NEW: Squatting In Britain 1945-1955 Housing, Politics and Direct Action by Don Watson

Britain in 1946 witnessed extraordinary episodes of direct action. Tens of thousands of families walked into empty army camps and took them over as places to live. A nationwide squatters’ movement was born and it was the first challenge to the 1945 Labour government to come ‘from below’.
The book examines how these squatters built communities and campaigned for improvements; how local and national government reacted; the spread of squatting to empty mansions and hotels, and the roles of political activists. Further, it discusses what these events reveal about the attitude of the 1945 government to popular initiatives.
This book describes how those most affected by inadequate housing conditions and shortages responded to them and how their actions helped to shape policies and events. It examines and records something summed up in the recollection of one of the organisers of the London hotel squats of 1946:
“The thing I’ll never forget is that if I’d ever had doubts about the problems of working people taking on and managing their own affairs, I lost them forever during this squatting thing. Because without any hassle, fuss, argument, they found what they could do, and collectively decided that it should be done, and then went off and did it.”

PRAISE for Squatting in Britain:
“The definitive account of these events and, very usefully, the aftermath. The judgements are carefully made and convincingly argued.”
Emeritus Professor James Hinton, University of Warwick
ISBN 978-0-85036-728-7
Paperback approx. 264 pages
Price:£16.99

VARIOUS PRICES FOR A COPY OF: “Squatting in Britain 1945-1955: Housing, Politics and Direct Action” by Don Watson () n

Tragedy of unknown homeless man found ‘frozen to death’ in city centre on coldest night of the year

Police were called to a car park entrance on Wednesday night after a local drinking in the nearby boozer discovered the man

BYJAMES CARTLEDGE & SCARLET HOWES – 13:21, 1 DEC 2016
NEWS

Video thumbnail, Tragic last moments of homeless man who died in the cold

Police were called to a car park entrance in Station Road at 11.30pm Wednesday after a local drinking in the nearby boozer discovered the man.

It’s understood the body, found opposite the Victoria pub in John Bright Street, is that of a 30-year-old male of no fixed address.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

West Midlands Police have said they do not believe the circumstances to be suspicious but it was suggested the man’s death was connected to drugs, according to Birmingham Mail .

Last night saw Britain hit with the lowest November temperatures in six years, as temperatures plunged to -6C.

Hundreds of Birmingham Mail readers left comments on the paper’s Facebook page, with many telling of their ‘heartbreak’ at what appears to be a growing homelessness problem.

Leah Martin said: “It’s ridiculous how many more men and women have to die for something to be done.”

Laurence Mahony said: “Disgusting in this day and age NOONE should be homeless. NOONE. We are a rich country who don’t do enough for our citizens. Councils and Government should hold their head down in shame.”

The man’s body was found hours before shocking new figures revealed almost 10,000 people were homeless in Birmingham .

a landrights campaign for Britain

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