Billy Bragg - Never Cross A Picket Line Lyrics






Five hundred men sacked for refusing
To ever cross a picket line
The voices down the ages warning
Never cross a picket line
You must never cross a picket line

Two years gone by but still they never
Ever cross a picket line
With their wives and children they stand together
Never cross a picket line
You must never cross a picket line

Look away, look away
Look away out west to San Francisco
Look away, look away
Look away down south to Sydney Harbour
Where the dockers have organised
The world's longest picket line

Technically this is an illegal strike
Never cross a picket line
But technically workers have no rights
Never cross a picket line
You must never cross a picket line

Oh, I want to live in a Brand New Britain
Never cross a picket line
Where workers rights are enshrined and written
Never cross a picket line
You must never cross a picket line

Look away, look away
Look away out west to San Diego
Look away, look away
Look away out east to far Osaka
Where the dockers have organised
The world's longest picket line

The Tories are gone but there's no improvement
Never cross a picket line
Now where is the might of the Labour movement
Never cross a picket line
You must never cross a picket line

Look away, look away
Look away down south to Auckland City
Look away, look away
Look away out west to old Vancouver
Where the dockers have organised
The world's longest picket line

Where the dockers have realised
You must never cross a picket line





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Billy Bragg Never Cross A Picket Line Comments
  1. A.... M....

    Left a response to early,(have now read pov's) if you are under 57 FUCK OFF! IF YOU ARE NOT NORTH OF YORKSHIRE & SOUTH OF SHETLAND, FUCK OFF! IF YOU VOTED FOR A BJ IN 2019 FUCK OFF!

  2. A.... M....

    EEPTU I Would Never Cross A Line! I Would Still Kill A scab Before I Would Work With them! Last Of The Red Clydesiders. english bought for a pot of english Gold! I Hope your Parents can Forgive (doubt it) The Scots Won't!

  3. A.... W....

    I have less than no time for the North now they've gone Blue. All the goodwill and solidarity the rest of the country showed them back then and they've spat in our faces electing Johnson as PM because "Corbyn is a Socialist" and "But muh Brexit"... in other words, they wanted socialism for themselves but everyone else can fuck off.

    And yes, I know Liverpool didn't but the former mining communities did. I never, ever want to hear another whingeing Northerner moaning about how nobody does anything for them and how they've been forgotten, they had a chance to elect someone who would transform the whole country, including their bit, and they sold us out to Boris Fucking Johnson for a mess of Brexit bullshit. Even Judas got 50 pieces of silver. Scabs!

    A.... W....

    Closing the coal mines was the best thing we ever did.

    A.... W....

    I think some of it is with the decline of heavy industry like mining, the old working class areas are now more commuter villages for the big cities.Parts of Yorkshire and indeed Lancashire have changed no end this past 25 years. Starter homes everywhere.These people work in the major cities, but have no desire to live there, which is to an extent understandable. Who wouldnt prefer to live in a nice green area? So they have no connection to the communities they live in, or to the people who have been there all their lives. But i still cant believe how well Boris Johnson did. Burnley went blue and i never thought id see that.It went LibDem in 2010 for 5 years but a lot of that was due to local issues.

  4. J.... H....

    So glad we closed the mines.

  5. s.... ....

    Iñigo guapo!!!

  6. M.... C....

    we don't cross picket lines because all a man has is his labour and if his last/best option is to withdraw it then he deserves our solidarity, thats how we win

  7. D.... B....

    There was almost a strike at Fred meyers and they were hiring scabs and because I KNEW This song I IMMEDiATELY thought of it. THank you Billy Brag!

  8. N.... T....

    My, but there seems to be only white people in this film.

    N.... T....

    @Andy MacKay and your point is?

  9. J.... H....

    So glad we closed the coal mines!

  10. 1.... 1....

    GET READY FOR.... THE NEW VICTORIAN STATE AFTER BREXIT.
    NO WORKERS RIGHTS... NO MINIMUM PAY...... NO NHS....
    CHECK MY LEFTY SONGS OUT ON UTUBE....

