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Strikes at home and war abroad: 1973 meets 2023
A proxy war raged in Vietnam between the West and East, while strikers took on a Tory government — JOHN ELLISON considers the similarities
YEAR OF UNREST: Union marchers on the mass May Day demo, 1973

IF a comparison between today’s political issues and developments and those of just half a century ago seems a peculiar historical exercise, the fact remains that the early months of 1973 and those of the present year have features in common.

This year, of course, we have been witnessing rapid price inflation and much industrial action affecting the railways, health service, schools, universities, Royal Mail, civil servants and more — against a background of Conservative harsh austerity rule for the past 13 years.

As 1973 began, a Conservative government had been in place since June 1970, with dour Edward Heath at the Downing Street helm. Inflation was then rising rapidly too. On January 6 the Morning Star’s headline was “Steak for rich — scrag for pensioners.”

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