Right, let’s be clear: we’re not just talking about a few dodgy politicians or a bit of bad luck. This is a full-frontal assault on the very idea of a functioning society. Decades of neoliberal dogma, lapped up by a complicit political class and amplified by a billionaire-owned media, have turned the UK into a playground for the rich, where the rest of us are reduced to serfs, scrambling for scraps while the elites fiddle on their yachts. They’ve rigged the game so thoroughly – through a toxic cocktail of inherited privilege, corrupt lobbying, and a deliberate dismantling of the social safety net – that the very notion of ‘citizen’ has become a cruel joke. We’re subjects, expected to tug our forelocks and be grateful for the crumbs from the banquet of the wealthy. They’ve turned us into workers, then wage slaves, disposable cogs in their profit machine, and finally, when we inevitably break down, into victims, conveniently blamed for our own misfortune. Enough is enough. This isn’t just a crisis; it’s a bloody emergency, and it demands more than just tinkering around the edges. We need to dismantle this rotten system brick by brick and build something radically new, something genuinely democratic, something that puts people before profit. Get organised, get angry, and take to the streets – it’s time to reclaim our future!

1. Citizen

The concept of citizenship, in theory, implies active participation, rights, and responsibilities within a democratic society. However, in the UK, this ideal is often subverted:

• Constitutional Monarchy: Unlike republics with codified constitutions, the UK’s unwritten constitution, a patchwork of statutes, conventions, and precedents, offers a precarious foundation for citizens’ rights. This fluidity creates vulnerabilities, as rights can be eroded without robust legal safeguards. The symbolic allegiance to the Crown, embodied in the vaguely defined concept of “the Crown” as the ultimate legal authority, reflects a hierarchical structure that subtly undermines the egalitarian ideals of citizenship. The reserve powers of the monarch, though rarely exercised, represent a latent potential for undemocratic intervention in the political process. Furthermore, the unelected House of Lords, with its power to delay and amend legislation, further complicates the notion of democratic representation and accountability.
• Corrupt Political State: Recent scandals, such as the misuse of public funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, the “Partygate” affair involving lockdown breaches by government officials, and ongoing concerns about lobbying and access to power by wealthy donors (“cash for honours”), have deeply eroded public trust. These instances of corruption, coupled with a perceived lack of accountability, render the concept of citizenship hollow when democratic participation fails to yield tangible improvements for the populace. Mechanisms that enable corruption, like the opaque rules surrounding lobbying, the “revolving door” between government and the private sector exemplified by former ministers taking lucrative positions in industries they once regulated, and the influence of money in politics through large donations, remain largely unaddressed.
• Neoliberal Doctrine: Neoliberalism, with its emphasis on free markets, deregulation, privatisation, and individualism, has reshaped the concept of citizenship. Since the Thatcher era, citizenship has become increasingly tied to economic productivity. Those unable to contribute—due to illness, unemployment, or other factors—are often marginalised, eroding the universal nature of citizenship rights. Specific policies, such as the privatisation of essential services like water and energy, cuts to social care, and the weakening of trade unions through restrictive legislation, have exacerbated this trend. The result is a two-tiered society where the economically active enjoy greater access to rights and opportunities.
• Vilification of the Poor and Sick: Welfare recipients and the chronically ill are frequently scapegoated in political rhetoric and media narratives. Tabloid headlines that demonise “benefit scroungers” and political speeches that portray the sick as a “burden” on society create a hostile environment for vulnerable groups. This rhetoric is often used to justify cuts to welfare programmes and stricter eligibility criteria, further marginalising those in need. This vilification also serves to distract from systemic issues, such as low wages, precarious employment, and inadequate public services, shifting the blame onto individuals instead. The “deserving vs. undeserving poor” narrative is a powerful tool used to divide society and undermine support for a robust social safety net.

