Even the Guardian is sometimes right
Friday, June 17, 2016
I think the author of the linked article may be on to something. The working classes have had a hard time of it in Britain in my lifetime. Yes our growing economy has created lots of new jobs. Most of them cleaner and more pleasant to do. Many involving the polishing of trousers and skirts on comfy office chairs. Yes average purchasing power has risen when modest pay increases have been multiplied by downward pressure on prices of manufactured goods (net of course of steady increases in taxes as the state consumes more and more of GDP). But this is no consolation for the fisherman, miners and factory workers whose jobs have been wiped out by the EU, priced out by environmental regulations or simply offshored.
To add insult to injury, the political instrument they and their trade unions founded — the Labour Party — has turned its back on them, neglected them and taken to describing them with contempt as idiots and bigots. In its Islingtonian manifestation, it's more interested in its new consitutencies of assorted minorities who are — or can be made to feel — oppressed. So interested in them in fact that it has taken to importing them despite concerns among its old supporters that they may drive down wages.
To such traditional Labour voting fodder, long condescended to or scorned, the sight of the likes of Kinnock and Mandelson living it up on the EU gravy train is galling. As is that of Blair openly coveting, enjoying in return for God knows what in office and ultimately achieving the life of his multi-millionaire chums.
New Labour has delivered what Old Labour predicted capitalism would: a profound sense of alienation. All this compounded by the electoral tactic of "triangulation" under which none of "their" politicians are ever to be heard actually talking to them in public
If Brexit delivers a swift kick in the pants to those pigs who clearly think themselves more equal than others, why not give it a try?