RIOT police hurled tear gas as flames licked the streets of Athens over the weekend.

Twenty thousand people turned out at a peaceful protest over the Greek government’s austerity measures, but a few Molotov cocktails hurled at police soon saw the demonstration turn into chaos.

Austerity. It’s a thin-lipped, ugly word which has become part of the national consciousness in the UK – as well as across Europe – since the financial bubble burst almost a decade ago. The Conservatives marched to power on the back of it. While no-one wants to see our country struggle with financial problems on the scale of Greece, it’s now being used as an excuse to dismantle all that we have been proud of in Britain.

Anyone, of any political persuasion, could tell you what we love about our splendid isles. The BBC – once held in such high regard it was nicknamed “Auntie” – is now embattled and under threat by culture secretary John Whittingdale’s negotiations over its charter renewal later this year.

Fears that Whittingdale’s white paper – due to be published today (THURSDAY) – could give the government too much influence over the BBC’s ability to schedule its own programmes are likely to lead to a revolt within the party.

The BBC is a precious institution which is respected for its creativity as well as its vital public service. It stands alone, independent of any corporate or governmental influence, crucial for democracy in times of media barons with an axe to grind and press corporations focused almost entirely on “clickbait” rather than the public interest.

Critics of the government say the constant barrage on the BBC is part of a Conservative plan by the back door to abolish – or dramatically cut – the licence fee. Cynics would say that the majority of the national media is right-wing and dances to the Conservative government’s tune, demonising welfare claimants, immigrants and the impoverished, promoting aspiration and providing a smokescreen against the fact the wealthy – the friends of our Government – are increasingly lining their pockets while more of our destitute are queuing for foodbanks than ever before. The BBC holds enormous, independent influence to counter the Conservative media.

The NHS, another sacred institution, is under attack under the guise of austerity. Almost 70 hospitals in our country are facing closures of some kind, while more than 650 doctor’s surgeries have been taken over, merged or closed since 2010 due to under-funding and lack of investment. Out of hours services, and some GP surgeries, are now being run by private companies such as Virgin. The phrase “privatisation by the back door” is often used, but for good reason.

And our welfare state, that proud bastion of Britishness, is also under ambush, in ways too plentiful to go into here. The current abolition of the Disability Living Allowance, and its usurper the Personal Independent Payment, has seen the most vulnerable in our country – many whom have never been able to work, and have no hope of working - have their funding cut, in judgements made by private companies with targets to hit. The vast majority of these under-fire people are not “lazy”, as some media would have us believe – they have debilitating conditions which completely inhibit any hope of being able to work.

Our welfare state, our BBC, our NHS. These are slipping away from us, by stealth. I don’t for a minute suggest chucking Molotov cocktails at the police, but the people of the UK need to wake up, open their eyes, see what is at stake, and put pressure on where it is needed. Defend our proud national institutions. We are still a democracy. The people still hold the reins of power. Apathy is not an option any more.