  11. B.... E....

    I’m proud to have stood on CWU picket lines.

  12. 1.... 1....

    Civil war... Run at them, not away

  13. 1.... 1....

    Was there with food parcels for the miners... Plumbers union...
    Policed by the state spys every Friday night, checking whos paying there subs..
    Free country my fetlocks.

  14. 1.... 1....

    Lyrics to my song on utube.
    Foodbank on the corner.

    Theres a foodbank on the corner
    Of every slum estate
    The common flag of freedom
    Torched at the factory gate
    Bedroom tax a killer Atos medicals sick
    The black magicians in downing street are planning there next trick.

    Homeless and hungry destitute
    To be
    This is England in 1863
    This is England in 2020

    Theres a ship yard in Newcastle
    Feeling sorry for its self
    Flatcaps and welding masks
    Lay dusty on the shelf
    Where the flags of freedom used to fly thetes a nail bar across the road reflecting in its window pane
    The glory days of old..
    Chorus.
    Midd8
    3rd verse outro

    If u like this have a listen to mine. 😁

  15. 1.... 1....

    Just a point of interest.
    The old East German Stasi, when they became unified with West Germany, came out and said.
    They where in Awe of the UK
    Intelligence service, and how much information they had on all of there citizens.
    In our wildest dreams we could
    not come close to there methods,
    And they where supposed to be a free country, we doubt that very much.... Said heads of the Stasi

    1.... 1....

    @Dovahkiin 4e201 going back to about 1992..i l7v8d there for about 20 years, info is correct.

    1.... 1....

    Can you link an article about it? I'd be very interested in reading about this

    1.... 1....

    @Dovahkiin 4e201 well, it was in Der Spiegel in 1992 i believe.
    Could have been another magazine. Its going back a long time now, but 100% i remember being astounded by it.
    I knew Germans whos parents worked for the East German
    Security services.
    AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT STORY...
    AS U SAY, I HAVE NO REASON TO MAKE IT UP, IT WAS TALKED ABOUT. SORRY I CANT HELP FURTHER.

    1.... 1....

    @Dovahkiin 4e201 i will try and research it as im a fluent German speaker.

    1.... 1....

    @Dovahkiin 4e201
    I have just googled it and a thing came up about Stasi in Awe if American surveillance structure on there citizens, tge article i read was definitely about being in Awe if the British secret service and info
    On citizens.... The site is.
    Tech Dirt.....
    East German Stasi in Awe of American security services.
    Hope that helps

  16. 1.... 1....

    Check out my original song on utube.
    Foodbank on the corner....
    Original song sugar hill....

  17. 1.... 1....

    Police used as a political tool.
    Shame on the Police force,
    Not forgiven, not forgotten.
    Nobody trusts the police.
    Just spys and fine tax collecters

  18. L.... T....

    As an lbgtqai+ socialist I stand with my historical fellows in standing, never crossing, a picket line

    L.... T....

    Comrade.

  19. 1.... 1....

    Check my song out on you tube.
    Foodbank on the corner.

  20. W.... ....

    t e c h n i c a l l y

  21. M.... A....

    Five hundred men sacked for refusing
    To ever cross a picket line
    The voices down the ages warning
    Never cross a picket line
    You must never cross a picket line

    Two years gone by but still they never
    Ever cross a picket line
    With their wives and children they stand together
    Never cross a picket line
    You must never cross a picket line

    Look away, look away
    Look away out west to San Francisco
    Look away, look away
    Look away down south to Sydney Harbour
    Where the dockers have organised
    The world's longest picket line

    Technically this is an illegal strike
    Never cross a picket line
    But technically workers have no rights
    Never cross a picket line
    You must never cross a picket line

    Oh, I want to live in a Brand New Britain
    Never cross a picket line
    Where workers rights are enshrined and written
    Never cross a picket line
    You must never cross a picket line

    Look away, look away
    Look away out west to San Diego
    Look away, look away
    Look away out east to far Osaka
    Where the dockers have organised
    The world's longest picket line

    The Tories are gone but there's no improvement
    Never cross a picket line
    Now where is the might of the Labour movement
    Never cross a picket line
    You must never cross a picket line

    Look away, look away
    Look away down south to Auckland City
    Look away, look away
    Look away out west to old Vancouver
    Where the dockers have organised
    The world's longest picket line

    Where the dockers have realised
    You must never cross a picket line

  22. c.... ....

