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Last words on two scourges of the Establishment

A tribute to Bob Crow, by ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER

Got an email from the producer of BBC Radio Four's obituary programme The Last Word the other day, asking me to write a tribute to Bob Crow, so I did.

Now you'd think that if you commission a left-wing political poet to eulogise a great radical trade union leader you'd kind of know what you're going to get, wouldn't you?

In these timid times, it seems not.

I could actually hear the fear and worry in the producer's voice when he phoned me after reading it, presumably scared stiff at the prospect of a Tory hack wielding a meat cleaver marked "political balance" coming for his poor testicles. Needless to say the poem didn't make it to air.

It was replaced by a frankly anodyne interview with an Evening Standard journalist.

Funny how the Daily Mail and the Sun never have any "balance" problem - democracy, eh? I'm used to this happening to me on the timid old Beeb but advent of social media has made my task much easier. About 100,000 people have so far seen this tribute of mine to an inspirational figure.

 

Bob Crow

There was a man who held his ground.
Fought every inch, and won the day.
His legacy, his members' lot:
Good work conditions, decent pay.
By Tories and their tabloid dupes
And those who seek more than their share
Just like Millwall, his favourite team,
He wasn't liked, and didn't care.

But those who worked in transport knew
Their leader stood right by their side.
No management could lay them low
They wore their union badge with pride.
He spoke for passengers as well:
Safety, not profit, always first.
Opposing fatal funding cuts -
Paddington, Potters Bar the worst.

Bob Crow. A boxer's grandson, he
Led with the left and packed a punch.
The bosses knew he'd take them on:
No smarmy smile, no cosy lunch.
We need more like him, that's for sure
Upfront and honest to the last
He bargained hard and kept his word
A union leader unsurpassed.

As zero hours contracts grow
And bosses offer Hobson's choice
Let us not mourn, but organise:
Get off our knees and find our voice!
This man worked hard for workers' rights
A fair wage, a safe, steady job.
So join a union and stand firm.
That's the best way to honour Bob.

 

Loads of gigs at the moment - a Unison event in Reading, the lovely Arthouse Cafe in Southampton, Wellingborough Diggers' Festival in memory of the radical movement of 1651.

And there was a fantastic night at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield commemorating the 30th anniversary of the start of the miners' strike alongside the great Scottish folk singer Dick Gaughan.

Then Welwyn, Derby, a benefit for the Barton Moss anti-fracking protest camp in Manchester, a Sunday afternoon "matinee" gig in Leeds and a big one at Nottingham Theatre Royal.

New book selling well too, but I'm feeling a bit sad at the moment.

Two great leaders and three good friends gone in the past month, all but one long before their time. Look after yourselves, everyone.

I'll end with a short poem for the late, great Tony Benn.

 

Heaven 'n' Hell Haiku 

Tony Stansgate
Fast-tracked through pearly gate
Thatcher's story?
Purg-a-tory.

 

www.attilathestockbroker.com

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