All Together Now

by Mike Carter

'In a few weeks' time, it would be thirty-five years to the day since those men and women had walked 340 miles to try to save their communities and their culture, and thirty-five years since I had turned down Pete's invitation to join them. I called work and booked some time off. Then I bought a one-way train ticket to Liverpool.'

In 1981, Mike Carter's dad, Pete, organised the People's March for Jobs, which saw 300 people walk from Liverpool to London to protest as the Thatcher government's policies devastated industrial Britain and sent unemployment skyrocketing. Just before the 2016 EU referendum, Mike set off to walk the same route in a quest to better understand his dad and his country.

As he walked, Mike found many echoes of the early eighties: a working class overlooked and ignored by Westminster politicans; communities hollowed out but fiercely resistant; anger and despair co-existing with hope and determination for change. And he also found that he and Pete shared more in common than he might have thought.

All Together Now? maps the intricate, overlapping path of one man's journey and that of an entire country. It is a book about belonging, about whether to stay or go, and about the need to write new stories for our communities and ourselves.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Society

390 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2019

About the author

Mike Carter is a freelance travel writer. His book One Man and His Bike followed what happened when his cycle ride to work one morning turned into a 5,000-mile cycle ride around the coastline of Britain. In 2008 Uneasy Rider, the chronicle of his motorbike ride of over 20,000 miles to the four extremes of Europe, won the Oldie Travel Book of the Year.

Librarian's Note: For disambiguation, this is Mike (1) Carter.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirty-eight years ago a guy called Pete Carter organised a protest march. Called the People’s March for Jobs, there were around 300 people who walked from Liverpool to London to protest about the Tory government policies pushed through by Thatcher and that had devastated the industrial heartlands of the north. Carter was a communist and fantastic orator and he could inspire the people that joined him on the march. Mike was 17 at the time and had left school and Pete, his father has asked him if he wanted to join them. He didn’t because of the history between them, rather he chose his own direction in life.

It was after Pete had died and they were sorting through his effects, he found a mug that commemorated the march in a box with letters and other things. Realising it was approaching 35 years since it had taken place he booked time off work and decided to walk the same route. Partly it was to see if he could understand his dad and partly to take the pulse of the country just before the 2016 referendum. He would see if he could find some of those that walked the march the first time too. He booked his one-way train ticket to Liverpool.

His walk would take him from there to Warrington, onto Manchester and then to Macclesfield. Other towns he walks through include Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Coventry and then through the northern Home Counties. He stops to talk to as many people as he can, explaining the reasons why he is following the same route as the original marchers 35 years ago. He tells those who will listen to him, why he is doing it and asks how people are going to be voting in the up and coming referendum. He notes that the price of a pint seems to rise a penny each mile he gets nearer to London. It is also a walk back through his past too, as he revisits his tempestuous relationship that he and his sister had with his father. Some of the people he meets up with on his walk knew his father and were with him on the original march. They had a very different view of the man than he did.

The answers to his questions are quite eye-opening, not only in the way that people were intending on voting but also as a damming indictment of decades of Tory policy that left people in the former industrial heartlands without jobs or a future. Almost all of the reasons that his father originally organised the march in 1981 were still valid today. The only thing missing now is hope, as these people have been the casualties of the neo-liberal policies. All of this injustice makes Carter seethe with fury and that comes across as he pours his frustrations and passion into the writing of this book. He is open and honest about the problems that he had with his father throughout out his life and tries to understand what drove his father to be the person he was and goes some way to reconciliation with the memories that he had of him. All of these things combined are what make this such a good book and an essential read on the political health of our country.

[Thomas Beeston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit of a necessary wake-up read for me, having become wilfully ignorant to the state of things in order to try and maintain some sanity; swerving the guiltbait headlines that want you to feel responsible for all the world's problems.