    NEVER FUCKING EVER

  23. K.... ....

    I never ever would.

  24. M.... H....

    I come from Nottinghamshire and although never a miner I still hang my head in shame .

  25. s.... ....

    Cause if you cross it they will beat you to a bloody pulp. Not really a choice.

  26. D.... ....

    Unions, strikes, and picket lines are totally and utterly redundant nowadays, the current market is so employer-biased. There is no need for 'scabs', the companies can just bus in a hundred Polish at the snap of their fingers. If this dosnt work, another snap and they get a bus of 100 Romanians, Latvians, etc.
    Worst thing about this, the Labour party, which is supposed to represent the working man, is all pro-immigration - while the Tories, who are supposed to support big business, want to curb immigration!

    D.... ....

    An employer can't hire staff to cover for striking workers.

  27. J.... H....

    Hang in there, Stop & Shop friends.

  28. D.... ....

    . Solidarity with Stop & Shop workers on strike now in New England.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.masslive.com/business/2019/04/stop-shop-workers-go-on-strike-without-contract-since-february.html%3foutputType=amp

  29. K.... ....

    FUCK THEM I NEVER WOULD CROSS.

  30. K.... ....

    I agree !!!! Never cross a Picket Line...

    K.... ....

    What about the Steel Workers?

  31. Z.... s....

    GO TEACHERS

  32. B.... B....

    greatest workers song in history

  33. J.... F....

    I've crossed a picket line. I was new at a factory job which I worked when I was 20. They had a strike and the boss offered triple wages to work during the strike. So I went straight across the picket line. Went on holiday to Dorset with my extra cash. Lovely wee trip, had sun the whole time!

    J.... F....

    Fucking scab, just wait till the company starts oppressing you, then youll realize

    J.... F....

    Psychopath or sociopath. not sure which.

  34. M.... H....

    I'm glad we closed the coal mines.

  35. C.... W....

    Breaks my heart to look back on the treatment of miners, their families got, and how the unions are now so depleted.

  36. J.... ....

    My Nan (my Mum's mum) gave me that advice back in my teens.

    I will always follow it through.

  37. t.... t....

    He says to never cross a picket line but what if you are about to shit your pants and the only toilet heretofor abouts is over there past the picket line.?

    t.... t....

    Nope, never

  38. g.... h....

    in unity there is strength

  39. J.... c....

    Is that the Deathly Hallows at 0:10?

  40. W.... M....

    Never cross a picket line!

  41. a.... j....

    Billy😍

  42. D.... Z....

    he mentions all of those pacific rim cities and it seems he's referring to some sort of dockers' strike. Does anyone know what/where this happned?

  43. y.... 1....

    1.09 George Brealey he was a close friend of my Dad. Both now have sadly passed away. He was a lion of a man. Hard as nails but the nicest bloke you'd ever meet. A true working class hero in every sense. RIP George and Tommy (my Dad) Brothers in arms. ZULU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Westoe)

  44. C.... ....

    Look away, look away to West Virginia.

  45. W.... A....

    I am an American & in America there is a *MEDIA BLACKOUT* about what happened in your country with the mining businesses being shut down & those things.

    W.... A....

    The Rupblicans wanted more & were in power mines steel shipbuilding were in Democrat areas so thatcher ( BITCH SLUT SATANS SEX TOY) bought some american Capitalists, changed the law & Destroyed Heavy Industry, Mining, Manufacturing! A thumbnail, but england voted FOR A BJ & Scotland & Ireland Didn't!

  46. E.... ....

    Scargill was right. RIP.

    E.... ....

    He isn't dead

  47. S.... o....

    billy bragg
    crossed a picket line to open for the smiths at canada's wonderland in 1985... just saying...

    S.... o....

    You're hilariously stupid.

