Mitch Mitchell
Mods and Rockers: the 1960s youth cult
Following his earlier A brief history of the Teddy Boys, Mitch Mitchell recalls the rivalries, real and manufactured, between the Mods and Rockers.
Music of the people: Country & Western
Mitch Mitchell (‘the Fenland Kid’) is back with another people’s music playlist. This time he’s here with a brief history of Country and Western.
What a way to make a living | Minicabbing since 1979
In the latest instalment of our What a way to make a living series, Mitch Mitchell reports on his experiences driving minicabs over the decades
Music of the people: The Blues
Mitch Mitchell is back with another people’s music playlist. This time he’s here with a brief history of The Blues
Music of the people: Skiffle
Mitch Mitchell is back with another people's music playlist. This time he's introducing Skiffle.
Music of the people: Doo Wop
Mitch Mitchell introduces a new series of playlists of 'music of the people'. He starts this week with Doo Wop.
Four myths about migration and why they are nonsense
In recent years, especially since the referendum, electoral politics, as well as discussions in the media, have been predicated on increasingly open hostility to migrants and refugees. Mitch Mitchell recounts four of the most popular anti-migration myths and why they are wrong.
Homelessness: Rachmanism returns
As homelessness figures have risen yet again, Mitch Mitchell looks at the history of housing in the UK the post-war period.
Knife crime and the myth of the friendly copper
Mitch Mitchell argues that putting more police on the streets will not solve the problem of knife crime and will lead to more targeting of BAME youth.
A brief history of the Teddy Boys
The post war youth subculture that became the subject of a moral panic.
Latest articles
Interview: Dealing with the mess
Junior Doctor Stacey Williams speaks about the prospects for organising to defend lives and the NHS through the coronavirus crisis.
Bollocks to the Poll Tax
Colin Revolting remembers the day 30 years ago when one of the biggest marches ever turned into a mass riot which sunk the Tory flagship Poll Tax policy and took Prime Minister Thatcher down with it.
Education in Palestine
Education is a key battlefield in the Palestinian struggle in the wake of Trump's 'Deal of the Century'. #ExistResistReturn
Other people are not the problem
Whilst the government continues to condemn millions by asset stripping the healthcare service and backing landlords and bosses, we must remember that we are all united by their contempt for us.
revolutionary reflections | The Anti-Poll Tax Federation: Organisation and spontaneity
The anti-poll tax movement was arguably the most successful social movement in Great Britain since the 1970s. In advance of the 30th anniversary of the poll tax riot (31 March 1990), Andrew Stone explores how political organisations and grassroots initiative interacted.
The Scottish government needs to defy Johnson’s Tories and act independently to save lives
Ray M argues that the Scottish government must break with Westminster in order to tackle the Covid-19 crisis appropriately.
Safer sex – lessons from the AIDS crisis
Colin Wilson remembers the community responses to the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.
Strikes in the time of coronavirus
How can workers respond to the unfolding coronavirus crisis, without forfeiting our collective power? A UCU member reflects. Originally published on Notes from Below.
The cradle will rock
The social crisis produced by the coronavirus has had a major impact on children and the way their care is organised. Here, a nursery worker reflects on a fortnight of uncertainty and change.
Mods and Rockers: the 1960s youth cult
Following his earlier A brief history of the Teddy Boys, Mitch Mitchell recalls the rivalries, real and manufactured, between the Mods and Rockers.
Highlights
Acting on COVID-19
With cases of the pandemic rising rapidly, we cannot rely on government or business to put health before profits. rs21 members have produced a set of actions and demands to campaign around and a summary of the safety legislation can allow workers to take action or leave work.
University strikes escalate from Monday
UCU and EIS members are briefly returning to work before escalating their strike on Monday. rs21 reports from the higher education strike around Britain.
Solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en!
As Canada’s rail network is shut down by indigenous and allied land defenders, the struggle against a fracking pipeline project on Wet’suwet’en territory has received international attention.
Reject the Ten Pledges
Sai Englert argues that the ten pledges represent a continuation of an attack on the left and the Palestine solidarity movement, rather than a serious attempt to tackle antisemitism in Britain.
How we fight back
A devastating electoral defeat for Labour brings with it an inevitable battle for interpretation. It also sharply illustrates the need for our side to build power beyond parliament.