One of the most remarkable facts about the British public’s attitude to
prolonged austerity is the lack of the kind of open revolt which has
been seen in so many other countries.
In Greece it has led to the
dramatic rise of Syriza under the dynamic leadership of the radical
Tsipras who now has a poll rating ahead of all the other parties,
including the government. In Spain the resistance led by originally
the indignados has crystallised into a new party named Podemos which was
formed only 10 months ago, but now is equally challenging the
government.
In Italy the prime minister Renzi has achieved the highest
rating for his Democratic Party (39%), but second is the party of the
comedian Beppe Grillo in the mid-20s%, well ahead of Berlusconi’s Forza
Italian on 15%.
So where is the equivalent in the UK? UKIP hardly
counts as a serious alternative to government, though both the SNP in
Scotland and the Greens in England could be seen as in the initial
stages of a challenge to the main parties, significantly both from the
Left like Die Linke in Germany.
The dramatic rise of almost all these
movements have been sparked by deep public resistance to austerity.
So
why not in the UK? It may be about to happen...
Read more...