History

Janine's poetic turn at the 2020 online celebration ofthe 1911 Llanelli railway strike.

I spoke with my dad (pictured) about his memories of the 1945 general election ...

75 years ago when I was seven, I experienced the first of 22 general elections in my life.

Also published in Solidarity newspaper.

One hundred years ago, on the very first Remembrance Day, 11 November 1919, the Daily Herald, a socialist newspaper, published this article on its front page.

The last issue of RMT News contained a useful pull-out on the historic 1919 railway strike. It captured some of the excitement of the action and its success in beating back pay cuts. The strikers and their supporters are heroes of our history and deserve to be remembered and honoured.

Inspired by the story of Sarah Lawton and Gertrude Bigwood

This is the dad
working five months away
from his family, keeping
starvation at bay

This is the mum
taking work when it comes
boiling laundry and toiling
for pitiful sums

It wasn't the Stonewall focus group
or the Stonewall business case
It wasn't the Stonewall let's-present-
our-most-acceptable-face

Long years of asking nicely had not
got us anywhere
Our rulers did not hear us when
we whispered: it's not fair

So when re-writers try to say
we won by being quiet
Remind them of our history -
that Stonewall was a riot

Edward lived in Hoxton
boxed in
Stitching boots
digging roots
Labouring his load
on the neighbouring road
to new arrivals
migrated for survival 
from Poland, from Russia
to the holy crush of London
Under the same sky
came together, made ties
meeting in the streets
Tars and bars and beats
tasting gifts and eats
More than metropolitan

Also posted on the Workers' Liberty website here.

As 1919 began, working-class people in Britain and many other countries looked forward to leaving the Great War behind them and rebuilding their lives.

Also published on the Workers' Liberty website.

The ‘Great War’ was finally over. When it had begun in August 1914, the British government predicted that it would be won by Christmas, but it had dragged on for four more years, with dreadful suffering and loss of life. In 1916, Britain began conscripting its men to fight.