When I was at University (1995-98; 1999-2000), I got involved in student activism, which is a largely pointless task. The truth is that on the whole students don't care about much more than getting pissed and getting laid - the 'terminal preppies' Jello Biafra sung about. A group of around 40 of us, dominated by SWPers, invaded a meeting of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals which was discussing imposing tuition fees. We harrassed press conferences and the University of London Union executive, which was dominated by corrupt Blairites, and tried our best to fight off the Tory fees. Most other students were apolitical and regarded student activism as being something akin to train watching.

In 1997, New Labour was elected (ironically with SWP backing) and Blunkett immediately introduced tuition fees. The reaction? Douglas Trainer, the NUS Blairite president, did nothing. Student activism was killed stone dead and no-one cared because it didn't affect them.

Blair managed to carry out something Thatcher was unable to do: abolish free higher education. In the 1980s, students rioted when the Tories tried to introduce fees. In the 1990s, students just got pissed and ignored it, because to cause trouble might stop you from graduating from the business studies production line.

Welcome to Thatcher's generation, folks.

New for Old ! Rubbish in the streets in 1978 or Garbagegate in 2002, the Callaghan government tried to force workers to accept IMF fiscal demands, just as Now, Blair is doing exactly the same with the WTO GATS demands. Hence all the seemingly senseless utility selloffs, such as air control, tube etc. the only difference being that workers have been badly defeated in the 1980s and unable to stop him as they did Callaghan. New Labour has returned to the unfinished business of 1978 with a vengeance.
PS This is essentially what John Pilger told the Socialist alliance last year. It went over their little heads, as you might imagine

I wonder what a class act like Pilger was doing talking to that lot.

Too right. And the Socialist Alliance is really old labour. Same old standing for parliament, same old nationalise everything (not that it was any better for the workers) and same old middle classes wanting to rule the party just like Clement Atlee, Harold Wilson Stafford Cripps.
Best left alone and try something completely different.

i suppose pilger feels he should use whatever legitimate platform is available to him and get his message across to any potential radicals. i think its OK, and hes tough enough to deal with idiots like the LSA: i ve seen him speak at SWp meets too.

OK, it wasn't the most exiting demo that I've ever been on, but I think things are improving.

This notion that all students want to do is get pissed and that no-one cares about politics is about ten years out of date. Yes, when I was a student in London (1994-7), there was sweet F.A going on politically. But now all this has changed.

Did anyone notice that this demonstration wasn't only attended by the "usual suspects" in the SWP, but also by the Anarchist Federation and even some punks (who got some harrasment by the pigs near Holborn station . . . their crime? Drinking from a can of Special Brew!)

Did anyone also notice that "Mayday 2002" flyers are now being distributed, inviting everyone (including students) to the street party of the century on Wednesday May 1st? No, probably not - you're all too busy slagging off other people's demos!!!

I hope this won't upset y'all too much, but John Pilger endorsed the Socialist Alliance at the last election. Check the list of individual supporters on the SA website. Or ask John himself!

Don't want to upset folk, but John Pilger endorsed the Socialist Alliance at the last election. Check it out: