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The growth of the Gala shows that class politics remains strong
STEPHEN GUY spoke to Morning Star editor Ben Chacko about how, far from being a purely historical commemoration, this year’s Big Meeting is evidence of a growing fightback

IN ITS 137th year, the Big Meeting remains a lodestar for a reviving workers’ movement, Durham Miners’ Association chair Stephen Guy told the Morning Star at the weekend.

“The theme of the Gala this year is ‘rise up’ — that derives from the last 12 months of industrial struggles we’ve had.

“And if government and employers don’t change their position, I’m afraid we’re going to have another 12 months of this, if not longer.”

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