Mike Carter lays it all out here. Lays it the fuck out. The smallest reminders - a park sign, a plane, public toilets - is enough for him to go off on how austerity, neo-liberalism and a step change in the national psyche have wracked public services. The setting is eight years old and the situation in the UK has only worsened since. No solutions are offered here. Where do you even start? Protest is futile. It's made me think more about community, giving a little bit of time and money where it's needed. One can't singlehandedly save the world, even if the algorithm expects you to.

Somewhere within this there is also a gorgeous travel book, highlighting the stories of formerly industrial towns and cities (Macclesfield! Wolverhampton! Stoke represent!!!!) and Carter's reconciliation of feeling towards his late estranged father. Loved!

[Joy Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into the lives and thoughts of people in the towns and cities along the walk in the lead up to the 2016 Referendum.
What a pity he was not accompanied by some of the politicians who are responsible for the mess we now find ourselves in.

[Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

These kind of books always need a secondary hook, and "where's the country gone" is a common one but this one is the best of them I've read, by a mile.

[Dennis Peper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, touching and humorous. This was a fantastic read giving insight into why many communities voted the way they did in the Brexit referendum.

[Rebekah Mercer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written a month before the brexit vote. it explains why people think things have gone wrong, through explorations of town histories, conversations with people working with/in/close to local governments, lots of front pages of (billionaire owned :)) newspapers demonising the eu and europeans and an explanation of some of the most ridiculous ‘privatisations’ (eg did you know that when a (privately run) train is late, it’s tax payer money that goes to refund customers who are entitled to being compensated for the delay? so there goes the disincentives for crappy service :() oh and Margaret Thatcher. Pretty much the government is cutting local council funding so it is terrible and now they can make the case for privatising its services/getting rid altogether, giving all power to westminster, and leaving the north to fend for itself until the homeless population reaches 100%.

This book gives a face to what’s happened to small towns since 2008 — one thats covered in betting shops and payday loans companies and people sleeping rough

[Bill Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. I bought it out of interest in the English Journey genre, as I like to think of it, flowing from J B Priestley's travel through England in 1933 - not that he was the first to write about travelling through England, but a lot of writes do reference that. Stuart Maconie is a leader in the current generation with the recent The Full English and his Long Road From Jarrow that followed the route of the Jarrow march in 1936, 80 years on. Here, Mike Carter follows a similar march 35 years, the March for Jobs in 1981, not least as his father organised it. As he says, he wasn't sure if it was pilgrimage or penance for not joining it in 1981. Setting off from Liverpool May 2016, just before the referendum a month later, it is a fascinating insight into why so many people did vote to leave. Referring back to the politics of the 1980s and the failures of policy ever since, it is a portrait of a country very much at unease with itself and a population trying to do things when barriers are repeatedly placed in their way. Seven years from that time, and know what happened next, it is far from encouraging. Which all suggests that this would be a deeply depressing read, but it isn't. Mike remains positive and so do many others he talks to and his descriptions of the English countryside are wonderful. It is almost Detectorist in tone. And then there is his father. This is an excellent analysis of the father/son relationship and does provoke the occasional tear. Very pleased to have read this.

[Anthony Frobisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Britain's Soul/Sole

Mike Carter captured the essence of Britain, its challenges and changes, as he walked the 330 miles between Liverpool and London, retracing the 1981 March for Jobs. In doing so he catalogues the downward spiral of succesive governments and their erosion of the cornerstones of society, social cohesion, community and equality. The walk is illuminating, enlightening and many times enraging. The gap between rich and poor is widening, the impacts of neoliberalism, of austerity, hurting and hitting hard.
And at the same time, the book reveals much of the relationship between Mike and Pete, his father, one of the organisers of the march. Like Britain now, a fractured relationship.
A brilliantly written, thought provoking book. I learned much and recommend everyone to read it. With Brexit looming, the schisms widen. But maybe, just maybe, there is still hope. And that is down to the spirit of the people on this amazing island.

