Arch right wing keyboard warrior Leo McKinstry writing in today’s Express offensively characterises public servants as ‘the blob’:
“The blob’s opposition to the cuts is all about protecting the interests of its members. This self-serving attitude masquerades as a desire to protect “frontline services”, hence all the emotional blackmail from the unions about the potential for devastation in the NHS, schools, social work, housing and the police.”
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/188215
McKinstry is typical of media commentators drumming up an anti-public services psychosis to weaken resistance to Con Dem Government attacks on the welfare state.
An opposite view is put by John Green writing in today’s Morning Star:
“It is no exaggeration to state that working people and the trade union movement under this government are facing the most ferocious onslaught in recent history. However, while the Con-Dem coalition unleashes its blitzkrieg with incredible ferocity, the public appears to be mesmerised like rabbits caught in car headlights. Of course, that's not entirely true. There are those who saw this coming and who are now desperately sounding the reveille, but the government has stolen a march on us.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/93024
Green makes an excellent case for unions to develop broad based alliances in defence of public services and makes the timely point about the need to rebut the lies and poison spewed out by McKinstry and other Tory hacks:
“Unions also need to utilise the media more effectively. It is no use simply putting out press releases and hoping newspapers will print them or offering sound bites to TV interviewers. The need is to be pro-active and win over the public before the Establishment can put over its case and queer the pitch.”
