Given that the French are taking to the streets, the BBC asks if similar things could happen here. In summary - the Union laws make it hard for a general strike to happen, but other groups outside of the trade unions could organise something.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11602824

Unlikely, the British have to be pushed a lot further to react, and we're not there yet!

It could (see poll tax) but unlikely as many people while not likeing what is happening realise that something needs to be done - they may not agree 100% with this goverments approach but since all main parties have said
- Budget needs cutting
- Pension age needs increasing

then you are only left with arguments over the timing and scale

Would the british government care? Every strike day is a days wages they save for the strikers.

I’m in a “wait and see” mind. Now we know what department budgets are for the cuts, it will spur some on. I think we’ll see more unrest as those budget cuts are translated into real action. There is also the attitude of the current government which appears to be translated as “tough” when people challenge its fairness.

What I think doesn’t help is the lack of a roadmap from the government. These are big and painful things, and we’re being told what the cuts are. What isn’t being made available is a projected path to recovery - something I doubt exists anywhere. We are being led blindly into the fog where we know monsters lurk.

To be fair the object of the cutting has been stated and is fairly clear - eliminate the structural deficit by 2015. There doesn't really seem to be a plan beyond that though...


Jon

I think that the coalition are going to find things very nasty next year. House prices will be falling and if the job losses in the public sector are not absorbed by a growing private sector, then the public might get edgy. I doubt that there will be any action until closer to the election. It is going to be a slow speed car crash and only once the other impacts start to bite do I think that there might be social unrest.

*Considers the extra potential a biggish fuel protest might have*

And where they are to be made.

Stop the smoking awareness programmes in schools and elsewhere cut the addiction help because smokers bring in more tax than they cost the NHS. Smokers die younger by and large, less pension cost. That should do it

Yes but people do think that cuts have to be made. Once enough people feel aggrieved then I would see a lot of support for a general strike. A few days stoppage would send the government message. Though I fully expect a serious deterioration in the economy and a reversal of government policy. Politicians will worry about being re-elected.

It depends. If it threatens growth and therefore future tax revenue, then yes, they'll care a lot.

They actually think that it will improve tax revenue. I was listening to some BBC podcast about the tax levy. Because the banks have more than $20 billion in tax losses it will be a number of years before they pay any corporation taxes. If the government had be brave and nationalised them wiping out the companies and allowing new ban businesses to be created from the old banks then these new banks would be paying taxes this year and the deficit would instantly be better off this year.