Peaky Blinders, fascism and the Billy Boys

[Perd Hapley]

Never posted in this particular forum before, figured it belonged more to here than to the main forum however.

Watched the first two episodes of the new series of Peaky Blinders last night and was impressed by its willingness to go there and tackle some serious subject matter while simultaneously rather smartly trolling der Hun. Without wanting to spoil it 'we are the people' gets quoted in parliament - catching the attention of one certain Oswald Mosley, though the irony of that seems to be lost on most of the Rangers fans I've seen discussing it. This turns out to be a bit of a bait-and-switch however as an episode later the Billy Boys themselves march into the frame (to the actual tune I might add) and it's clear that they're not only the principal villains of the series but indisputably linked to Mosley's fascists. Refreshing to see this history tackled head-on and with a degree of intelligence given the collective denial our sporting and non-sporting media seem to live in north of the border. What with the popularity of the whole series, can only hope that by the last episode a couple of folk might have reconsidered whether espousing their support for fascist razor gangs on a weekly basis is really something to be proud of.

Edit: though I must add that the accent is truly horrendous

[Cataplana]

Never posted in this particular forum before, figured it belonged more to here than to the main forum however.

Watched the first two episodes of the new series of Peaky Blinders last night and was impressed by its willingness to go there and tackle some serious subject matter while simultaneously rather smartly trolling der Hun. Without wanting to spoil it 'we are the people' gets quoted in parliament - catching the attention of one certain Oswald Mosley, though the irony of that seems to be lost on most of the Rangers fans I've seen discussing it. This turns out to be a bit of a bait-and-switch however as an episode later the Billy Boys themselves march into the frame (to the actual tune I might add) and it's clear that they're not only the principal villains of the series but indisputably linked to Mosley's fascists. Refreshing to see this history tackled head-on and with a degree of intelligence given the collective denial our sporting and non-sporting media seem to live in north of the border. What with the popularity of the whole series, can only hope that by the last episode a couple of folk might have reconsidered whether espousing their support for fascist razor gangs on a weekly basis is really something to be proud of.

Edit: though I must add that the accent is truly horrendous

The BBC is full of Tarrier, Lefties, and you wouldn't expect anything else, etc.

[Colr]

Populists always claim to the “the people”. By implication anyone who is not one of them is not part of the people and is therefore against the people and a traitor.

Standard from their playbook.

[Cataplana]

Populists always claim to the “the people”. By implication anyone who is not one of them is not part of the people and is therefore against the people and a traitor.

Standard from their playbook.

I think it is a bit more specific and comes from The Covenant, which includes the phrase "we are the people."

[Pretty Boy]

I think it is a bit more specific and comes from The Covenant, which includes the phrase "we are the people."

The biblical reference is Psalm 95:7.

'For he is our God and we are the people of his pature'

[Hibernia&Alba]

I always thought the Billy Boys were a Glasgow gang of street thugs, paid to break up strikes and the like?

[Hibbyradge]

I always thought the Billy Boys were a Glasgow gang of street thugs, paid to break up strikes and the like?

Wiki has a lot of detail.

[Killiehibbie]

I always thought the Billy Boys were a Glasgow gang of street thugs, paid to break up strikes and the like?

I remember reading they were the Glasgow branch of the UVF and involved in all the rackets. Fullerton joined the merchant navy when he got out of Barlinnie during WW2.

[Cataplana]

The biblical reference is Psalm 95:7.

'For he is our God and we are the people of his pature'

That was the original covenant with God. Fundamentalist Protestants in the 17th Century said that covenant had been broken, and required a new covenant with God. As a result it was no longer the Israelites who were God's people.

The phrase should be read as "WE are the peoole", in the context of Unionist politics within Britain and Ireland. And this master race attitude was carried over to the southern United States and Ulster with emigration.

(That's roughly how I remember it, but am most happy for someone to correct it where it is wrong, it's not a specialist subject for me.)

