A Few Minutes in a Cheshire Street Cafe
Just a few minutes in a Cheshire Street Cafe. It was a pleasure photographing the two subjects at the table next to me but I must confess I was also drawn by the wallpaper.
Two men in a Cheshire Street Cafe, 1984
It was almost compulsory to smoke in a cafe in those days and the atmosphere would become foggier as the day progressed. The second photograph (below) was taken after the man on the right had rolled his own cigarette from tobacco in the tin on the table.
Two men in a Cheshire Street Cafe, 1984
Two Men Kissing
Two gay men were recently asked to leave the John Snow pub in Soho for kissing. Staff at the pub described their behaviour as ‘obscene’.
Two men kissing, 1990
If like me you missed the kiss in the Soho pub. Here are a couple of kisses to be getting on with!
Two men kissing in a Soho Square, 1999
The two men above are kissing in Soho Square in 1999 at a meeting called to show outrage at the bombing of the gay pub in Soho, The Admiral Lord Duncan in 1999. The bomb killed three people and injured many others. Subsequently David Copeland was charged and found guilty of the dreadful crime. He was given six life sentences for his thirteen day reign of terror in London.
Peter Tatchell speaking at the meeting in Soho Square
Human Rights campaigner Peter Tatchell spoke at the meeting and addressed the need for society to oppose homophobia in all its forms. It is thanks to campaigners like Peter and others that gains have been made in LGBT rights.
Paul Boateng at Soho Square
Future Chief Secretary of the Treasury Paul Boateng (above) also spoke at the hurriedly organised but well attended meeting.
Tory Immigration Policy Explained
You could be forgiven if you are confused by Tory immigration policy. Yesterday the Prime Minister told the country he wanted to cut immigration to “tens of thousands” of people a year. Over the years I’ve heard Conservative politicians use the immigration issue to cultivate fear of immigrants and divert attention from economic problems. They never discuss the exploitation of immigrants and the poor housing and incomes they endure.
Bus stop, Whitechapel
Living in Whitechapel (above) I can walk out of my front door and hear many different languages spoken in an area enriched by different cultures. I have often tried to imagine what Whitechapel would be like if the poisonous verbosity of Tory politicians on immigration was ever accumulated and realised. It is surely a landscape which civilised people would hesitate to contemplate.
Brick Lane market
After all Whitechapel is full of people from different backgrounds.
Four celebrate the Cable Street Mural
After all we have a strong tradition of fighting injustice and welcoming immigrants. This year is the 75th anniversary of the battle of Cable Street.
So what photograph should I use to illustrate the antithesis of all this? In raising questions about immigration Mr Cameron is part of a long Tory tradition which has used this issue to undermine communities strengthened by immigration. Perhaps I do have a photograph that illustrates Mr Cameron’s vision of the UK as he would like it:
Tory Party Conference, early 1990's
Market moves
You don’t have to get up early to see the movement of goods on Whitechapel market. From 7am you can see stallholders preparing the market for the days business. However goods are moved throughout the day giving the market an extra sense of industry and prompting the call: “mind your backs.”
Pushing goods on Whitechapel market, 1998
In the port of Dhaka in Bangladesh goods are on the move all the time. This hand welded cart with its pnuematic tyres is more sophisticated than any thing you might find in Whitechapel.
Pulling a cart, Dhaka 1996
The Big Society Explained
The government claims the Big Society they want to install in the UK is a hugely ambitious and complex matter. Ministers sometimes find it difficult to spin the ‘BS’ in simple sound bites.
For a Tory explaining the Big Society is a bit like communicating the origins of the universe. It is shrouded in a degree of mystery. The mystery is essential because the Big Society has the same moral physiology of a pyramid sales scheme. The Big Society depends on a government who falsely claim that society can be improved, healed and rejuvenated if we all work harder for less money. Like all pyramid schemes the only people who benefit from it are the con men and women who advocate it.
In order to clarify matters and remove any mystery the photo essay below explains the reality of the Big Society:
Whitechapel Library
The Big Society closes libraries.
Bus Stop, East London
The Big Society restricts public transport and increases fares.
Stop the War protest
The Big Society accommodates war.
Demonstration against education cuts
The Big Society excludes the poor and many others from education.
A bank at Canary Wharf
The Big Society robs money from the poor and gives it to the banks and allows bankers to pay themselves huge ‘bonuses’.
A Hand in a NHS hospital, 2011
The Big Society is sacking health workers and believes hospitals should be run like a business for profit.
Electricity supply to London
The Big Society increases fuel poverty as it encourages energy companies to make greater profits.
Homeless person sleeping in a cardboard box
The Big Society is cutting housing benefit and increasing the level of homelessness.
This explanation of the Big Society may not be as comprehensive as it could be. If I have missed anything out please let me know.
