I can taste the despair.

London wakes up to another morning of despair. Rioters and looters running free through the city, spreading to Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Nottingham. Lets get things straight - these riots are not politically motivated at all. This is pure criminal opportunism, people robbing and burning because they know they can get away with it. Their actions can, and should be, universally condemned, because they are harming everyone around them. No one should feel at risk on their very own streets, no one should fear for their property and livelihoods.

But why is this all kicking off now? To draw parallels with the 80's, Tory-led government. Lets be careful here, because the riots currently share none of the motivations of the 80's riots (though that soon might change). Where in the 80's there were legitimate concerns about police tactics and racism, and such riots were people vs police battles, the riots of the past few nights have simply been looting for the sheer fun of it. But what today does share with the 80's is the atmosphere of recession, and deprivation. Though the majority of the government cuts and rollbacks haven't actually happened yet, the feeling of despair has permeated every single part of society. The people taking part in these riots can't be defended under this; its no excuse for the complete anarchy on the streets. But nevertheless, the despair is there.

Rioters loot because they have no fear of the police, and feel nothing towards the businesses and property they destroy. Why is this? Because they don't feel a part of anything at all. The problem is that society has become completely fragmented, made worse by the government leaving the poorest and most vulnerable on the shelf. No one feels that they have a future anymore, and so any thought of future repercussions simply disappears. Responsibility has gone out the window. This isn't entirely the fault of the government, no. But there is no denying that these riots can't be looked at in isolation, without he background of complete despair at the future of the poorest in society.