[Perd Hapley]

Populists always claim to the “the people”. By implication anyone who is not one of them is not part of the people and is therefore against the people and a traitor.

Standard from their playbook.

Mm I think the programme does a very good and very deliberate job of highlighting its appeal to a proto-fascist mentality - which puts both the later appearance of the Billy Boys and the reaction by Rangers fans at hearing their slogan espoused on the show in a rather interesting light. Something tells me Stephen Knight and the rest of the writers have done their homework on this history - it's absolutely a bait-and-switch and looks set to send up the mindset of the more idiotic sections of the Rangers support as the tribalistic proto-fascist nonsense it really is, which will be interesting. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the same fans react to seeing the Billy Boys supplying the muscle to Mosley's blackshirts to the tune of their idiotic theme.

Really hope it starts a broader conversation within the whole sectarianism debate up here tbh. Could end up being a very good thing

[Bristolhibby]

Abroad at the moment but looking forward enormously to the new series when I get back.

J

[Weegreenman]

I always thought “The Billy Boys” was a reference to William of Orange and the battle of the Boyne. :confused:

[Cataplana]

I always thought “The Billy Boys” was a reference to William of Orange and the battle of the Boyne. :confused:

I think it refers to both that, and the fact that Billy Fullerton was the leader.

[Kato]

I always thought “The Billy Boys” was a reference to William of Orange and the battle of the Boyne. :confused:

A lot of rangers fans think that too.

[1 8 7 5]

A lot of rangers fans think that too.

Id alter "A lot" to "the vast majority".

[HappyAsHellas]

The same battle of the Boyne where William was the victor and the celebratory bells were rung in the vatican - a point which seems to elude most huns as well.

[RIP]

The BBC is full of Tarrier, Lefties, and you wouldn't expect anything else, etc.

The BBC is a vehicle of the Conservative Government. How that equates as a home to Lefties is a mystery to me

[Cataplana]

The BBC is a vehicle of the Conservative Government. How that equates as a home to Lefties is a mystery to me

I imagine that is how the sort of person who would talk about Tarriers would see it, when they are objecting to the portrayal of an orange right wing gang of thugs.

[Cataplana]

The same battle of the Boyne where William was the victor and the celebratory bells were rung in the vatican - a point which seems to elude most huns as well.

Can you tell me more about this. I take it the Stewarts didn't have the backing of the Vatican?

[pontius pilate]

So I'm led to believe that the original version is the Brigton billy boys ( a razor gang ) due to the fact that they were from brigton and the leader was billy Fullerton who was also a fascist. Sung to the tune marching through Georgia. However I could be wrong. The fact that peaky blinders had it in was fascinating and they never hid the " up to our knees in fenian blood part neither " so kudos to them for that. The reason why a scottish razor gang I'd being shown in this season is that they were feared around that time. I hope it's not the last season we will get of the show

[Killiehibbie]

So I'm led to believe that the original version is the Brigton billy boys ( a razor gang ) due to the fact that they were from brigton and the leader was billy Fullerton who was also a fascist. Sung to the tune marching through Georgia. However I could be wrong. The fact that peaky blinders had it in was fascinating and they never hid the " up to our knees in fenian blood part neither " so kudos to them for that. The reason why a scottish razor gang I'd being shown in this season is that they were feared around that time. I hope it's not the last season we will get of the show
Series 6 and 7 will take them up to 1939.

[Mr Grieves]

Series 6 and 7 will take them up to 1939.

Two more series, but I think I read it'll finish with the first air raid siren in Birmingham in 1940.

[Killiehibbie]

Two more series, but I think I read it'll finish with the first air raid siren in Birmingham in 1940.

i thought i maybe read outbreak of war but you're probably right. As long as the billy boys get it tight in this series.

[HappyAsHellas]

Can you tell me more about this. I take it the Stewarts didn't have the backing of the Vatican?


Taken from wikipedia:

Due to the political situation mentioned above, the Pope also hailed the victory of William at the Boyne and ordered the bells of the Vatican to be rung in celebration.

