During our last meeting I mentioned a TV series I’m watching and, although it’s fiction, it’s well researched and the topics are dealt with great accuracy, replicating true events.

This drama begins in the East End of London, and they’ve produced episodes spanning from 1957 to 1969.

What shocked me is that nothing has changed – the social issues that are dealt with are still as bad today. Why in nearly 67 years are we still talking and complaining about the same things? Why haven’t things changed? Why haven’t things improved?

During the sixties the housing crisis was as bad as it is today, most of the tenants were living in squalor, in cold, damp, and rat-infested properties that were leased by private landlords. Tenants were evicted if they fell behind with the rent regardless of health or employment status. Does it ring a bell?

The working class didn’t have access to dentists, so people were extracting their own teeth, pain and gum disease was rife.

Homelessness and alcohol abuse was becoming a serious problem in the 60’s and these people were stigmatised and judged exactly as they are today.

People struggled with untreated mental health issues and there was a shortage of medical resources, exactly like it is today.

During the 50’s and 60’s, England was trying to rebuild itself; its communities, services, buildings, etc – after all it was post war. A lot of improvements and new ideas were being put in practice, the NHS was growing and starting to provide better health care and dentistry, council housing was expanding, families were being rehoused and the privately owned slums were being condemned. On the whole the country had some hope and a vision of better things to come.

So, if nothing has changed in seven decades, we can only ask what has gone wrong, do politicians really care, do our votes really matter?