THE days of a “free press” are over and support for alternative titles like the Morning Star is more important than ever, veteran journalist John Pilger said in a message marking 80 years since a ban was lifted on our predecessor, the Daily Worker.

A 18-month ban by edict of wartime home secretary Herbert Morrison — grandfather of Blairite guru Peter Mandelson — was formally lifted on August 26 1942, 80 years ago today, though the first post-ban edition did not issue until September 7.

It was the longest ban of a newspaper by government fiat in British history and prompted the formation of numerous local Daily Worker Defence Leagues to raise funds and campaign for its end, which finally came during the battle of Stalingrad as Morrison, a Labour minister in Winston Churchill’s national government, feared a humiliating vote against it at that autumn’s TUC.