A complex story set in 1980s HACKNEY

23rd March 2026

True Blue by Joe Thomas – a complex story set in 1980s Hackney

True Blue is the third book in Joe Thomas’ The United Kingdom Trilogy covering political and social events of the Thatcher era. The Poll Tax is being introduced, privatisation is in full swing, and the drug and music scene in the East End of London is exploding. Against this background Joe has written a book where it is very hard to distinguish fact from fiction. The story is interlaced with real events…

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Hackney Borough Council’s solicitor is struggling with both Poll Tax protests (‘can’t pay, won’t pay’) and with the imminent and secret privatisation of water. A stretch of houses close to the river is being bought up with some very dubious practices in play, and some very dodgy deals being done. He suspects a newly formed Thames Water of being involved…

Meanwhile the drug and music scene in Hackney is developing apace. Mega ‘semi-legal’ acid house parties are being organised in warehouses and Genesis and The Style Council are the hottest tickets around. The police are not quietly sitting by letting everything carry on… they are in the thick of it. Undercover police infiltrate rival gangs, recruit locals, raid drug stashes and keep much to sell on themselves, Corruption is everywhere. Larger than life characters abound.

And the laws abiding inhabitants of Hackney have to navigate what is going on.

The story builds to the Trafalgar Square Poll Tax protest demonstration of 1990 which rapidly turned violent and in which over 400 people were arrested. Many of the characters we have encountered earlier in the book are there. Most have come peacefully.

The story has a real nostalgic feel to it. The events described are well within my life experience but seem of a totally different age. The East End of London has changed a lot in 40+ years… The Poll Tax (as Thatcher herself) came and went. Privatisation in general (and of water in particular) is still a major debating point. Thames Water has yet to cover itself in glory.

A really good look back in time.

Tony for the TripFiction team

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