this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2025
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23
The Brits who want to overthrow the state (www.newstatesman.com)
submitted 1 month ago by Davriellelouna@lemmy.world to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
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[–] Lemming421@lemmy.world 21 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Of course we want a revolution.

We voted out the Conservatives after fifteen years, only to replace them with a Labour government who are indistinguishable from the previous regime.

All Starmer is doing is pandering to the even-more-right-wing Reform voters, further alienating the Left.

He’s a genocide denying, Israel and Trump supporting fascist who’s cracking down on peaceful protests and arresting 80 year old former magistrates for holding signs.

But the trouble with a revolution is you need to ensure that what you get afterwards isn’t even more authoritarian than what you got rid of.

That’s why you can’t just put the politicians and the billionaires up against the wall and let God sort them out. You need a Plan.

[–] ztwhixsemhwldvka@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Arguably, due to the utter failure of conservatism, it is the responsibility of what was the "left" to protect and salvage what is possible from the UK's culture, institutions and industry and create a path forward out of neoliberal and American hegemonic collapse.

This would be true reform. The danger is more extreme market liberals or fascists gain a foothold and irrevocably fuck the nation.

[–] Lemming421@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Sure, but due to us having the same problems with First Past The Post that the Americans do, we still end up voting against a party rather than for the one we want.

If I’d voted Green in the last election, it wouldn’t have been a vote for Labour, which (at the time) were the only party that had a chance of getting rid of the “safe” Tory in my constituency.

Now that Labour have destroyed any reputation of being “for the people” that they may have had in order to try and sway the Nazis that will vote Reform, they (hopefully) won’t be getting any votes from the left next time.

Hopefully the Greens and the new Corbyn/Sultana party will be sensible in where they field candidates so as not to split that voter base.

We’re too far out for me to guess if a Tory/Reform coalition might be possible next time, but it’s a terrifying thought…

[–] HumanPenguin@feddit.uk 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Unfortunately it's not just the multiple parties. But left wing voters unwillingness to compromise,

Honestly for right wing voters the only thing that matters is keeping the left out.

But the left vote has always split over the smallest of idealism.

Unfortunately we will never beat FPTP without coming together to do just that.

Even though PR etc will not abolish the right wing. It will only increase the democratic nature of the vote. But that in itself is the priority. ATM less then 30% of voters often rule the UK.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 3 points 1 month ago

I don't know, your wall idea seems pretty good.

I'm certain that a lot of the problems in this country stems from the fact that everything is in London. In the US you've got loads of major cities other than the capital, this forces politicians to actually be aware of local problems (not that it's working very well right now).

In the UK everything's in London. In the US if a major show happens you assume it's going to be in New York or LA, not Washington.

So we're doing the wall thing and then we're moving government out of the capital, let's see how interested they are in improving the economy and social housing when they're forced to do everything from Bradford or Middlesbrough.

[–] rah@hilariouschaos.com 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

We’ve experienced both street action and political violence, yes, and these are febrile times – but such things have never overthrown a government.

Uhh.. might want to check out the Ukrainian maidan.

sharia law

migrant

This guy doesn't understand that the societal issues people are concerned about, and want revolution-style change over, are not limited to the content of right-wing youtube videos.

[–] ohulancutash@feddit.uk 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

As it suggests, the Ukrainian Maidan was, well, in Ukraine.

[–] rah@hilariouschaos.com 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

As it suggests, the Ukrainian Maidan was, well, in Ukraine.

The article's comment wasn't limited to any particular country:

"such things have never overthrown a government"

[–] ohulancutash@feddit.uk 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It’s very clear from context that the sentence refers to Britain.

[–] rah@hilariouschaos.com 1 points 1 month ago

I disagree.

[–] ztwhixsemhwldvka@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

We’ve experienced both street action and political violence, yes, and these are febrile times – but such things have never overthrown a government. Most of the time they don’t even change policy.

What a fucking shit take bootlicker article from the newstatseman.

This is not a country that’s ready to man the barricades. Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way.

Seriously is the author 12.

[–] ohulancutash@feddit.uk 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

[Points to the history of Britain]

[Further points to the Pink Floyd reference]

[–] ztwhixsemhwldvka@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The history of Britain has a moment of near revolution with the electoral reform in the mid 19th century. Also the suffragettes. Also multiple slave revolts in the empire.

And the Pink Floyd lyric is a classic that everyone who just discovered Pink Floyd resonates with. Throwing it in off handledly into a senseless article with no real analysis or thought just seems to me to try to add profundity to something mediocre.

[–] ohulancutash@feddit.uk 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

None of that resulted in the overthrow of any government. Electoral reform was carried out by the government, and the Suffragette militant campaign ended in failure in 1914, having turned public opinion against women voting. Their impact is very much overstated - the height of their arson and bombing campaign was also the period with the fewest insurance claims as a nation in living memory.

[–] ztwhixsemhwldvka@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

But these things influenced political decisions. It's just that the British state back then was wise to this. Now it's not so clear which makes revolution if not an inevitability, then at least a possibility.

[–] steeznson@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

IMO these commentators got addicted to swashbuckling, revolutionary language during Brexit and now can't switch it off.

Labour party can't call them out because the real politik is that it would be spun as them minimizing concerns about immigration.

[–] Arcane2077@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It’s true that most of the English are feeble cowards, but I don’t think antagonizing the rest of the UK is going to spare you from what’s coming

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 2 points 1 month ago

I am a but amazed at the willingness of the avg English person to suffer the regime that hates it.

At least Scots and the Irish know the Delio...

Keep calm and get exploited pleb! Elite pedos rely on you doing the right thing

[–] G4Z@feddit.uk 1 points 1 month ago

Where do I sign up?

[–] ofnadwy@feddit.uk 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I wish we didn't have to see dismissive high-handed articles like this but perhaps this is to be expected from the New Statesman.

feeling angry is not the same thing as being right

So matey boy, why are these people angry? And what do you propose to do about it except for telling them that they're wrong?