and this does not affect you..
Tell me why the working class are actually impacted more than anyone else? Facts, please. And I mean facts, not Farage sourced unsubstantiated claims.
Disabled people can’t be working class?
Hmmmm……………
I go back to Richard’s recent post where he showed a poll with Reform in obvious lead alongside the other parties, OK?
Look – I have to say this – I worked alongside the LGB&T community in the city I worked in back in the day. It was always about LGB&T issues – working with the police to identify unsafe areas in the city, combatting homophobia and transphobia, keeping the LGB&T community aware of AIDS; support working with Friend organisations to deal with homophobic ASB etc.
The people I worked with were some of the most energetic, committed and dynamic tenants I’d ever worked with.
But when you took them away from the LGB&T issues and into the more general subject arena, I was sometimes disappointed, nay shocked even at some of the social attitudes – from racism, misogyny – one gay group advocating birching for younger miscreants even. So despite being ‘out’ sexually which is admirable in many ways, there were a surprising amount of shall we say conservative attitudes on display that you would find in any group of people. I speak to some of those people still today and they think Reform is the answer. I’m not kidding.
Looking at the website of the Saturday event, the event is very much shall we say LGBTQ orientated – again nothing wrong with that BUT we must remember that the real issue facing us I argue – ‘us’ being ALL groups of self interest – is the one facing us about the unfair division and withholding of resources in our society and how that exacerbates group tensions and is exploited by vested interests to supress change and social justice.
In other words, there is still a lot to of work to do with the population and its sub groups about money and other resources that it is being starved of. By all means celebrate it, but let us not lose the fact that there is still a hell of a lot of work to do on this issue.
More equal societies are more stable societies and more tolerant societies. And that is all down to how resources are allocated or not over society as a whole. Ivan Horrocks mentioned divide and conquer yesterday and I and others have mentioned it time and time again and a unified appreciation of this through all groups in need is the only way change will be brought about – in my view at least.
Thanks.
Thanks, too.
We will dance again
We will dance again
And sip some tea
Talk about lives
And the living
This night will end
The sun will rise
There will be light
And forgiving
We will laugh again
And sup some beer
Talk about lives
And the living
These times will stop
Shadows recede
There will be joy
And forgiving
We will walk again
And breathe in slow
Talk about lives
And the living
Smiles will return
Remembering
Black becomes grey
Blue reddening
We will dance again
And be here now
Slide into jives
Live the living
I hope you are right