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Predict A Riot?

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George Edmonds | 07:27 UK time, Monday, 14 September 2009

Rioting in Brixton in 1981

The leader of the TUC has raised the spectre of the 1980s -- warning that reducing public spending could have dire consequences. Brendan Barber says last time there were big cuts and what he called "slash and burn economics", there were riots in the streets.

Is he right? Could the UK be heading towards the sort of civil unrest and violence seen in Toxteth, Brixton (pictured), and inner city areas around the country in the 1980s? Or is it just scaremongering by the TUC in a bid to protect public sector jobs?

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  • 1. At 08:51am on 14 Sep 2009, jimmy-dean-2009 wrote:

    brendan barber is spot on its allways the people at the bottom of the food chain that will suffer in this country many black,white and asin folk who live in deprived communities who are woking class and liveing on benefits trying to make ends meet while the country is mismanaged by the bankers and rich who just get richer of the misery of the folk who live in poor communities we targeted the jewish community years ago then it was the black folk followed by the asians and muslims by makeing them scapegoats with the constant muslim bashing that goes on within the right wing media in this country and the presenters who work in it instead of targeting the bankers and goverments who are the real culprits in the mess the country is in we just pick on the minorities and most vulnerable people from all races and religions who live in poverty

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  • 2. At 09:15am on 14 Sep 2009, Our Vic / Mastercraftsman / Mikael D'Haguenet T2009 - Loved the flat and MCM is a HERO.. Well Chief for the Champion Chase anyone?? The Fly will bounce back and so will the magic Ashkazar.. wrote:

    1st post seems well said to me. I mean if you riot over jobs, what are you doing to help yourself?? Nothing tbh.

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  • 3. At 10:23am on 14 Sep 2009, liontwins wrote:

    That's right - blame everyone else except the people rioting. We all know the unions' agenda (made from the union leaders in their large houses I assume). I am old enough to remember when UK plc was bankrupt and the unions held us to ransom every day. Nothing to do with 'right wing' media (by the way since when has the BBC been right wing? you could not have got that more incorrect).

    In my profession I see how much 'benefits' alot of so called deprived people receive and it results in more disposable income then most middle earners have - oh sorry thats right wing isn't it? It's not - just the truth. You cannot be afraid of critising the benefit takers (not all of them). It seems that the only people allowed to critise anyone is the left. Whilst the banks' behaviour was terrible, I did not hear much moaning when times were good.

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  • 4. At 10:40am on 14 Sep 2009, beachball64 wrote:

    If i went to my bank and said "times are very tough, can you lend me a load of money so that i can spend my way out of the problem? Oh, just one minor little thing, i don't think i am going to have enough income to pay you back in less than 40 odd years." I suspect that i would be advised to cut back on my outgoings and then shown the door marked exit fairly sharpish.
    I don't see why it should be any different at Government level.

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  • 5. At 10:48am on 14 Sep 2009, Tempus Fugit wrote:

    I could have sworn Briston and Toxteth were about perceived injustices by the authorities, particularly the police, against ethnic minority communities rather than because public spending had to be cut.

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