  48. J.... J....

    i remember as a 17 year old kid, 40 odd years ago now, I was a 'van lad' and the old bloke driver i was with who never said anything to anyone about anything and we were trying to make a delivery to a company with a picket line and god bless him he turned to me and said 'watch me back out lad' so i stood in the road waving my arms about while he reversed the truck and off we went still so proud today

    J.... J....

    That is so great. x

    J.... J....

    Last time I was on the picket line. The postman looked at us and turned around. RESPECT>>>

  49. Y.... f....

    Amos and Arnie, the 2 real 3's; "Why didn't we just show up?" The trade in our own ladies, and the disappearing weight of barflies. What's a late model hobbit to do? Repent. That's the magnetic anomaly they gave me.

  50. W.... ....

    Can't you see the bollocks you are all talking? Workers strike for workers rights but if a man wants to go to work you smash his house up and call him a scab. What about his rights??????? He has the same rights as you and if wants to work that's his choice.

    W.... ....

    I don't agree with smashing anyone's property up, but by crossing a picket line you make it harder for all of us to get our rights. No one listens to worker's who don't stick together.

    W.... ....

    Well he’s choosing to tear everybody else’s rights up, isn’t he?

    W.... ....

    Hear, hear. A worker should not be hounded in the disgraceful way that men and women were in the past in this country. For some people they have no choice but to keep working if they want to feed their families, some simply can't afford not work and don't deserve to be intimidated as a result. Others may not have wished to be a part of Stalinist Scargill's merry band of thugs who assault police constables and damaged private property, hardly an unreasonable wish.

    W.... ....

    John Bull The whole point of joining a union is to stay in the job and have collective bargaining power for higher wages so they could feed their families.

  51. e.... ....

    Fookin Ay Right! Never do it, lest ye be a scab and ya sons be born bitches!

  52. z.... S....

    some of my family were miners of old from rotherham and surrounding districts. The miners at this time lost my support for following reasons. Stabbing of police officers in the front line. Concrete slabs dropped ontop and into widnscreens of police driving under bridges. A Lot of miners didnt agree with action taken by many. MIners seemed to forget that their children were police officers who had to attend in the line of duty. Thatcher was a cow, but orgainsed rioting flying groups of miners intent of commiting violence agains the establishment , mainly the police was not on. Every miner I know today , families still struggling. Scargill got a lovely pension out of the union for the rest of his life....he took everyone for a mug.

    z.... S....

    zetlander Soaghar scargill went into the strike with a small house and a big union. And came out the otherside with a big house and a small union

    z.... S....

    steelworker and i will never, ever cross a picket line, and bow down to kiss the stinking bosses ass. screw you--don't care why--i'll always stand with workers. you can be happy and polite---cops murdered many workers---even when they aren't perfect, they are workers, and i stand w the working class.

    z.... S....

    Be quiet

    z.... S....

    What a load of bollocks, police chose to work against workers proper scum, they infiltrated and started a lot of the violence themselves. Never trust a copper.

  53. j.... ....

    It's so sad to watch this knowing workers lost their rights in the 80s and 90s when it seemed like we could've won

  54. I.... ....

    Idiot coppers protecting the rich and privileged against the likes of themselves.

    I.... ....

    They know exactly what they are doing.
    They know exactly who they are.
    They know who they serve.


    ACAB.

    I.... ....

    Correct, just a tool of the Rich.

    I.... ....

    The police have always been the armed wing of capital.

    I.... ....

    Fuck coppers. The useful idiots of the establishment. Junior fascists, one and all.

    I.... ....

    no such thing as a good cop

  55. B.... A....

    Thanks for posting man. I wrote a song like this. I subscribed to you. Subscribe back please!

  56. J.... F....

    If I saw someone cross a picket line i'd tackle them to the ground and ram my dick into their ears

    J.... F....

    Jamie Fletcher Unorthodox, but deserved

  57. n.... k....

    to all the Tesco workers going on strike next week in Ireland

  58. J.... C....

    You must 'Never Cross A Picket Line' because 'There is Power in a Union'. Solidarity, Comrades.

