Put Up Shut Up Britain (Part Five)

In solidarity with our comrades at the NEU campaigning against agencies offshoring millions of pounds in profit made in the supply teacher ‘market’. With thanks to Reel News for the film.

It takes a village to raise a child
But an agency to profit
A government to turn a blind eye
A trade union to stop it
‘Cause the world keeps turning on education
And you’d think an educated nation
Wouldn’t settle for an NQT
Who comes with a hefty fee

It takes a village to raise a child
But an agency to profit
Like some kinda nightmare-ish
Capitalist project
Where the money that’s supposed to circle
Goes in a straight line instead
From agency to shell company
To hedge fund, virtually tax-free

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

It takes a village to raise a child
But an agency to profit
In a system that prefers your dough
In a rich man’s pocket
While the Minister, dear God
Declares she’s doing a “fucking good job”
A good job fucking with it, more like
No wonder the teachers go on strike

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

It takes a village to raise a child
But Teaching Personnel to profit
A subsidiary of Hood TopCo
Whose dividend’s set to rocket
And Simply Ed’s at it too
A million quid off me and you
To turn a temp’ry teacher
Into shareholder value

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

It takes a village to raise a child
But an agency to profit
By managing supply
It’s time we made ‘em stop it

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

Trickle Down Town: Reviewed by The Devil Has The Best Tuna

From the excoriating take down of the unhinged right on Bin Bags to the Duryesque Cockney wordplay of title track Trickle Down Town with it’s refrain of “only shit trickles down”, Steve and his Protest Family offer more opposition in 43 minutes than Starmer and his gang of wannabe Tories have offered in the last 3 years.

From four hour waits for ambulances to dumping toxic and human waste into our rivers Steve chronicles the state of the nation like a furious Billy Bragg fronting Chumbawumba. 

Read the whole review here.

Reviewed by Attila the Stockbroker in the Morning Star

Leyton Orient’s house band Steve White and the Protest Family, truly radical folk with fire in their souls … deliver the goods with Trickledown Town, a ranting, dancing howl of rage at the state of the Tory nation…The royal family get nailed, the “anti-woke” right-wing media get nailed and a host of downtrodden characters get upbeat support.

Read the full article here.

Painting Over the Cartoons

Bob’s painting over the cartoons
He’s a bastard in the morning
And he’s worse in the afternoons

Bob’s painting over the cartoons
Bob doesn’t want the children
To feel human too

They’re not wanted here
Move them on from here
Do not give them the impression
That they’re welcome here

Bob’s painting over the cartoons
He’s a bastard in the morning
And he’s worse in the afternoons

Bob’s painting over the cartoons
He’ll suffer no succour for the war-torn
And trauma-strewn

They’re not wanted here
Move them on from here
Do not give them the impression
That they’re welcome here

Bob’s painting over the cartoons
He’s a bastard in the morning
And he’s worse in the afternoons

Bob’s painting over the cartoons
Whistling the tunes of racists
And swivel-eyed loons

They’re not wanted here
Move them on from here
Do not give them the impression
That they’re welcome here

This is the hostile environment
This is exactly what they meant
Their message is very clear

Bob’s painting over the cartoons

Trickle Down Town Tasting Notes

Bin Bags
A fruity ska-punk suggesting the bad old days of looney lefties with a touch of Uncle Bill. 4.2%


The River
Darker than the offering from The Tutu Brewery. This one is all about the Bass. 4.4%


Trickle Down Town
By Austerity’s New Clothes. Wicked gamey with underlying Cooper Clarke. 4.8%


When the Sun Goes Down
Country-flavoured, brewed with tears and despair. Best just have a half. 6.0%


Dead End Friends
Bittersweet. Heavily influenced by celebrity. 5.0%


The Gable
A diverse brew that some drinkers say reminds them of Slade, but that was several landlords ago. Best served in a plastic glass at half-time. 4.2%


Should I Be Wearing a Mask?
Light but assertive. Most drinkers miss the hint of iron. 3.6%


Air Miles Andy
Bitter, like the late Queen’s favourite paedophile. Drink it fast. 4.4%


Harry, Won’t You Fly With Me?
Romantically named but tastes of gold, guilt and greed. You won’t want another. 3.0%


Supersonic
Magpie-flavoured with hints of Silver Machine. Moderately heavy. 5.2%


Where Tina Goes
Fizzy pop with more than a hint of bite. 4.2%


Holding Your Breath
The sister brew to When the Sun Goes Down. Tastes like Covid medicine. 5.0%


Put Up Shut Up Britain
Tart, bold and intense, with no notes of tomato or cucumber whatsoever. 5.0%

You can pre-order Trickle Down Town here.