[Alistair Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an engaging and relevant travel book but also a commentary on the state of modern Britain. The author spends a month walking from Liverpool to London recreating the route of a march led by his father some 30 odd years earlier in protest at the Thatcher governments decimation of working class communities. As a travel book it is enjoyable enough with interesting encounters and conversations en route. As a description of the incorrect course we are taking, the hollowing out of public services, the closure of traditional industries, the destruction of the high street under the weight of betting shops, takeaways, pay day lenders and the relentless cuts to local government. The author highlights the brilliant trick played by central government in basically unloading their responsibilities onto local government, slashing their budget then ensuring the blame when services buckle accrue to the council not them. Sadly a process still occurring today.
Recommended

[Sue]

The Peoples Unemployment march took place in 1981 and thirty five years later Mike Carter followed in the footsteps of his father Pete who had been one of its organisers. In a journey examining that period of time (which parallels my own political history and involvement), and in real geography, he walked over 300 miles, commented on a country broken by austerity and inequality and met a lot of interesting people along the way. Mikes troubled history with his father is the background narrative and a note of reconciliation only really occurs in the last sentence of the acknowledgements, though you sense it has been growing in parallel with his footsteps on the walk.

[Peter Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, good political commentary interspersed with humour, hiking, pathos, relationships and purpose. One effect was that it helped me understand people who votes for brexit more than I have in the past, so in some ways it was quite healing... as well as being anger creating at the injustice of our society and selfishness of people, whilst at the same time revealing the wealth of goodness in so many people.

[Alison Berkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gifted writer who educated me about so many parts of England I ( wrongly as it turns out) thought I already knew. The human stories which accompanied his narrative, including his own background story as to why he undertook the walk, captivated me. Whilst there was an insightful portrait into England in the early 1980s and England of 2016 there was some humour in amongst some of the desperation which he describes

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indeed Pete would’ve been very proud of Mike.
Achievement: made me want to go for a very long walk
Achievement: made me even more concerned about what neo-liberals have done to society
Achievement: made me very worried about the same things happening in Australia if we keep electing the fear-mongers

[Ryan Peers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thought provoking and equally inspiring and distressing piece. I read it on the strength of Mike's previous excellent book "one man and his bike" and whilst this this book is important and very good in it's genre it didnt deliver the laughs I was expecting. Probably because it isn't a comedy.

[Sadie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly written book that is true to life. It portraits what we have lost through poor leadership and self imposed importance of government who are out to improve their power and greed. One of the best true accounts showing just how much we have lost/losing through poor leadership. It's frightening as we lose more and more of ourselves as a nation and of our compassion for others.

[Alex Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent and very important book. It should be read by every MP and it will clarify exactly why Brexit is happening. Having said that - its profoundly depressing and makes me fearful for the future of our country.

[Patrick Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though reading this from New Zealand I can see the terrible policies being repeated here that are well researched and described in this great read by Mike Carter. Darker than his usual writing but connected with his journey, physical, political and paternal.

[Darren Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. It certainly disproves the theory of a rising tide lifts all boats. Somehow Mike's writing makes a bleak and depressing subject seem positive and hopeful. We all need to be more like Mike.

[Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written and as true now as it was when published. The combination of well researched political commentary and snapshot stories from people along the route interwoven with first person narrative made this a compelling read with depth. This book is one that keeps on giving

[Janet Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this insightful book. What was shocking was how little had really changed, there's still unemployment, racial discrimination and a lot of depression. Certainly not the expected Brave New World.
Highly recommended.

[Philip C. Behn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about relationships, traveling, England and tectonic shifts in society that are shaping the century we live in. Excellent pace, highly entertaining descriptions of places and events, a real pleasure to read.

[christine spurrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book I would highly recommend everyone to read it

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this would be a gentle travelogue but it turned out to be a searing critique of neoliberalism. Excellent, read it.

[Tim Wakeman]

Fantastic book showing many of the current problems considering areas of the UK I have had a connection with.

[Clea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eeek. Thatcher sucks. I wish Carter would have reflected more on Brexit.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Inspiring and poignant.

[✰matthew✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was the most interesting and engrossing non fiction book i’ve read in a long time, easy 5* !!

[Kim Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great social history book. I found Mike’s story really interesting and brought back memories of when I was growing up. Well written.