Hot fuss about the seventies
Inequality in the Ui hit its lowest ever level in the 1970s. rhe footie could be pretty epic, too
As older Britons recalled the heatwaves of the 1970s, many questioned whether that decade was better than the present. ANNA WHITELOCK reviews the diverse perspectives on Twitter
Amid countless economic – and meteorological – comparisons to the 1970s, Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) of the Financial Times asked Twitter: “was there *anything* good about the 1970s?” Laura Marcus (@MissLauraMarcus) responded immediately: “It really was a fantastic time to be young… Much less pressure than young people face today. The music was incredibly varied and gigs were cheap. As were rents. Jobs were well paid and plentiful…” Richard Taylor (@Flub1957) agreed: “It was far better balanced, more social mobility existed, people were less aggressive, and social services did generally work. Sufficient GPs, ambulances came on time, sheltered housing and council houses were adequate.”
Broadcaster Jon Sopel (@jonsopel) dismissed it as a “ridiculous question: David Bowie singing Starman on TOTP. Summer of 76 (ladybirds a bit annoying). My Honda 400/4 motorbike. The romance of doing 2nd form homework by candlelight cos no electricity. The Ford Capri and Rover 2000. Winter of Discontent a bit shit I grant you.” Monty Don (@TheMontyDon) pointed to “Pink Floyd, punk, Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, a whole raft of films, house/rental prices, a real sense of opportunity, hitch hiking, cleaner air, fewer people, good beer at 15p a pint.” And
Conservative MP James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) was compelled to tweet in praise of “The legend that was John Noakes. He made the whole decade worthwhile.”
Cathie Wood (@cathie_wood) had a more negative view: “Where our current troubles began – social housing sold off with no replacements, rapid & brutal destruction of industrial heartlands with no exit strategy, crushing of local democracy & civic investment, loss of municipal buses, utility privatisations with weak regulators etc etc.” Tim Bale (@ProfTimBale) had a different perspective, tweeting: “Inequality in the UK hit its lowest ever level – if you like that sort of thing. I also liked a lot of the music, and the footie could be pretty epic too.”
David Osland (@David__Osland) pointed to “Secure well-paid jobs, plentiful social housing, final salary pensions, properly funded NHS and social care, free tuition and student grants, affordable rail fares and fabulous films and music. But apart from that, not a lot.” George Mann (@sgfmann) tweeted evocatively: “Genuine social mobility, West Indies cricket, reggae, West Ham winning the cup, family all living a short bus ride away, the [Queen’s] silver jubilee, Slade, my dad driving a yellow VW Beetle, massive changes to UK diet: pasta! Curry! Rice! All madness according to my mum. Clean beaches.” Libby Purves (@lib_thinks) pointed to “Free university [and] classic radio and TV from a confident BBC. Punk rock. London grubby but full of young people in lousy but central digs and squats.”
And me? Well obviously I’m too young (ish) to remember…