  59. W.... T....

    F the Corporation. Wannabee human wannabee person. Corporations have more rights than actual people...FaCt

  60. G.... ....

    was there no color durin the dispute? Solidarity Forever

    G.... ....

    No, the colour printers were on strike

  61. R.... H....

    kinnock went missing as did Hatersley , but , power in an union or a Government , politcal chess , today Corbyn has stood

    on a picket line , years ago , michael foot "nice man " , maybe , Corby will appeal to the young ( hope so ) then Bill

    will sing his heart out !!!!!!!! CORBY POWER ! For the people's sake get shut of the tories /ukip . Brezit , more like EXIT !!!

  62. j.... h....

    the police should be ashamed of themselves invading welsh and other mining villages  with there bully boy tactics fuck the tories fuck off may

    j.... h....

    jonathan holland Right you are brother. May, Farraj, Trump --cut from the same non-union-shop cloth. And all loved by the damn police class enemies

  63. P.... Z....

    Roughly 20 years later and everything got worse. The neoliberal agenda is strangling the whole planet. Let us unite and stop this madness!
    Stp TTIP, CETA and other trade "agreements" that benefit a few moneybags and destroy peoples rights further.

  64. r.... ....

    Justice for Orgreave the fight goes on solidarity

    r.... ....

    redrob12000 yes a disgrace mate it all ties in with Hillsborough as well what the Police were up to and the Tories behind it all orchestrating it all , they said they wouldn't go ahead with it because no one died !! so that's a basis for justice that none died !! bastards guilty as hell , they know it ,we know it , typical corrupt Tories and Police , we can't get the full picture on Hillsborough until Orgreave comes to light .. it will one day .

  65. C.... A....

    anyone who crosses picket is a filthy piece of scum! Us unions/members fought for our rights,which are slowly being eroded.Anyone who dares to strike now are looked upon as scum-it's a fight to the bottom.Join your Union now

    C.... A....

    Never have and never will

    C.... A....

    My dad was works converor and I was shop steward where we worked I am a carer for my wife now but still pay my union dues

    C.... A....

    As an underage apprentice I was forced to cross the line even by a militant employer

    C.... A....

    What utter nonsense. When you strike you are giving up a day's pay. Who does that for nothing?

    C.... A....

    Damn straight. Scabs are best picked with a pipe wrench to the skull.

  66. R.... H....

    Hard times , i had to go and work in Germany ,but I was not a Yorky with a family en morgage , and neither was the p.m.

    she shunned the "workers" especiallially im Merseyside , This woman / man , ruined the working class , bitch !!! Stamp
    the dirty dust down , cosstello . poet of our finest ! We have to live together , lets at least try , sometimes , i,m not sure , do you know these people , come on BILL !!!

  67. J.... ....

    I'd never cross a picket line. I'd rather die then be a scab!

    J.... ....

    glad someone out there is not a scab, seems like more and more are showing up now.

    J.... ....

    So glad we closed the mines.

    J.... ....

    This country has the lowest amount of days off. Highest retirement ages...lowest wages. Thanks scabs for giving in. Twats.

    J.... ....

    @Spaced1 Coal mining would have ended anyway due to the Climate Change Act.

    J.... ....

    @Tom Attoe Because you're a human arsehole?

  68. M.... H....

    Never ever

  69. d.... ....

    Whenever I get the chance to I'll join in picket lines.

  70. C.... ....

    this is my family over here - Moorthorpe 1985

  71. G.... N....

    Because of our blossoming relationship with European Unions picket lines were not crossed here in the US from European Elevator Constructors, we will NEVER cross yours either! Fraternally, International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 131

  72. I.... D....

    I m just a kid and I know u don't cross a picket line so why don't the coppers

    I.... D....

    Because ACAB's

  73. S.... ....

    The 2.52 video ''Why Do Banks Make So Much Money?'' - the 5.35 ''Power of Banks vs Democracy,'' and the 3.01 ''Inequality:Why are the rich getting richer?'' by Positive Money UK [positivemoney.org + internationalmoneyreform.org]

  74. J.... M....

    Love and respect to Hem Heath colliery workers. Nothings right round here now.

