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Thatcher

Culture

Photos of unemployment offices in Thatcher‘s Britain

Beyond Caring — Photographer Paul Graham recounts documenting the packed waiting rooms and corridors of unemployment offices, exposing the bleak reality of a crisis that many at the time chose to ignore.

Written by: Huck

Photography

Documenting life on the fringes in Thatcher’s Britain

The enemies within — In the ’80s, photographer Richard Davis moved to Hulme – a neglected corner of Manchester – where he quickly fell in with a community of artists, punks and travellers.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Film

Ray & Liz: an exploration of family life in Thatcher’s Britain

On the breadline — In Ray & Liz, photographer turned writer-director Richard Billingham presents a tale of deprivation and loneliness set in the West Midlands – based on his own upbringing.

Written by: Josh Slater-Williams

Photography

The DIY space that brought hope to Belfast's 90s youth

Belfast Punk: Warzone Centre — In a Northern Ireland deeply wounded by years of conflict, the Warzone Centre gave young Belfast punks the freedom to start afresh beyond the labels.

Written by: Biju Belinky

Opinion

Does batshit Britain really want to declare war on Spain?

From Where I Stand — It took just four days from the triggering of Article 50 for ex-Tory leader Michael Howard - high on the fumes of toxic British self-importance - to almost declare war on Spain. It's just all so predictable from a mediocre nation desperate to return to past bloodthirsty heights. Viva Britannia!

Written by: James Butler

Culture

Richard Billingham translates his ‘80s working class family photography to the big screen

Portrait of a West Midlands Council estate — Artist, photographer and Turner Prize nominee Richard Billingham grew up on a Birmingham council estate in the dark days of Thatcher’s 1980s. His own family’s everyday struggle and battles with alcoholism inspired his iconic project Ray’s a Laugh. Now he's planning to reinterpret his work as a feature film.

Written by: Adam White

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