Economic inequality leads to anger – and riots

Prof Tim Newburn suggests we need a public inquiry into the recent riots (“Racism? Poverty, drink and social media? We still don’t know why Britons rioted a month ago – and we need answers”, 4 September). This is expensive and unnecessary. Misinformation via social media played a part, or why would people have started attacking asylum seekers in the false belief that they had committed murders? Rightwing rent-a-thugs seized on the opportunity to blame their favourite scapegoat. But these things channelled an anger that was already there. Why are so many people so angry at life in this country that they are prepared to riot, and scapegoat others for it?
There has been considerable research into the effect of economic inequality on social cohesion, crime and health. What it shows is that economic inequality makes all of these evils worse. This is not simply about being nice to the poor. The research shows that in highly unequal societies even the better off have a poorer quality of life than they would in more equal ones. Recent polls have shown that people are in favour of increasing taxes on the rich, and this includes the rich themselves.
Inequality increased colossally under the last government, with most people’s wealth and incomes decreasing while the richest doubled theirs. The change that people voted for must come, or there will be more and worse riots.
The past 14 years have seen a massive transfer of wealth from the less well off to the richest. That must be reversed. Shifting the balance of taxation by a relatively small amount is essential. Reducing economic inequality should be a major goal of this government, and a Labour government above all others should not be ashamed to do it.Dr Robert Forde Retired forensic psychologist, Sheffield
I am grateful to Tim Newburn for his reminder that “rioting is generally an indication that all is not well in the body politic”. While historians will have plenty to contribute to understanding lessons from the past in relation to the origins of such riots, I wonder if turning to literature will provide useful insights. I have been reading Charles Dickens’ novel Barnaby Rudge, set in the 1780s and focused on the Gordon riots – the days of violent insurrection and looting motivated by anti-Catholic sentiment fanned by key figures in the Protestant Association, particularly the figurehead, Lord George Gordon.
The parallels in Dickens’ depiction with what followed from the outrageous events in Southport and elsewhere last month are striking. For social media misinformation, read incendiary and anonymous handbills in 1780. For the anti-immigrant political sentiment of the past decade, read the headstrong “Bloody Mary” speechifying in the years leading to the Gordon riots. For the state’s current robust sentencing, read the executions of those manipulated to lead the riots by hidden and unscrupulous politicians – less likely to be charged.
What emerges in Dickens’ depiction of such a riot is the abandonment of all civilised values resulting from the mass hysterical groupthink that “others” and foreigners are causing problems. The invisible leaders remain the problem.Emeritus Professor John ButcherBedford