Only a hermit could have been surprised by the recent wave of youth rioting. The wonder is that the 1980s have not seen more inner-city riots, given the levels of poverty and unemployment. Rioting in Britain has a long and illustrious history, from Peterloo to the Chartists to the 1920s. It's always a sign of deep crisis in the system.
As Britain heads towards a general election what is the shape of this crisis? And is there a solution in sight?
During the mid-1980s the economy went through an inflationary boom, which gave rise to the 'yuppie phenomenon. Borne aloft by the debt-led boom of the US economy, the Lawson boom in Britain was a false dawn.
Britain is heading inexorably PHOTO: Mark Pinder/FSP towards becoming a third rate capitalist power. The partial collapse of the country's industrial base, the poverty and squalor and PHOTO: the concentration on quick profits among the rich, as opposed to long-term investment, are sure signs. There is no huge upswing around the corner, just the drift into further decline.
If the 1980s did not see any fundamental advance in capitalist fortunes, they did see a major restructuring of the economy, and huge attacks on the working class. The ruling class was able to inflict major defeats on the workers movement without thereby solving its own problems Rioting youth of course are not the least bit interested in Kinnock's Labour Party. Indeed the inability of the labour movement as a whole to offer any perspective to the most disaffected in society is a massive indictment.
The one major defeat inflicted on the Tories result. in recent years, over the poll tax, was imposed by a campaign largely outside the labour movement. In the 1980s the labour movement, with the exception of the miners' titanic struggle against redundancies, did precious little to resist unemployment.
The heritage of the defeat of the miners strike is a labour movement suffocated by right-wing inertia and inanity. All Roy Hattersley could do during the recent riots was demand more police and more arrests.
While the labour movement stands pat under the thrall of new realism and Kinnockism, further attacks on workers' rights, ganisation and living standards accumulate. Defeat piles on defeat, apathy piles on despair. Periodic outbursts of anger are bound to be the For the moment British politics seems suspended in a time-warp. What will break the party s ranks. rebellion developed. orbuilding to a crescendo. crisis will explode again. Paddy Hill (one of the Birmingham Six) speaking at a Birmingham meeting to launch the 'Justice for All Campaian', which is championing the cause of people wrongly imprisoned. Next to Paddy is Sharon Raghip, wite of Engin Raghip, one of the Tottenham Three. Also on the platform was Anne Wheelan, The Justice for All Campaign can be contacted by phone on 081-809-6483.
4692. Islington Public Meeting: 3 October, 7.30pm; Cannonbury Community Centre, Sebbon St., NI. More information: T3 Campaign Office or Nigel Davy: 071 739 6346 log jam? Any result of the general election will cause new ructions in the Labour Party. On the most recent opinion poll figures, a hung parliament is a definite possibility. Any attempt at a coalition government including Labour and the Liberals would lead to a major fight in the A Labour government, on the other hand, would be the most right wing ever, and again break the log-jam as political and industrial A straightforward Tory however will deepen demoralisation and set back the left; the Labour leadership and trade union bureaucracy would push for much more right wing policies and a further witchhunt. If Labour loses, its credibility as a potential government party will slide. Sections of the ruling class who already smell blood, might go on the offensive to try to marginalise Labour and promote the Liberal Democrats as the second party, in an attempt to create a US-style system with two capitalist parties predominant. This is no easy job, and would be a long process. It would in turn create a massive battle over Labour's soul as a panicked leadership flailed furiouslv for ever more rightward policies.
No one can predict with certainty; but the whole experience of politics in the 1980s is Sooner or later workers' militancy will be rebuilt. And sooner or later - probably sooner - Labour's endless March for Justice through Haringey: Assemble 12 noon, Wood Green Civic Centre, N22. Rally 2pm, Finsbury Park N4. More information: TE Campaign Office or Shaun Waterman 081 985 6140. No. 8 Sept. 28, 1991 Page 3