  75. A.... F....

    live up north now. blackhall colliery. lots here

  76. A.... F....

    union. ..........

  77. F.... ....

    The following link is my tribute to Brave hard working miners whom lost their lives in various UK pit disasters, Film includes two poignant songs, your feedback is appreciated Thankyou; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY_u6O_afGc

  78. R.... H....

    police have always been anti working class, during miners strike they crossed the line and have never crossed back.

    R.... H....

    the battle of Orgreave was a clear statement by the government that those who don't fall in line will be beaten and arrested. They forced unions to follow their rules, which kind of defeats the purpose of a Union, which is meant to stand up solely for the workers.

    R.... H....

    Well said George, Orgreave was the turning point and despite the valiant fight by the miners the writing was on the wall. Unions would be smashed regardless of the economic, social and political cost. Great Britain became just Britain that day and we are all worse off for it.

    R.... H....

    I imagine the police probably resented being attacked and physically assaulted otherwise they may have had more respect for strikers

    R.... H....

    @John Bull, your first two words sum you up "you imagine". My father, brother, 2 Uncles, a cousin and numerous family friends where all striking miners and remained "solid" until the end. Don't believe the bullshit, very few police got attacked and mostly when they did it was in retaliation to men and women being arrested, beaten senseless etc for purely defending their livelihoods. Yes there was the odd assault on police, but it was nothing compared to what the miners had to put up with from the police. If you had been there and seen it first hand then you would maybe understand. Read any number of accounts by police who will tell you they enjoyed the violence and made a point of provoking it. Also consider agent provocateurs planted to create these alleged attacks, the involvement of secret services, the kangaroo courts that suddenly got set up etc. The police resented nothing, they loved the overtime and the thrill of battering innocent people. Read the Orgreave trial transcripts and consider the outcome of that trial. Also consider the fact not one police officer ever faced any form of discipline for any actions they took. Look at footage of innocent people getting truncheoned repeatedly to the back of the head etc and put it all together, was there never one policeman who stepped over the line?The biased reporting by the media, for example the BBC "accidentally" reversing footage. Miners getting put on trial for riot with the prospect of life imprisonment for simply being there. I could continue but think I've stated enough as food for though.
    I still live in an (ex) pit village and trust me the police are very careful what they do and what they say now around here. We have long memories and will never forget what happened.

    R.... H....

    youtubeuser 1 same police force that covered up Hillsborough and fucked up the Peter Sutcliffe hunt but yet people think they told the truth about Orgreave. Beggers belief

  79. D.... G....

    Jeremy,
    Are you a fascist,or some relation to Jeremy Thorpe?
    "Jeremy" sounds like a name for some right wing fox hunting sadist to me,I bet you wish you could send our children up chimneys again,long live the union viva revolution

    D.... G....

    @jeremy western well, clearly Jeremy would cross a picket line, if he only ever had a real job ^^

    D.... G....

    @jeremy western 309 like,3,don't just shows the minority rule but not for long.

    D.... G....

    @Darren Gerrard Not Corbyn,though !!!

    D.... G....

    +Darren Gerrard *Cough* Corbyn... Dude, no one name is inherently evil or good, we have David Cameron, and David Tennant, Jeremy Corbyn and Jeremy Hunt and there was probably a really good guy who had the first name Adolf. This world really needs to chill :) Socialism and Liberalism will win so just be kind on the way. And wait 5 years then get rid of the tories.

  80. b.... ....

    all the scabs should hang their heads in shame......up the workers! thanks for being a force for good billy =)

    b.... ....

    yeah, it's not like they're doing it for kicks

    b.... ....

    man-made/Invented NUMB£R$ vs The HUMAN RACE !!!!!!

    b.... ....

    No, they should have their heads hung in a noose.

    b.... ....

    @Edward Nigma The Labour Party was formed by the Unions. 🙄

    b.... ....

    The cunts who voted for Boris Johnson should fucking hang themselves.

  81. J.... L....

    Long live the worker.. until we no longer have to work to increase profit margins. Communism>>>Anarchism the planet's only hope. No jobs on a dead planet.

