In an Address to the US Congress on 13th November 1945, Britain's new PM, Clement Attlee, directly addressed concerns around #socialism & #freedom that remain salient today, & which are mobilised by the Right to fuel a culture war pioneered by Steve Bannon & Right-libertarians. 
"I think that some people over here imagine that the Socialists are out to destroy freedom, freedom of the individual, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, & the freedom of the Press."
"They are wrong; the Labour Party is in the tradition of freedom-loving movements which have always existed in our country, but freedom has to be striven for in every generation, and those who threaten it are not always the same."
"Sometimes the battle of freedom has had to be fought against kings, sometimes against religious tyranny, sometimes against the power of the owners of the land, sometimes against the overwhelming strength of the moneyed interests."
"We in the Labour Party declare that we are in line with those who fought for Magna Carta & habeas corpus, with the Pilgrim Fathers, & with the signatories of the Declaration of Independence."
Aneurin Bevan said to Attlee afterwards: "That was a noble speech. I felt very proud".
Aneurin Bevan said to Attlee afterwards: "That was a noble speech. I felt very proud".
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
