As with most dystopian fiction, '1990' looks at the world of the then-present (1977-78) and takes it to its logical conclusion.
It makes an interesting contrast to an earlier series, 'The Guardians' (1971), which imagined a fascist Britain after the forces of 'order' step in to 'prevent collapse' - there were many dark rumours floating around in the 70s that this would happen, one of them involving Lord Mountbatten.
But in '1990' the dictatorship comes from the other end of the political spectrum - while the 'governing party' is never named, it's clearly far-left Labour. Britain is still technically a democracy, but freedoms are being whittled away, and the press is dominated by 'state-run rags' while Jim Kyle (Edward Woodward) works for one of the few remaining independent papers. Government power is enforced by the ominously-named Public Control Department (PCD). The potentially dictatorial nature of at least some on the far left was already apparent in the 70s, and would really come out after Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives' 1979 election victory - moderates known as the 'Gang of Four' ended up leaving the Labour Party and forming the Social Democrats. It's been said that 'Thatcher created Tony Blair' - if so, then the Militant Tendency created Thatcher. This is the background against which '1990' must be seen.
It makes an interesting contrast to an earlier series, 'The Guardians' (1971), which imagined a fascist Britain after the forces of 'order' step in to 'prevent collapse' - there were many dark rumours floating around in the 70s that this would happen, one of them involving Lord Mountbatten.
But in '1990' the dictatorship comes from the other end of the political spectrum - while the 'governing party' is never named, it's clearly far-left Labour. Britain is still technically a democracy, but freedoms are being whittled away, and the press is dominated by 'state-run rags' while Jim Kyle (Edward Woodward) works for one of the few remaining independent papers. Government power is enforced by the ominously-named Public Control Department (PCD). The potentially dictatorial nature of at least some on the far left was already apparent in the 70s, and would really come out after Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives' 1979 election victory - moderates known as the 'Gang of Four' ended up leaving the Labour Party and forming the Social Democrats. It's been said that 'Thatcher created Tony Blair' - if so, then the Militant Tendency created Thatcher. This is the background against which '1990' must be seen.