To wonder why Brits aren't protesting in the streets?

[ponderingpaula]

I used to live in the U.K. and I can't for the life of me work out why the British people aren't protesting the government, given how utterly shafted you have all been by them, and how things have been getting worse and worse over the last few years.

Working people needing food banks and "warm houses" because the costs of living is so outrageous, the nhs is utterly broken unless it's an emergency and even then people have to wait hours for an ambulance, social care virtually doesn't exist now, transport is crap and constantly striking, there have been so many lies it's impossible to count, multiple leaders over a short time, u turn after u turn, prioritising the ultra rich, I mean this is just off the top of my head...

In any other country on earth people would take to the streets to protest or even riot... why don't Brits?

Where do you live?
Nothing is simple.
You'd think France was a centre of social discontent, but that's not the whole story.
Try to ignore simplistic headlines!

Because there is still a lot of people in the uk who are doing ok financially and don't feel the need to take to the streets. It would take a huge recession mass unemployment and negative equity in millions of homes to get us out on the streets.

A million of us marched against Iraq in London. The government ignored us. We were right.

A million Remainers marched through London to protest about Brexit and the havoc that would ensue. The government ignored us. We were right.

We live in a relatively stable democracy and we know that in January 2025 we can vote these fuckers out — if not before. We've seen what's happened in Egypt and Libya and elsewhere and we're not convinced a revolution is the way to go. We had one of those in 1649 when we beheaded Charles I and threw ourselves into a period of Puritan austerity. We didn't like that, either, so we decided to stick with the status quo and have a king again.

8.8 (36%) million homes in the UK are owned outright — no mortgage. 6.8 million are mortgaged. There's a lot of noise about those in the worst-case scenarios, but a lot of people are comfortable — despite all the people on MN whingeing about not being able to cope on £90k pa.

@ponderingpaula to be honest OP I would never protest because I actually think the people are as much to blame as the government.

Most people seem to think money grows on trees - they want everything for free.

The reason the NHS is crippled is because many people don't take care of their own health and then want the NHS to pick up the pieces.

As soon as people start to realise that the government is not an endless money pit that might mean things change.

Labour government will screw us too

True. I live in an ordinary suburb in a Northern city. People still clearly have significant disposable income to pay for dog walkers, cleaners, valeting of cars on drives, new kitchens and bathrooms, new cars.
So it's clearly not widespread, just hitting certain groups.

You are looking at it from media perspective v your reality when living here,

The media is heightened, very much so, many people are just living normal lives - socialising, buying stuff etc

It is a marked difference to online in many cases

Too many are either comfortable, or the opposite, or have long switched off from politics for one of a number of reasons.

This is true. The media is honestly complete clickbait when it comes to headlines. People risk their lives in their thousands daily to get to this island. There’s far worse places to live.

Just to add that I visit the U.K. regularly and so my perspective is not just from the media, it's from the changes I see around me when I come back, from friends and family too.

Whereabouts are you visiting? It can be different depending on area (I suspect)

Yes, but that's just a snapshot.
You obviously don't want to share where you live, but limited judgements can be made on the situation in any society.

You don't live here, so don't worry about it.

I live abroad and I am shocked at the ease in which my UK boomer parents take on the bad news, they are preparing for power cuts for 3hrs at at time this winter. The U.K just lurches from one crisis to another these days, I am shocked at the changes I have witnessed from afar over the last 6 years or so since being away. I cant believe people aren't rioting on the streets at how awful the Tories are.

Also we know fuel prices are through the roof because of the Middle East trying to make up for the money they lost due to Covid and because of Putin. A bit daft to go protesting in the streets over something no one can do anything about. Doubtless Putin would love to see people on the streets. Sometimes you hit bad patches and they have to be endured and this is one of them.

We also know that the economic consequences of Brexit and then Covid were bound to hit us at some point. It's a perfect storm: Brexit, Covid and Putin. Truss's far-right slash and burn approach is being dealt with.

There are plenty of legal, controlled strikes going on, legitimately balloted through unions - perhaps you need to do your research.

People are quite reasonably not prepared to lose their income or let their colleagues down, we'd rather keep the country going by getting on with our jobs and not disrupting the country even more. Or we have family obligations, or we volunteer for a charity and prefer to put our energies into helping that way. Or a million and one other reasons why rioting is the least best option at the moment.

you're welcome to return to UK, pay your taxes and get out on the streets in a riot if that's what you think it takes.

Ah so this is interesting. People who no longer live in the UK coming forward to criticise those who do live in the UK for not protesting 🤔

What you see portrayed on TV isn't the reality for the majority of people who actually live here OP.

I don't know anyone in my family or social group who are having to use food banks or close between Eat or Heat. None of us is wealthy, and we are all cutting down on fuel consumption (which is what we all should be doing because of Global Warming), but we are all fine.

I feel sorry for those who are truly struggling and have no way of improving their situation - the disabled for example. But there are many who are simply trying to have a lifestyle incompatible with their income, and they have to solve their situation themselves.

So what are you trying to do here, OP? Are you in Russia? Are you trying to spread gloom and despondency?

This. No one I know is doing these things. They maybe cutting down on the electricity / gas, but that's all. They aren't struggling to pay bills and are still going out/away.

It’s almost like people are trying to stoke some dissonance. We’re not angry enough are we?

Protests are rarely reported on in the news. There were Enough is Enough protests last week, but you'd never know.

But also, I think it just feels pointless. We are at the mercy of a corrupt political system and nothing we do is going to change their minds, because they are not working for the benefit of the country.

I think a lot of people feel that protests/demonstrations etc a) don't work and b) are full of attention seekers/trouble causers who just want a day out/a fight. so I think a lot of people who want change steer clear of this sort of direct action and are more likely to write to their MP etc and hope that enough people agree to get a change at the next election. An group of people suggesting direct action of any sort (including strike action) is treated by the media etc as the problem (rather than having a sensible reaction to a problem). Most people who are working hard to make ends meet don't want to spend time they don't have getting involved in something that they think won't make a difference and is likely to give them a bad name (and possibly even accused of criminal activity).

Unfortunately I suspect that unless we get some major changes pretty quickly we will end up with riots in our cities. History tells us that this happens when groups of people feel they are not being listened to and that they have nothing to lose.

@ponderingpaula

the number of strikes or planned strikes is quite indicative of unrest I would have thought

It's humble-bragging, isn't it?

'I'm so concerned about all you poor Brits who have no idea what a terrible situation you're in.'

Because the exchange rate affects us? Because we have family and friends in the UK? Because our pensions are linked to the UK Economy?