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Thatcher's Britain all over again???
  • AndyForsyth
    Posts: 2,516
    From the things I've heard and the footage and images I've seen, it is quite eerie as to how much events over the last year, especially over the last few nights, really do seem to echo Thatcher's Britain..... What does everyone think?? This isn't a dig at the Tories, but you look at the evidence and it doesn't take a genius to realise that these are dark days we are living in, and did you honestly see anything as bad as this when Labour were in power?

    Riots, Protests, Liverpool weakening under the Tories, rich getting richer while the poor get poorer...... I'm sorry but these are facts we must face! For shame......
  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0

    what did thatcher do?
  • BlueShark
    Posts: 1,398
    Sorry Andy, but that's too simplistic.

    Your statement ignores the decades of Labour rule we've had in the run up to these riots, and judging by the age of the people on the streets that I saw they have been born and raised in an exclusively Labour governed society. One where the Police have had beaurocracy and political correctness stifle their ability to actively monitor the streets and engage the communities in which they serve....to say nothing of the law, which now seems to jail fewer people than ever before.

    The looting you may put down to envy of the rich if you like, but the torching of everyday people's businesses, flats, cars and the sheer wanton vandalism is nothing to do with politics. This is feral animalism and nothing else.
  • AndyForsyth
    Posts: 2,516
    Under Thatcher Liverpool as a city suffered quite a lot as she cut a lot of jobs in the ship building industry, which at the time was the biggest industry in Liverpool and one of the biggest in Britain. In addition to this, there were also miners strikes, poll tax riots, Toxteth riots, Brixton (London) riots.... All of which we have seen parallels of this year. Not exactly the same, for example, no miners strikes obviously, but we have had strikes, but the riots definitely echo the riots of the 80s, although these ones are not politically motivated like the ones back then. Also, Liverpool was recently named as the most deprived city in Liverpool, and when cuts were announced last year, it was likely that the city would be the one to suffer most.
  • AndyForsyth
    Posts: 2,516
    But then why didn't such events take place during the Labour years? I know people weren't too happy under Labour, but we didn't see as much evidence (I'm not so blind to say that there was never any) of people taking to the streets to protest about cuts etc? Not that these riots are protests, they're just mindless violence and vandalism by a relative minority of the country, but I'm talking generally about events of the past year.

    The only major protests I saw during the Labour years were those of the Tuition Fees, and there was obviously uproar about the 10p in the pound going up but that was pretty much it, surely?
  • Snowcone
    Posts: 6,728
    Sorry Andy, way off the mark. Blue Shark is spot on. Those people who are rioting know about as much about politics as you do. A few days ago they were happily sat playing Xbox live before going to stand outside the chippy spitting at each other. They didn't suddenly think. "I'm so disenchanted with the current state of the nation, I must do something about it, come on chaps, lets show those government types what for, TALLY HO!" They saw an opportunity to get a load of gear for nothing. Now when the shops are robbed out they get frustrated and turn on ordinary people. Shoot them, I'll do it if I can get a permit.
  • Snowcone
    Posts: 6,728
    AndyForsyth said:

    But then why didn't such events take place during the Labour years? I know people weren't too happy under Labour, but we didn't see as much evidence (I'm not so blind to say that there was never any) of people taking to the streets to protest about cuts etc? Not that these riots are protests, they're just mindless violence and vandalism by a relative minority of the country, but I'm talking generally about events of the past year.

    The only major protests I saw during the Labour years were those of the Tuition Fees, and there was obviously uproar about the 10p in the pound going up but that was pretty much it, surely?



    And you wonder why you struggle to get a job.

  • AndyForsyth
    Posts: 2,516
    I'm not saying that these riots are politically motivated, I know they're not, but I'm saying such events were happening under Thatcher, yet I saw very little evidence of the same kind of thing during the Labour years. Maybe I was less aware at the beginning of the Labour tenure, as I was only 10 when they came into power, but I'm definitely more aware now and can only speak about what I've seen......

    Also, I think I know a fair bit more about politics than many of the rioters, I would hope so seeing how I studied it at College....
  • Snowcone
    Posts: 6,728
    I see, so what you're saying is, its all the Tories fault and this would never happen under labour. OK, sound. I think you have proved a point. Which college was it, just so as I can make sure my kids never go there. Have you tried asking The Morning Star for a job?
  • AndyForsyth
    Posts: 2,516
    I'm saying that it's rather coincidental.....
  • BlueShark
    Posts: 1,398
    I do not think for one moment that the rioters care which political party was in power at present. You're not going to convince me that any Lib/Tory cuts have had so immediate an effect as this. Snowcone is right, it was an oppertunity to grab loads of stuff with very little real danger of getting caught. Throw a little arson in too....and some assault and burglary whilst we are at it.

