Royle Family actor Ricky Tomlinson to speak at Coventry event shining a light on blacklisting, 'McLibel' and other struggles - The Coventry Observer

Royle Family actor Ricky Tomlinson to speak at Coventry event shining a light on blacklisting, 'McLibel' and other struggles

Coventry Editorial 9th Oct, 2017 Updated: 9th Oct, 2017   0

TV actor Ricky Tomlinson, best known for his role in BBC’s Royle Family comedy series, is coming to Coventry this weekend to talk about his life and campaigning for workers’ rights.

Before he shot to fame, he was a builder and an active trade unionist, who was targeted for those union activities.

The event at the Methodist Central Hall on Saturday (October 14, 11am to 4pm) will give a fascinating insight into half a century of some of the most high-profile struggles in labour and social history, told by the people caught up in them.

It is the story of blacklisting, a conspiracy trial, the role of undercover police, and of secret discussions all the way up to the cabinet.




Campaigning for justice continues today.

Ricky will be one of four speakers at the ‘Who’s Watching Whom?’ event, sponsored by union Unite’s Tom Mann branch and Coventry TUC.


The other speakers are Dave Smith (author of a book called ‘Blacklisting’), Helen Steel (an environmental activist known for the ‘McLibel case’ filed by McDonald’s against her which also involved undercover police infiltration), and Chris Baugh, assistant general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

The PCS union, previously targeted by the state when it was the CPSA, is calling for a public inquiry into the monitoring of trade union activists.

Ricky, 45 years ago, was among the so-called Shrewsbury 24. He had taken part in a national strike against low pay and poor working conditions.

In 1973 at Shrewsbury Crown Court, six trades unionists including Ricky were sent to prison.

The strikers and their families have campaigned ever since for the release of government documents showing ‘interference and manipulation in their prosecution’, and for their cases to be reviewed as a miscarriage of justice.

In 2014 Theresa May, then home secretary, set up a judicial inquiry after it was revealed that undercover police officers duped a number of women into sexual relationships to infiltrate groups.

Dave Smith was a blacklisted worker who has since chronicled the near 100-year history of a construction industry blacklist that denied work for those involved in union activities.

Organisers say: “What links these cases is the extraordinary lengths to which the ‘secret state’ will go, to defend the Establishment.

“MI5 also directed Special Branch to spy on a number of left-wing Labour MPs, including here in Coventry.

“Come and hear first-hand from victims and activists, and find out in workshops how you can join in the campaigns for justice.”

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