I think it was the first victory for the league of Ausberg (sp), when protestant and catholics joined forces to combat Louis.

[Cataplana]

Taken from wikipedia:

Due to the political situation mentioned above, the Pope also hailed the victory of William at the Boyne and ordered the bells of the Vatican to be rung in celebration.

I think it was the first victory for the league of Ausberg (sp), when protestant and catholics joined forces to combat Louis.

Thanks, so the objection to the Stewart succession appears to be because of an alliance with France, rather than anything to do with religion?

Sounds like William was simply making Protestant noises to get Britain involved in his war on France.

[Kato]

Thanks, so the objection to the Stewart succession appears to be because of an alliance with France, rather than anything to do with religion?

Sounds like William was simply making Protestant noises to get Britain involved in his war on France.

The battles in Northern Ireland were a part of far broader conflict, the War of the Grand Alliance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Years%27_War

[WeeRussell]

I too have been amused at the irony of The Rangers fans sharing pictures of their manager and players in peaky bonnets etc and using "patter" suggesting the blinders are Rangers fans (because of one line in a speech).... when IN FACT it's their idolised types that Tommy and the boys are about to kick ***** out of.

[JeMeSouviens]

So I'm led to believe that the original version is the Brigton billy boys ( a razor gang ) due to the fact that they were from brigton and the leader was billy Fullerton who was also a fascist. Sung to the tune marching through Georgia. However I could be wrong. The fact that peaky blinders had it in was fascinating and they never hid the " up to our knees in fenian blood part neither " so kudos to them for that. The reason why a scottish razor gang I'd being shown in this season is that they were feared around that time. I hope it's not the last season we will get of the show

The *current* version the Huns sing is the Brigton Billy Boys (I think they actually sing "Brigton Derry Boys" at the end).

[Cataplana]

The *current* version the Huns sing is the Brigton Billy Boys (I think they actually sing "Brigton Derry Boys" at the end).

I've never got the way that Loyalists use the word "Derry". I thought it was Londonderry, as far as they are concerned.

The Dundee fans used to call themselves the Dens Derry, for some reason.

[Pretty Boy]

Can you tell me more about this. I take it the Stewarts didn't have the backing of the Vatican?

The Battle of the Boyne was part of a far bigger conflict gripping Europe at the time.

The Stuarts were later offered sanctity in the Vatican whilst in exile. The last 3 Stuarts are buried in the crypt below St Peters Basillica and there is a memorial obelisk to them within the church itself.

It's one of the most visited memorials in the building and it's not uncommon to see the odd Scotland flag in amongst the flowers left there.

[Godsahibby]

So I'm led to believe that the original version is the Brigton billy boys ( a razor gang ) due to the fact that they were from brigton and the leader was billy Fullerton who was also a fascist. Sung to the tune marching through Georgia. However I could be wrong. The fact that peaky blinders had it in was fascinating and they never hid the " up to our knees in fenian blood part neither " so kudos to them for that. The reason why a scottish razor gang I'd being shown in this season is that they were feared around that time. I hope it's not the last season we will get of the show

Is it not Bridgeton rather than Brighton, as in Bridgeton Cross through in the weege.

[cabbageandribs1875]

Is it not Bridgeton rather than Brighton, as in Bridgeton Cross through in the weege.


Brigton



although bridgeton close to parkhead is orange country

[lapsedhibee]

Is it not Bridgeton rather than Brighton, as in Bridgeton Cross through in the weege.


Brigton

although bridgeton close to parkhead is orange country

Brigton is weegie for Bridgeton. Brighton is Green territory. :wink:

[cabbageandribs1875]

Brigton is weegie for Bridgeton. Brighton is Green territory. :wink:


it's a whole different language thru there

[lapsedhibee]

it's a whole different language thru there

Brig for bridge extends at least as far East as Cramond. :wink:

[Jones28]

Saw the second episode last night, that is the worst Scottish accent ever 😂😂