The Guardian reports that the new five pound note will replace the picture of Elizabeth Fry with one of Churchill.
Social reformer Elizabeth Fry: “was a major driving force behind new legislation to make the treatment of prisoners more humane”, Elizabeth wrote, "I love to feel for the sorrows of others."
Some Class War Crimes of Churchill
Striking miners killed in Tonypandy, South Wales in 1910: “Home Secretary Churchill's role in the events at Tonypandy during the conflict left a negative attitude towards him in South Wales, that still persists. The main point of contention was his decision to allow troops to be sent to Wales. Their presence prevented any strike action which might have ended the strike early in the miners' favour. The troops also ensured that trials of strikers and miner leaders would take place and be successfully prosecuted in Pontypridd in 1911. The defeat of the miners in 1911 was, in the eyes of the local community, a direct consequence of state intervention without any negotiation, and this action was seen as a direct result of Churchill's actions”.
Anarchists burned to death in the Sidney Street Siege in London's East End in 1911: “Churchill as Home Secretary arrived on the spot to observe the incident at first hand, and to offer advice. Churchill authorised calling in a detachment of Scots Guards to assist the police. Six hours into the battle, and just as the field artillery piece that Churchill had authorised arrived, a fire began to consume the building. When the fire brigade arrived, Churchill refused them access to the building. The police stood ready, guns aimed at the front door, waiting for the men inside to attempt their escape. The door never opened. Former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour accused Churchill of acting improperly”.
150,000 Allied military casualties in the Gallipoli campaign in 1915: “Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty planned the naval attack on the Dardanelles. As a result of the military disaster Churchill was demoted to the sinecure position of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster”.
4 Million deaths in the Bengal Famine of 1943: “By August 1943 Churchill refused to release shipping to send food to India. Initially during the famine he was more concerned with the civilians of Greece (who were also suffering from a famine) compared with the Bengalis”
Half a million civilian deaths in Allied bombing of German cities in the Second World War:
1941 British Air Staff Paper: “The ultimate aim of an attack on a town area is to break the morale of the population which occupies it. To ensure this, we must achieve two things: first, we must make the town physically uninhabitable and, secondly, we must make the people conscious of constant personal danger. The immediate aim, is therefore, twofold, namely, to produce (i) destruction and (ii) fear of death”. Professor Lindemann, British government's leading scientific adviser justified use of bombing to 'de-house' the German worker, he was liked and trusted by Churchill who appointed him to the Cabinet in 1942. His 'de-housing' paper was accepted by Churchill's cabinet and Air Marshall Harris appointed to carry out the task. “The aiming points will be the built-up areas, and not, for instance, the dockyards or aircraft factories”. 'Bomber' Harris: “the aim of the Combined Bomber Offensive should be unambiguously stated as the destruction of German cities, the killing of German workers, and the disruption of civilized life throughout Germany. the destruction of houses, public utilities, transport and lives, the creation of a refugee problem on an unprecedented scale, and the breakdown of morale both at home and at the battle fronts by fear of extended and intensified bombing, are accepted and intended aims of our bombing policy. They are not by-products of attempts to hit factories”.
Threats to machine gun strikers in the 1926 General Strike: “Churchill as Chancellor of the Exchequer was reported to have suggested that machine guns be used on the striking miners. Churchill edited the Government's newspaper, the British Gazette, and, during the dispute, he argued that "either the country will break the General Strike, or the General Strike will break the country" and claimed that the fascism of Mussolini had "rendered a service to the whole world," showing, as it had, "a way to combat subversive forces"—that is, he considered the regime to be a bulwark against the perceived threat of Communist revolution. At one point, Churchill went as far as to call Mussolini the "Roman genius... the greatest lawgiver among men."
Threats to gas Kurdish rebels in Iraq in 1920: “Churchill as Secretary of State for Air was particularly keen on chemical weapons, suggesting they be used "against recalcitrant Arabs as an experiment". He dismissed objections as "unreasonable". "I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes to spread a lively terror, in today's terms, "the Arab" needed to be shocked and awed. A good gassing might well do the job”.