Bad Apples

Here it is, the bad apple defence
A line they all pursue
It’s alright round here really
It’s just a bad apple or two

It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples

It’s just the way things are done round here
We turn a blind eye, we cock a deaf ear
We reap what we sow
We let the bad apples grow

It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples

It ain’t everybody
But the rules are very clear
You never saw the bully
And there’s banter you don’t hear

It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples

It ain’t everybody
Just the facts that all folk know
It’s the way we do things round here
We just let bad apples grow

It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples

Put Up Shut Up Britain Part Two

I’ve got my radio on, tuned to LBC
And every other jock’s tryin’ to tell me
That culturally, the Muslim man
Is pre-disposed to a grooming gang
A grooming gang, not a paedophile ring
‘Cause a paedophile ring is a white man thing
It’s a racist phone-in, non-stop
And the worst of it is, it’s coming from the top
It’s coming from the top and here’s the thing
The people at the top have got brown skin
It’s a desperate scramble for votes, last ditch

And people get hurt when you talk like this

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

Our coach can’t get into Europe
The school trip kiddies cry
‘Cause every passport needs a stamp
Did you stop to wonder why?
Is it two sides of the same coin, you ask
Well, it’s definitely two cheeks of the same arse
Do you need another clue?

We hate folk who ain’t from round here
And the ones from round here too

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

It’s limited and specific
Like the KLF didn’t say
All bound for Brexit Benefit Land
Get out the fuckin’ way
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Where the rules get ripped up and re-written
For the fool who messed up worst and last
In the interests of the ruling class
And we’re throwing a party we can’t afford
For the bloke on the business end of the sword
While the supplicant kneeling is now at the helm
Of the opposition, a knight of the realm
We’ve got Charlie in charge, Charlie on the throne
Where’s our revolucion?
Charlie in France, well maybe not
What chance have we fuckin’ got?

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

Swastikas in the Sand

The tide’s been going out for ages
Rishi’s got a bucket and spade
There’s a little bit less to go around these days
So Rishi’s got a new game
He knows he’s not the most popular kid
But Rishi’s got a plan
The tide’s been going out for ages
And he’s drawing swastikas in the sand

Swastikas in the sand
He’s drawing swastikas in the sand
The tide’s been going out for ages
And he’s drawing swastikas in the sand

Jonathan and Lee think that Rishi’s fab
They want to join in the game
Please let us play with you Rishi
This lark should really have a name
I’m going to call it Stop the Boats
Whoever’s on them just gets banned
The tide’s been going out for ages
And they’re drawing swastikas in the sand

Swastikas in the sand
They’re drawing swastikas in the sand
The tide’s been going out for ages
And they’re drawing swastikas in the sand

There’s hundreds and millions and billions
Suella joins the game with glee
I bet I can stop the boats the best
Oh Rishi, won’t you play with me
We can pretend they’re all evil
And we should never let them land
The tide’s been going out for ages
And she’s drawing swastikas in the sand

Swastikas in the sand
She’s drawing swastikas in the sand
The tide’s been going out for ages
And she’s drawing swastikas in the sand

Swastikas in the sand
They’re drawing swastikas in the sand
The tide’s been going out for ages
And they’re drawing swastikas in the sand

The Gable

“The gable still ain’t in the middle”

And it never was, coming as it did, second-hand from Mitcham Stadium, the brainchild of entrepreneur Sydney Parkes who built it in 1935, hosting among other things, rugby league, baseball and greyhound racing and, although the latter is disputed, the gable was built to be in line with the finish line.

Mitcham Stadium closed in 1955 and the stand was bought by Leyton Orient who gave it a new lease of life at Brisbane Road in 1958.

There’s much more of this story here and here, but in the meantime, our brand new video premieres next week, and you can find that here: