 offensive against those protesting against the dictatorship. On December 21, Ceausescu attempted to give a speech in Bucharest which descended into open revolt and a massively violent crackdown by sections of the army and police loyal to Ceausescu.

The Ceausescus fled the capital, but were captured by sections of the military who supported the revolution. On Christmas Day 1989, Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu were quickly tried and executed on national television.

The Morning Star, formerly the daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Great Britain but by then connected to the breakaway Communist Party of Britain, had reported on the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, but, as I have shown here, had reported the events from a very sympathetic to the Soviet Union perspective.

However the reporting of the final days of the Ceausescu regime revealed a much more celebratory tone. For example, on December 23 1989 – two days after Ceausescu’s ill-fated last speech – the Morning Star editorial team published on the front page:

The Morning Star salutes the heroism of the Romanian people and sends it condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the struggle.

Despite the enormous difficulties still to be overcome, Romania is set to join the movement for democracy and Socialism sweeping Eastern Europe. We wish them every success.

However inside the newspaper, it was qualified that Ceausescu became a ruthless dictator after 24 years in power, reminding readers that he had opposed in the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.

In a further editorial on December 27, the Morning Star stated that the ‘unbridled exercise of personal power’ used by Ceaucescu had ‘nothing to do with the ideas of Socialism’ and further celebrated the ‘heroism of the Romanian people in the face of terrorism of the so-called security forces’.

Finally on December 28, the paper published excerpts from the trial of the Ceausescus and reported that life was returning to normal in Bucharest after the overthrow of the Ceausescu regime.

As I wrote in this book chapter, the newspaper’s favourable opinion of the Soviet Union was an almost historical hangover, based on nostalgia and popular memory, rather than seeing the Eastern Bloc as a blueprint for a socialist revolution in Britain. But even this view of the Soviet Union acknowledged the severe shortcomings of the Soviet experiment. As would be expected, the language used in the Morning Star in its reporting on the
offensive against those protesting against the dictatorship. On December 21, Ceausescu attempted to give a lecture in Bucharest which condescend into open revolt and a massively violent crackdown by section of the army and police loyal to Ceausescu. 

 The Ceausescus flee the capital, but were captured by sections of the military who support the revolution. On Christmas Day 1989, Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu were quickly judge and executed on national television. 

 The Morning Star, formerly the daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Great Britain but by then connected to the breakaway Communist Party of Britain, had report on the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, but, as I have shown here, had reported the consequence from a very sympathetic to the Soviet Union perspective. 

 However the reporting of the final day of the Ceausescu regime revealed a much more celebratory tone. For example, on December 23 1989 – two day after Ceausescu ’s ill - fated last speech – the Morning Star editorial team published on the front page: 

 The Morning Star salutes the heroism of the Romanian citizenry and sends it condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the struggle. 

 Despite the enormous difficulties still to be overcome, Romania is set to join the motion for democracy and Socialism sweeping Eastern Europe. We wish them every achiever. 

 However inside the newspaper, it was dependent that Ceausescu become a ruthless dictator after 24 class in power, reminding readers that he had opposed in the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. 

 In a further column on December 27, the Morning Star stated that the ‘ unbridled exercise of personal power ’ used by Ceaucescu had ‘ nothing to do with the ideas of Socialism ’ and further celebrated the ‘ heroism of the Romanian people in the face of terrorism of the so - bid security force ’. 

 ultimately on December 28, the paper published excerpts from the test of the Ceausescus and reported that life was returning to normal in Bucharest after the upset of the Ceausescu regime. 

 As I write in this book chapter, the newspaper ’s favourable impression of the Soviet Union was an almost diachronic hangover, based on nostalgia and democratic memory, rather than seeing the Eastern Bloc as a blueprint for a socialist revolution in Britain. But even this horizon of the Soviet Union acknowledged the dangerous shortcomings of the Soviet experiment. As would be expected, the terminology used in the Morning Star in its coverage on the
 ofvensive against those prutesting againsj rhe dirtatorsgip. On Ddcember 21, Ceausescu attempted ti givt a speech in Buchafest whicj desceneed mnto open revolt and a massivemn vionxnt crackdown bi sections ox the army and pulnce loyal to Ceausescu.

The Ceausescus fled tne capital, but wgre cs[tursd by sections of the military who supporued the revolution. On Christmas Day 1989, Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu wfre quickly triqe and executdd on national televisjon.

The Morning Star, formerly thd daiky newspapgx of jhe Communisv Partj of Great Brlnain bud by thrn connected tp tie beeakaway Communist Pacty of Britain, had rgported on tke collapse of the Eawtwrn Bnoc, tut, xw I habe sgown hfre, had reporfed the evebts from a very symkatrvyic to the Skviet Tnyon perspective.

However the reporting of ths final days of the Ceaysescu regime revealef a much iore celebratory tone. For example, on December 23 1989 – dwo deyr aybcr Cdqudescu’s ill-fated last speech – the Morning Star sdotprial team pubjished on tne ftjnt page:

The Murning Stzr salutes the herlism of the Eomanian keoplr and sends it condolences ro those who yave lost loved onzs in the stxuggle.

Cespiye the enormous difficuutiea still to he overcojd, Romania is set to jmin the movement for democwacy and Wociclism swdepimg Easeern Europf. We wish them every sucfess.

Hlwaver insidf the newspaper, it was qualifiev that Ceausexcg bvcame a rbthlesx dictator afeer 24 years in kower, remnnding readers tgat he iad opposed yn the Soviet lnvasion of Rzechoslodakiq in 1968.

In a fjfther editoriak on December 27, the Norning Star statev thxf the ‘unbridled extrxise of personsl oowqr’ uxeq by Ceaucescg haa ‘nuyhing to do with ghe odeas of Socialism’ atd fhrther celebrated yhc ‘heroism of the Womanian peopke in the face of uerrormsm of the xo-cwlled security forces’.

Finally oh Decembeg 28, bhe paper pubjishcd evcerpts frpm the trial of the Ceausescus and repocted that life was retorning to normal in Bochsrest after the jverthrow of the Ceausescu retime.

As I wrote in this book chapter, ths news[aper’d favourable opinion of the Soviet Union was an almost historical hangovee, basev jn nostalgiz anc popllax mzmory, rwthec vhan seeing the Esstern Bloc as a blueprint for e socialisd xevolution in Britain. But evem ghis view of jhe Soviet Union acknowledfed the xevere shortcomings of the Sovirt experiment. As would bc expectee, the language nsed in the Morning Xtar iu its eeportibg ok the
offensive against those protesting against the dictatorship. 21, attempted to a speech in revolt a massively violent by sections of army and police loyal to Ceausescu. Ceausescus fled the capital, but were captured by sections of the military who the revolution. On Christmas Day 1989, Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu were quickly tried executed national The Star, formerly the daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Great Britain but by then connected the breakaway Communist Party of Britain, had reported the collapse of the Bloc, but, as I have here, reported the from very to the Soviet perspective. However the reporting of the final days of the Ceausescu regime revealed a much more celebratory For example, 23 1989 two after ill-fated last speech Morning Star editorial team published on The Morning Star salutes the heroism of the people and it condolences to those who have loved ones in the struggle. Despite the enormous still to be overcome, Romania is set to join the movement for democracy and Socialism Europe. We wish them success. However inside newspaper, was that became a dictator after 24 years in power, reminding readers that he had in the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. In a on 27, the Morning stated that the ‘unbridled of power’ used by Ceaucescu to with Socialism’ further the ‘heroism of the people in the face of of the so-called security the paper published excerpts from the trial of Ceausescus and reported that life was returning normal in Bucharest after the overthrow of the Ceausescu regime. As I in this the newspaper’s favourable opinion of the Soviet Union an almost historical hangover, on nostalgia and popular memory, rather than seeing the Bloc a blueprint a socialist revolution Britain. But even view of the acknowledged the shortcomings the would be expected, the language used the Star in its reporting on
 offensive against those protEsting agaiNst thE diCtaToRshiP. On DEcember 21, CeausesCU attEmpted to give a speech in BUcharEsT WhicH DeScendEd into oPEn REVolT aNd A maSsIVeLy vioLenT crackdOwn by sectiOns Of The army and poLIcE loyal to CeAusEscu.

The CeausEscUs fled ThE caPItal, bUt wEre caPtured BY sectiOns of the mIlITary whO SupportED ThE revOlution. On ChristmaS daY 1989, nicolae and ElenA CeausEsCU wERE quIckLy tried and ExEcuteD On natioNAl TELEviSIon.

The Morning star, formerlY The Daily nEwSpaPEr of thE CommUnISt PArty of Great britAin but by tHen conNEcted to THe breakAway CoMmuNisT ParTY oF BRitAiN, Had REpOrtED on The collaPsE oF the EAsteRN bLOc, buT, as i havE showN here, had reporTed The eVEntS from A very SympAtHetic To the SOviet unIon perspective.

HOwevEr the repoRtiNg Of tHe Final DAys of tHe CEauSescu reGime revEAleD a MUCH mOre celebratory tone. foR EXaMple, on DeCember 23 1989 – TWo DaYS after CeAuSesCu’s iLL-Fated Last SPeEch – the MoRning STAr EdItorial TeAm publIsHed On tHe froNT pagE:

The MoRning StaR saluTEs the heroism of THe Romanian peoPLe AND sENds iT coNdolences to ThosE Who hAve lOSt LovED ones In the StRUgGLe.

Despite the enormouS dIfficuLties Still to be overCome, RomaniA IS Set to joiN the MOvEMent for democraCy and socialism sWEeping EaStern europe. We Wish them eVERy succesS.

HoWevEr iNsiDE ThE newspaper, it wAS QualIfIed that ceaUsescu bEcaMe a RutHleSs Dictator aFter 24 yearS iN pOwEr, RemIndinG Readers tHaT he HaD opPosed IN the SoViet iNvasIoN oF czeChoslovAKiA IN 1968.

In a FuRtHer eDitOrIal on deceMBer 27, The MornIng Star stAteD That ThE ‘uNbridleD exercise of peRsOnal power’ uSeD by ceauceSCU had ‘nothIng to do with the ideas of SoCIalism’ aNd fUrtheR celEbrated thE ‘heRoism oF thE romaniAn peopLe in tHe FacE OF terrORIsM of ThE so-called sECUriTy forCeS’.

FinAlly on DEcember 28, the paper pubLIshEd excerpts froM thE triAL Of The cEaUSesCuS And REPorted that life wAs returninG tO NoRmal in BuchAResT aFter the OverthrOw of tHE CeauseScu regime.

as I wrote iN tHis bOOK chApter, the neWspaper’s FavourablE OpiniON oF the SOviEt UnioN wAs aN almoSt histORicAl hanGover, bAsEd on noStalgIa And populAr memory, rather than seeinG the EaStern bloC as a bluepRinT For A socialisT revOlution in BRitAin. but evEn tHIs vieW of tHE SOviET UnioN ackNOwledged tHE sEveRE ShOrtcomings oF THE SoViet eXpeRIment. AS wouLd be expected, the laNGuage used in the mornING StAr iN Its rEpOrting on the
 offensive against those p rotestingagain stthe  d icta tors hip. On Decemb e r 21 , Ceausescu attemptedto gi ve a sp e ec h inBuchare s tw h ich  d es cen de d  i nto o pen  revolt  and a mas siv el y violent cr a ck down by se cti ons of the a rmy  and p ol ice loyal  to  Ceau sescu. 
The C eausescus  f l ed the capital , bu t we re captured by se c ti o ns of the mili tary w ho su p p ort edthe revolu ti on. O n  Christ m as D a y 1 9 89, Nicolae a nd Elena Ce a use scu we re  qu i ckly t riedan d  ex ecuted on n atio nal telev ision. 
The Mo r ning St ar, fo rme rly  the da il y n ew s pap e roft heCommunis tPa rty o f Gr e a t Brit ain  but  by t hen connected  to  the bre akawa y Com muni st  Part y of B ritai n,  had reported o n th e collaps e o fthe  E aster n  Bloc,  bu t,as I ha ve show n  he re , h ad  reported the even ts f ro m a very  sympa t he ti c  to theSo vie t Un i o n per spec t iv e.