In a few years time we can expect Thatcher on the £10 note.
Steve Clayton
Social reformer Elizabeth Fry: “was a major driving force behind new legislation to make the treatment of prisoners more humane”, Elizabeth wrote, "I love to feel for the sorrows of others."
Some Class War Crimes of Churchill
Striking miners killed in Tonypandy, South Wales in 1910: “Home Secretary Churchill's role in the events at Tonypandy during the conflict left a negative attitude towards him in South Wales, that still persists. The main point of contention was his decision to allow troops to be sent to Wales. Their presence prevented any strike action which might have ended the strike early in the miners' favour. The troops also ensured that trials of strikers and miner leaders would take place and be successfully prosecuted in Pontypridd in 1911. The defeat of the miners in 1911 was, in the eyes of the local community, a direct consequence of state intervention without any negotiation, and this action was seen as a direct result of Churchill's actions”.
Anarchists burned to death in the Sidney Street Siege in London's East End in 1911: “Churchill as Home Secretary arrived on the spot to observe the incident at first hand, and to offer advice. Churchill authorised calling in a detachment of Scots Guards to assist the police. Six hours into the battle, and just as the field artillery piece that Churchill had authorised arrived, a fire began to consume the building. When the fire brigade arrived, Churchill refused them access to the building. The police stood ready, guns aimed at the front door, waiting for the men inside to attempt their escape. The door never opened. Former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour accused Churchill of acting improperly”.
150,000 Allied military casualties in the Gallipoli campaign in 1915: “Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty planned the naval attack on the Dardanelles. As a result of the military disaster Churchill was demoted to the sinecure position of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster”.
4 Million deaths in the Bengal Famine of 1943: “By August 1943 Churchill refused to release shipping to send food to India. Initially during the famine he was more concerned with the civilians of Greece (who were also suffering from a famine) compared with the Bengalis”
Half a million civilian deaths in Allied bombing of German cities in the Second World War:
1941 British Air Staff Paper: “The ultimate aim of an attack on a town area is to break the morale of the population which occupies it. To ensure this, we must achieve two things: first, we must make the town physically uninhabitable and, secondly, we must make the people conscious of constant personal danger. The immediate aim, is therefore, twofold, namely, to produce (i) destruction and (ii) fear of death”. Professor Lindemann, British government's leading scientific adviser justified use of bombing to 'de-house' the German worker, he was liked and trusted by Churchill who appointed him to the Cabinet in 1942. His 'de-housing' paper was accepted by Churchill's cabinet and Air Marshall Harris appointed to carry out the task. “The aiming points will be the built-up areas, and not, for instance, the dockyards or aircraft factories”. 'Bomber' Harris: “the aim of the Combined Bomber Offensive should be unambiguously stated as the destruction of German cities, the killing of German workers, and the disruption of civilized life throughout Germany. the destruction of houses, public utilities, transport and lives, the creation of a refugee problem on an unprecedented scale, and the breakdown of morale both at home and at the battle fronts by fear of extended and intensified bombing, are accepted and intended aims of our bombing policy. They are not by-products of attempts to hit factories”.
Threats to machine gun strikers in the 1926 General Strike: “Churchill as Chancellor of the Exchequer was reported to have suggested that machine guns be used on the striking miners. Churchill edited the Government's newspaper, the British Gazette, and, during the dispute, he argued that "either the country will break the General Strike, or the General Strike will break the country" and claimed that the fascism of Mussolini had "rendered a service to the whole world," showing, as it had, "a way to combat subversive forces"—that is, he considered the regime to be a bulwark against the perceived threat of Communist revolution. At one point, Churchill went as far as to call Mussolini the "Roman genius... the greatest lawgiver among men."
Threats to gas Kurdish rebels in Iraq in 1920: “Churchill as Secretary of State for Air was particularly keen on chemical weapons, suggesting they be used "against recalcitrant Arabs as an experiment". He dismissed objections as "unreasonable". "I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes to spread a lively terror, in today's terms, "the Arab" needed to be shocked and awed. A good gassing might well do the job”.
In a few years time we can expect Thatcher on the £10 note.
Steve Clayton
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