WELL-OFF HAVE OWN AGENDA

WHEN sharp economic divisions emerge among sections of the propertied class, the contenders attempt to rouse popular discontent to defend their sectional interests.

For example, the English Civil War was fought out in the interests of the aristocracy, on the one hand, versus the yeomanry and merchants on the other.

The contenders had mutually exclusive economic interests, and the victors were those who could depend on the majority support of the people.

Although it was fought for economic reasons, the war was cloaked in religious indignation for popular consumption.

In the 19th century, an economic tussle over the price of corn occurred between the landed interest and the factory-owners such as Cobden and Bright, the latter giving moralising speeches to massed crowds.

The factory-owners posed as altruists who were concerned to help the workers by demanding lower bread prices, thus easing the workers’ poverty.

In truth, the factory-owners wanted cheaper bread so that they could keep wages down and thereby profit from the lower cost of production.

Now it’s the Brexit saga, with the economic contenders appealing for mass support from the workers. Wage-worker, A.P. Moxham (Letters, July 5), has unwittingly allowed himself to be used as a political pawn in a dispute that isn’t his concern, just as previous generations of workers did on behalf of propertied interests.

Brian Livesey

Accrington