Suffering consequences of a more selfish society

ECONOMIC History used to be my favourite subject at school and college. It was then presented in such a way as to record the positive advancement of British society, albeit with some major setbacks, especially the two World Wars.

So on the politics front we progressed through a series of Reform Acts from 1832 onwards until universal franchise was finally achieved in 1928, when women gained the vote at the same age as men.

Similarly education advanced from the 1870 Forster Act through to the introduction of O Levels (GCE) in the 1950s and CSEs two decades later.

Following the signing of peace treaties in 1945, the national mood appeared to be one of consensus, helped by the so-called Butskellism of the two main political parties.

We were, it could arguably be claimed, all in it together, slowly becoming more prosperous as the years went past. People accepted the state control of vital industries, welcomed the introduction of the welfare state and happily lived in council houses.

One can see how things have changed since then, but we can argue over what were the turning points. Some might blame the twin oil price shocks of the 1970s which caused sharp rises in both inflation and unemployment. Others would say that the election of a former Grantham shop-keeper’s daughter in 1979 was the catalyst

Whatever, we are certainly more diffuse in our lifestyles and attitudes than we once were.

The Borough of Kensington and Chelsea epitomises this with its pockets of affluence amidst the ruins of Grenfell Tower.

Which brings me to the shocking killing of MP David Amess while carrying out his duties. To me this is further proof of the broken society we live in, where individuals stick to those like themselves and only perhaps come together for major sporting occasions.

I seem to remember that in the 1980s there was talk of a return to Victorian values. Perhaps we are now seeing signs of this violent and selfish age, and are suffering the consequences of individuals having less of a social conscience.

Grimsby.