Former coalmining communities are more politically disenchanted than other 'left behind' areas

by University of Cambridge

 

 political engagement continues to climb in other 'left behind' areas, while in the former mining communities it drops off again after 2017.

This discontent with contemporary politics also extends to newer populist and nationalist parties. While they favored Leave in the referendum, those in coalfield communities are still less likely to vote for UKIP, the SNP or Plaid Cymru than those in other areas with similar social and economic struggles.

"It seems that the modern Left may not have lost the people in former mining communities to populism or emerging nationalist parties, but rather apathy and cynicism," said Abreu, from Cambridge's Department of Land Economy.

In addition, and contrary to cinematic depictions and public perceptions, the research didn't detect any greater sense of community cohesion in former mining neighborhoods compared to other economically depressed areas.

"It's been over thirty years since large numbers of people went underground for work, plenty of time for strong social relationships to dwindle," said co-author Dr. Calvin Jones from Cardiff Business School. "Loss of solidarity among these communities may have been compounded by austerity in recent years."

"However, it is also possible that the other deprived communities to which we compared former mining areas—from housing estates to rundown seaside towns—actually have higher levels of social cohesion than might be expected."

 

 

 

Brexit and and independent Nation State, adapted from Patrick Cockburn

as we stagger towards Brexit in less than a dozen weeks’ time, it is extraordinary that decision-making on so many issues directly affecting the daily lives of people living in Britain should be in the hands of corporations at home and abroad.
The ability of national politicians to regulate and, above all, tax these international entities is already low and will get considerably lower if Britain leaves the EU and is scrabbling for new investment post Brexit.
...
Opinion polls have long shown popular opposition to the privatisation of providers of essential services and utilities, but people seem resigned to the idea that everything from airports and pharmacies, to their electricity and water supply will end up in the hands of corporations and foreign investors over which the British government has only diluted authority.

...
The anti-Brexit forces made a disastrous mistake in treating the issue of the relations with the EU as if it was all about economics and immigration. Instead of treating the nation state and its history as slightly absurd and certainly outdated, they should have promoted the EU as a way of enhancing the power of the nation state by pooling sovereignty in order to re-empower individual EU members.

...
None of the British political parties have ever faced up to the question of how they would maintain Britain’s position as a nation state as it is hit by the all-embracing impact of globalisation.

the obsessive Brexit venture has prevented Britain taking those long-term measures necessary to secure its future as an independent nation state. (Patrick Cockburn)

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-globalisation-nationalism-gatwick-airport-drones-army-take-back-control-a8711841.html