    If you want to try and make this a simple case of Tory and Labour policies, am I to assume that every Labour supporter who doesn't agree with the current Government automatically gets the right to riot and place the blame on Government policies? You question why you recall fewer riots of this nature under Labour rule...maybe it's because Labour opponents are more civilised? (tongue in cheek comment that last one, before anyone gets too excited).
  • Snowcone
    Posts: 6,728
    Look at the rioters for coincidences mate.
  • AndyForsyth
    Posts: 2,516
    If the riots were politically motivated, you could understand it, and maybe there is a very small minority of rioters who are doing so because they're disillusioned with the government, but I stress a VERY SMALL MINORITY. However, the fact is, it's not politically motivated like those of the 80s, but as I will keep saying, it is all a bit of a coincidence that the last riots, major protests etc all happened under Thatcher. This isn't anything against the Tories, but they have screwed the country up again..... I don't see how anyone can't see this!

    I'm not blaming the riots on the Tories, but certainly the protests earlier in their reign are definitely down to them.
  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0
    AndyForsyth said:

    If the riots were politically motivated, you could understand it, and maybe there is a very small minority of rioters who are doing so because they're disillusioned with the government, but I stress a VERY SMALL MINORITY. However, the fact is, it's not politically motivated like those of the 80s, but as I will keep saying, it is all a bit of a coincidence that the last riots, major protests etc all happened under Thatcher. This isn't anything against the Tories, but they have screwed the country up again..... I don't see how anyone can't see this!

    I'm not blaming the riots on the Tories, but certainly the protests earlier in their reign are definitely down to them.



    police just shot somone thats why its all started, get over urself. 1st game of season could be posponed for this
  • Snowcone
    Posts: 6,728
    Because Labour handed them a Utopia? The country was already screwed up, as is most of Europe. Also, the 70's, prior to Thatchers leadership was, once again, a utopia. She closed some mines. Liverpool was destroyed mostly by inept and corrupt labour councils. In fact, it was Michael Heseltine and the MDC (a tory quango) who kickstarted Liverpools regeneration. Liverpool was screwed long before Thatcher came to power but it suits people to blame her, after all, she's not even a scouser and she talks posh.
  • Snowcone
    Posts: 6,728
    scottdblue said:

    AndyForsyth said:

    If the riots were politically motivated, you could understand it, and maybe there is a very small minority of rioters who are doing so because they're disillusioned with the government, but I stress a VERY SMALL MINORITY. However, the fact is, it's not politically motivated like those of the 80s, but as I will keep saying, it is all a bit of a coincidence that the last riots, major protests etc all happened under Thatcher. This isn't anything against the Tories, but they have screwed the country up again..... I don't see how anyone can't see this!

    I'm not blaming the riots on the Tories, but certainly the protests earlier in their reign are definitely down to them.



    police just shot somone thats why its all started, get over urself. 1st game of season could be posponed for this


    Scott, why don't you go and play quietly in the corner, the grown ups are talking.

  • AndyForsyth
    Posts: 2,516
    Snowcone said:


    Scott, why don't you go and play quietly in the corner, the grown ups are talking.



    Someone had to tell him.....
  • Fozzster
    Posts: 48
    Great debate people...from my point of view it's not politcally motivated just pure opportunism and thuggery. These people are not politically motivated at all. They are people who have nothing and live in a world that they just don't feel they belong in - no prospects - no community - no proper family - no money - no hope.......who's fault is this ? God knows!! They have to take responsibility for their actions and its down the politcal masters to sort out why they felt the need to do it? Probably an easy question to answer and I'm sure community leaders will be telling them exactly how to tackle it ......but to try and address/solve these issues is never going to be easy ................one encouraging sign though is that it seems the right minded responsible people seem to be determine to clean up the mess and get on with it..................................The most disturbing aspect is that there are reports of 8 year olds out on the streets looting......................8 year olds!! Beggars belief.............All I'd say is good luck to those picking up the pieces!!

    One final point - Terresa May needs to be replaced ...I have never seen/heard a weaker Home Secretary in my life time......and if she say "Criminality" one more time I think I might have to call her and have a word..............she talks about not brushing the crimes under the carpet and actively seeking justice........fine.........but then in the same breathe refuses to be drawn on WHY these people did this and HOW she is going to stop it happening again tonight...........I think I might explode with rage at her!
  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0
    well i think they should do the switcherooo and burn down parliment

    i think we`re all just atoms getting smashed together to see what happens.
  • mattyod
    Posts: 305
    THese are the same simpletons that want to sack the board who have no clue on reality. The UK is screwed because it has no money and needs to get it through cuts and taxes which upsets everyone one but needs to be done whether tory, labour or anyone).

    What is the point of smashing the place up and burning buildings down because all that means is that the government needs to find the funds to clear it up and rebuild it. Who pays for it .. us. (not me I left the UK because I did not want to bring my children up next to these idiots).

    They have no care for society or the working person therefore send the army in with a shoot to kill policy.These are not pieceful protesters but criminals.
  • Snowcone
    Posts: 6,728
    She does my head in. We're not using water canon because thats not how we police in this country. No, we police by standing back and watching a gang of thugs ruin peoples lives and then saying, and this came from a police official on Sky News "If you see someone with a smug grin bragging about their new big screen tv, please give us a call."

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