2. Subject

Moving from the concept of the citizen to that of the subject, the term “subject” harks back to pre-democratic times, denoting allegiance to the monarch rather than agency in governance. Despite modern democratic institutions, this dynamic persists in the UK:

• Constitutional Monarchy: Technically, UK residents are subjects of the Crown. While largely symbolic, this reflects historical power imbalances that continue to shape political and cultural attitudes. The concept of the Crown as the ultimate source of legal and political authority reinforces a top-down system. The monarch’s symbolic role in state ceremonies, the honours system, and the continued existence of hereditary peerages in the House of Lords all contribute to a culture of deference and hierarchy.
• Power Imbalance: The subject status reinforces a top-down system where power is concentrated among elites. Ordinary individuals often feel disempowered to challenge systemic issues such as corruption or inequality, leading to a sense of political apathy and resignation. This is further exacerbated by the complexity and opacity of the UK’s constitutional arrangements, which can make it difficult for ordinary people to understand how power operates and how to hold those in power accountable.
• Cultural Legacy: The idea of being a subject perpetuates a sense of deference and acceptance of hierarchical authority. This can limit grassroots efforts to address societal inequities, as challenging the established order is often seen as taboo or even unpatriotic. This cultural legacy is reinforced through education, media representation, and national rituals that emphasise tradition and hierarchy.

3. Worker

Having examined the plight of the subject, it is crucial to consider the role of the worker. The identity of the worker in the UK is closely tied to neoliberal policies that prioritise capital over labour:

• Economic Exploitation: The rise of precarious employment, such as zero-hour contracts, where workers have no guaranteed hours or income security, coupled with the stagnation of real wages, highlights systemic failures to protect workers’ rights. The increasing prevalence of the “gig economy,” where workers are classified as independent contractors rather than employees, further erodes traditional worker protections and benefits.
• Political Corruption: The close ties between the political class and corporate interests often result in policies that favour employers over employees. Tax breaks for corporations, deregulation of industries, and reduced funding for labour protections exacerbate inequality. The influence of corporate lobbyists on policy-making, often conducted behind closed doors, further skews the balance of power in favour of employers.
• Vilification and Stigma: Workers who fall short of productivity expectations or rely on benefits to supplement low wages are often stigmatised. This framing justifies policies that undermine worker protections and reduce social support systems. The narrative of the “lazy worker” or the “benefit cheat” is used to deflect attention from the systemic issues that create low-wage, insecure jobs and inadequate social safety nets.

4. Wage Slave

Considering the more extreme condition of the worker, the concept of a wage slave critiques the exploitative conditions under which many workers operate, highlighting systemic coercion:

• Economic Dependence: Many UK residents find themselves trapped in low-wage jobs with little opportunity for advancement. Rising living costs, particularly housing, coupled with stagnant wages and the erosion of social security, exacerbate this dependence. This leaves individuals unable to escape exploitative cycles, as they are forced to accept any work available, regardless of the conditions, in order to meet their basic needs.
• Neoliberal Policies: Deregulation and austerity measures, such as cuts to public services, benefit sanctions, and the bedroom tax, have created an economic environment where wage slavery thrives. Employers hold disproportionate power, and workers’ bargaining capacities are severely weakened by anti-trade union legislation and the decline of collective bargaining.
• Political Complicity: The state’s failure to address income inequality and provide adequate social safety nets ensures the perpetuation of wage slavery. Policies that prioritise business interests over human welfare, such as tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, further reinforce this dynamic. The government’s focus on reducing the deficit through austerity, rather than investing in social programmes and public services, has had a devastating impact on the most vulnerable, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and dependence.