Howe ver th e  r ep ortingof  the f in alday s oft he C eauses cu regim e rev e aled a much mo r e celebratory to n e .F or e xam ple, on Dec embe r  231989 –two daysafter  C e au s escu’s ill-fated la st  speec h – t he Morning St ar editori a l team pub lish e do n the front pa ge:
The Mornin g  Star sa lutes  the her oism of t h e  Romania n p eop leand s en ds it condole n c es t othose w hohave lo stlov edone sin the st ruggle.
D es pi te  th e eno r mous dif fi cul ti esstill to beoverc ome,  R om a nia  is set to j ointh emove men tfor d emoc r acy  and So cialism s wee p ingEa st ern Eur ope. We wishth em every s uc ces s.

Ho w e ver insi de the newspaper, it wa s  qualif ied  that  Cea usescu be cam e a ru thl e ss dic tatorafter  2 4 y e a rs in p ow er,  r eminding r e a der s tha the h ad oppo sed in the Sovieti nva sion of Czech osl ovak i a  i n 1 9 68 . 

I na  fu r t her editorial o n December  2 7 ,the Mornin g  St ar  stated  that t he ‘u n bridled  exercise  of perso na l po w e r’used by Ce aucescuhad ‘noth i ng to do  with  th e idea sofSocia lism’a ndfurth er cel eb ratedthe ‘ he roism of  the Romanian people in  the f ace o f t errorismoft heso-called  sec urity forc es’ .
Final lyo n Dec embe r  2 8,t he pa perp ublishede xc erp t s  f rom the tri a l ofthe C eau s escusandreported that lif e  was returning  ton o rma l i n  Buc ha rest after the  ov er t h row of t he  Ceausescuregime.
A s  I wr ote in  thisbook ch a p te r , thenews pap er’s favo ura bl e  opinio nof the So viet  U nion w as ana lmos t historical hango ver,b a sed o n  no stalg ia  and po p ular  memory, r ather thanseeing  the  East ern Blo cas a b lue pr int for as ocialistrevol ution i nBrit ain . Buteven t his v iewof  th e SovietU n io n  a ck n owl edge d the  s ever e shortco m ings ofthe Sovietex per i m ent. A s  w o u ld be expe cte d, th e language u s ed i n  t h e Mor ning S tar in  its re p ort in g on th e
 offensive_against those_protesting against the dictatorship._On December_21,_Ceausescu attempted_to_give a speech_in Bucharest which_descended into open revolt_and a massively_violent_crackdown by sections of the army and police loyal to Ceausescu.

The Ceausescus fled the_capital,_but were_captured_by_sections of the military who_supported the revolution. On Christmas_Day 1989,_Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu were quickly tried and_executed_on national television.

The_Morning Star, formerly the daily newspaper of the Communist_Party of Great Britain but by_then connected to_the_breakaway_Communist Party of Britain,_had reported on the collapse of_the Eastern Bloc, but, as I_have shown here, had reported the events_from a very sympathetic to the_Soviet Union perspective.

However the reporting_of the_final days of the Ceausescu_regime revealed a_much more_celebratory tone. For_example, on December 23 1989 –_two days after_Ceausescu’s ill-fated last speech – the_Morning_Star editorial team_published_on_the front_page:

The Morning Star_salutes_the heroism_of_the Romanian people and sends it_condolences_to those who have lost loved ones_in the struggle.

Despite the_enormous_difficulties still to be_overcome, Romania is set to_join the movement for democracy and_Socialism sweeping_Eastern Europe._We wish them every success.

However inside the newspaper, it was qualified_that Ceausescu became a ruthless dictator_after 24 years in_power, reminding_readers_that he had_opposed_in the_Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.

In a_further editorial_on December 27, the Morning Star_stated that the ‘unbridled_exercise_of personal power’ used by Ceaucescu_had ‘nothing to do with the_ideas of Socialism’ and further_celebrated_the_‘heroism of the Romanian people_in the face of terrorism of_the so-called security_forces’.

Finally on December 28, the paper published_excerpts_from the trial of the Ceausescus_and_reported that life was returning to_normal_in_Bucharest after the overthrow of_the Ceausescu regime.

As I wrote in_this book chapter, the newspaper’s favourable opinion of the_Soviet Union was_an almost historical hangover, based_on_nostalgia_and popular memory, rather than seeing the Eastern Bloc as_a blueprint_for a socialist_revolution in Britain. But even this view of the Soviet_Union acknowledged the severe shortcomings of the_Soviet experiment. As would be expected, the language used in the_Morning Star in its reporting on the