This essay, on class, power the different social meanings of “regulation”, was my Observer column this week. It was published on 24 July 2022, under the headline “Worship the rich, neglect the poor? Adam Smith’s words still capture how power works”. If you want to see how class and power operate in Britain today, look at the different ways in which “regulation” is applied to working-class people and businesses. In the one case, it is about imposing ever-tighter restrictions, making it increasingly […]

Categories: Britain, Class, Justice & Liberties • Tags: adam smith, anti-union laws, conservative party, grenfell fire, grenfell tower, strikes, trade unions