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Producing an Industrial Wasteland: Capital, Labour and the State in North-East England

  • Chapter
The Geography of De-industrialisation

Part of the book series: Critical Human Geography ((CHG))

Abstract

The north-east of England (Figure 6.1) currently is, and for the foreseeable future will remain, an industrial wasteland (see also Cambridge Economic Policy Group, 1980; for a rather contrary the complementary character of the interests of capital and labour. In the longer term, however, this party political realignment may offer precisely the opportunities needed to reorient the Labour Party in the region towards policies which address the real problems of the working class and transcend those limits which at the moment prevent these being placed at the forefront of an agenda for solving the regional problem.

The North-East Region

We hey done wor very best as honest workin’ men, To let the pits commence again we’ve offered to them ten. The offer they will not accept, they firmly do demand, Thirteen and a half per cent or let the collieries stand.

Whey let them stand or let them lie; do with them what they choose, Te give them thirteen and a half we ever shall refuse. They’re always willin’ to receive but not inclined to give, And very soon they won’t allow a workin’ man to live.

With tyranny and capital they nivor seem content, Unless they are endeavourin’ tek from us per cent, If it was what they request we willingly would grant, We knaa it’s not, therefore we cannot give them what they want.

Extract (verses 6–8) from The Durham Lock-ou (1898).

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Authors
  1. Ray Hudson
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, UK

    Ron Martin

  2. University of Cambridge, UK

    Bob Rowthorn (Faculty of Economics and Politics) (Faculty of Economics and Politics)

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© 1986 Ray Hudson

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Hudson, R. (1986). Producing an Industrial Wasteland: Capital, Labour and the State in North-East England. In: Martin, R., Rowthorn, B. (eds) The Geography of De-industrialisation. Critical Human Geography. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-18501-6_6

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