Monday, October 18, 2010

Conditions for the workers

Robert Crampton drew attention to the irony that Rochdale, home of John Bright who he says was one of the men responsible for getting the vote for working class men, should now be home to a population of whom 84% live on state benefits.

Well Bright certainly campaigned for the extension of the franchise, but it should be remembered that it was the Conservative government of Lord Derby (assisted by Disraeli in the House of Commons) which finally managed to get the bill through parliament after years of unsuccessful attempts by the Radicals & the Liberals.

As well to remember too that Bright’s economic radicalism (as one of the Manchester Men) had more in common with the Victorian values of Margaret Thatcher than with the Labour Party. He certainly did not support the idea of government interference in hours of work & wages decided by contracts which were freely entered into by factory owners & the workers.

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