DESCRIBING someone as a class warrior is usually accompanied by a pitying shake of the head and a rolling of the eyes. Afterall, hasn’t the class struggle been consigned to history along with the Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall? Didn’t the miners’ strikes of the 1980s, those industrial versions of the charge of the light brigade, end the class war? Sorry to disillusion you. While organised labour may have sought peace with honour, the wealthy and powerful have continued to pursue unconditional surrender.
Far from being history, doctrinaire class warfare is waged more ruthlessly than ever. Warren Buffett, the world’s third richest man, is a class warrior and proud of it, “There’s class warfare all right, but it’s my class, the rich class that’s making war and we’re winning.”
There are many definitions of class struggle, but anything that includes marginalisation of sections of the population for the benefit and enrichment of others, will do for now. For example, the current economic and political struggle in which Brexit is but one front. Don’t forget Universal Credit, that systematic cruelty to punish and further impoverish the most vulnerable. Add to that the low wage, low security gig economy and food banks for families fleeing scorched earth policies.
At the same time, there is unprecedented scope for personal enrichment of a privileged minority, made easier through financial deregulation, tax reductions and avoidance schemes. They use propaganda effectively and truth can indeed be the first victim of war. Doubt my words? Consider Mr Johnson’s role in the EU referendum campaign and the slanted hectoring of the right - wing press and their foreign - domiciled owners.
As in all wars, coalitions and alliances have been formed for mutual benefit and protection. The leverage of the rich and influential is increased through cooperation with a plague of lobbyists. Ruth Davidson realised in the nick of time that political and personal credibility is more valuable than a mess of lobbyist pottage.
The prime minister appears at times to believe he is Churchill re- incarnate. He may well see Brexit as his 1940 moment. A Tory majority in next month’s election followed by a rapid EU exit will set the UK’s course, should it survive, for the next decade. The deregulated political and economic landscape will offer even richer pickings for the already wealthy and influential.
Ironically, any Tory majority will be built on the votes of those most at risk from post -EU “buccaneering” policies. Nevertheless, there will be few Pauline conversions amongst Leave voters. Support for “good old Boris and Nigel” is likely to remain solid in previous Labour heartlands.
All is not lost. There may yet be hope and resistance in Scotland and amongst the young. There is much to lose. Fairness and equality don’t score highly amongst millionaire class warriors. The class war might not be lost, but the sirens are sounding.
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