    J.... L....

    Jo Lisa Dukarić So follow the system of China, the biggest polluter and rights violator in the world, to save the world?

    J.... L....

    "Look Ma, a Tankie!"

    J.... L....

    China is far from Communist, Comrade. Even directly after their revolution, it was a Maoist nation, not a Communist nation. They are drastically different. But since 1976 China has cast off practically every shred of Communism/Maoism that they ever had. They are privatized. Even the schools are allowed to be privatized. The government does not provide the people with much healthcare or social programming. The means of production are not collectively owned. They have globalized to the point that they trade with even the United States. Excessively, might I add. The Chinese government heavily regulates the personal ownership of firearms, too, which is antithetical to Marx's teachings. All in all the China of today is about as much of a Communist nation as the DPRK is a Democratic People's republic. So... Not at all. China's economy is heavily privatized, but all land is owned by the government and heavily-regulated. So it ends up looking a lot more like modern Free-Trade Mercantilism with a Feudal backing. Which, my dear chum, is a type of Capitalism. But I do not quite understand that man's willingness to pit Communists and Anarchists against each other, since their Utopian outcome is nearly identical.

  82. P.... S....

    Too many people worldwide crossed the picket lines...

    P.... S....

    Not even a close analogy.

    P.... S....

    I am an American & in America there is a *MEDIA BLACKOUT* about what happened in your country with the mining businesses being shut down & those things. Do explain.

  83. w.... ....

     Why did Harold Wilson close all the Mines?

      Did he have it in for the miners?

    w.... ....

    @plankgate No you are stupid and need to check your history.

    w.... ....

    @Colin Baget The strike was Scargill fighting for his own power and wealth.

      Wilson closed down the coal mines an blocked any sanctions on Apartheid. 

    w.... ....

    +warriorprince101010 He only closed ones that weren't profitable, gave the communities and unions good notice, generous redundancy where as thatcher closed them for ideological reasons. Most of the ones she shut were profitable and they never created alternative industry and employment in the areas it was an ideological battle with unions and workers nothing more nothing less

    w.... ....

    @Peter Hall Wilson closed the coal mines, left the country in scandal and in recession.

      The unions barons could not vie a Damn about the miners aslong as they kept their 6 figures salaries I am afraid.

      Unions bosses are all about power and money, they have no soul.

    w.... ....

    +warriorprince101010 JU$T NUMB£R$ ! Lack OF inches, metres, miles .. ''money?'' The 2min52 video ''Why Do Banks Make So Much Money?'' and OTHERS by Positive Money [UK]

  84. t.... ....

    I will be on a picket with 12 union members whilst 300+ colleagues sail past and go to work on Tuesday at my FE college... ideas of unity seem to have been forgotten and it is workers who will suffer x

    t.... ....

    +denis deegan I have realized this when i tried to get people at my US public high school to walk out agents school uniforms. No one wanted to although they bitch and moan about their rights - i am aware this is a non issue compared to worker rights -

    t.... ....

    It isn't a none issue at all!, because everything is relative.
    From tiny acorns mighty oaks grow!
    Listen to your own late and very great Woody Guthrie! now there's an American to be proud of!

    t.... ....

    I know about Woody Guthrie he is buy a gun for your sun us he not ??

    t.... ....

    strength brother

    t.... ....

    the 2014 film ''Pride.''

  85. g.... g....

    Grande Billy!

    g.... g....

    +gabriele geminiani e vero!

  86. t.... g....

    Thank you Billy Bragg.

  87. T.... L....

    such a brilliant song!

  88. n.... ....

    TOO TRUE BILL

  89. H.... A....

    Could someone tell me who is the man with the bullhorn pictured in the video at 1:05

    H.... A....

    Arthur Scargill.

  90. T.... ....

    I'd still rather be a picket than a scab....................
    With respect to miners, dockers - my fellow journalists at Wapping, our posties on Monday and teachers everywhere. It's a tough decision to strike, never taken lightly - and always thinking of those who will come after us. Hold my hand - here it is........