5. Victim

The addition of the ‘victim’ category allows for a more in-depth analysis of how individuals are harmed by the system and how the label itself can be disempowering. Many people in the UK are not just passive subjects or exploited workers; they are actively victimised by the current system:

• Systemic Failures: The combination of neoliberal policies, political corruption, and the erosion of social safety nets creates a system that actively harms vulnerable individuals. Those who are unable to work due to illness or disability, single parents struggling to make ends meet, and individuals facing discrimination based on race, gender, or sexual orientation are often pushed to the margins of society.
• Disempowerment: The label of “victim,” while accurately reflecting the harm experienced, can also be disempowering. It can reinforce a sense of helplessness and passivity, rather than encouraging agency and resistance. The media often portrays victims as objects of pity or blame, further contributing to their marginalisation.
• Lack of Support: The state’s failure to provide adequate support for victims of crime, poverty, discrimination, and other forms of harm exacerbates their vulnerability. Cuts to legal aid, mental health services, and social care leave many individuals without access to the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
• The Poor and Sick as Primary Victims: It is important to recognise that the poor and sick are particularly vulnerable to becoming victims within this system. They face not only material deprivation but also social stigmatisation and are often denied access to justice and support.

6. Intersections and Implications: A Web of Disadvantage

The identities of citizen, subject, worker, wage slave, and victim intersect in ways that reveal deep systemic flaws in the UK’s socio-political fabric. These are not isolated categories but rather overlapping and mutually reinforcing aspects of a system that produces and perpetuates inequality. It is important to acknowledge that these experiences can vary across different regions of the UK. For instance, deindustrialised areas in the North of England may face higher levels of unemployment and economic hardship compared to more affluent areas in the South. Similarly, devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have some autonomy in policy areas like healthcare and education, which can lead to different outcomes for citizens and workers in these regions. However, the overarching framework of the constitutional monarchy and the influence of neoliberal ideology still shape the broader context in which these regional variations occur:

• Erosion of Agency: The combination of hierarchical power structures, embodied in the constitutional monarchy, and neoliberal ideology limits individuals’ ability to effect change, trapping them in cycles of dependency and exploitation.
• Corruption and Accountability: The political class’s prioritisation of corporate and elite interests over public welfare, as evidenced by numerous scandals and the lack of effective mechanisms for accountability, undermines trust and exacerbates inequality.
• Impact on Vulnerable Populations: The poor and sick bear the brunt of systemic failures, facing both material deprivation and social stigmatisation, rendering them the ultimate victims of the current system.

7. Conclusion: Towards a More Equitable Future

Understanding the roles of citizen, subject, worker, wage slave, and victim in the UK highlights the urgent need for systemic reform. Addressing corruption, dismantling neoliberal orthodoxy, and ending the vilification of vulnerable populations are essential steps toward a more equitable society. While some may argue that neoliberalism has led to economic growth, it is undeniable that this growth has been accompanied by widening inequality and social fragmentation. Similarly, while the constitutional monarchy may be defended as a source of stability and tradition, its inherent hierarchical structure and symbolic power imbalances cannot be ignored.

Concrete solutions include:

• Constitutional Reform: A written constitution could provide stronger protection for individual rights and a clearer framework for the separation of powers. Reform of the House of Lords, potentially through the introduction of elected members or even its abolition, could enhance democratic accountability.
• Strengthening Workers’ Rights: Increasing the minimum wage to a real living wage, banning zero-hour contracts, and empowering trade unions through the repeal of restrictive legislation could help to rebalance the power between employers and employees.
• Combating Corruption: Greater transparency in lobbying, stricter rules on political donations, and a more robust system for investigating and prosecuting corruption are crucial to restoring public trust. An independent body with the power to enforce a legally binding code of conduct for all politicians could also play a vital role.
• Reforming the Welfare System: Increasing benefits, reducing conditionality and sanctions, and investing in social care and mental health services would provide a more effective safety net for those in need.
• Challenging Media Narratives: Actively challenging media narratives that vilify vulnerable groups and promoting a more nuanced and compassionate public discourse are essential to fostering social cohesion.

This requires collective action, cultural shifts, and the political will to prioritise human welfare over entrenched power structures and profit-driven policies. It is time for a fundamental re-evaluation of our values and priorities as a society. We must move beyond the current system, which traps individuals in cycles of exploitation and victimisation, and strive towards a future where everyone has the opportunity to live a dignified and fulfilling life. This is not just a political or economic imperative but a moral one. We have the capacity to create a more just and equitable society, but it will require a collective commitment to radical change and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Only then can we hope to create a society that truly values all its members.