JUSTICE for shipyard workers unjustly imprisoned in 1984 was demanded in the Commons today by left Labour MP Kim Johnson.

The Cammell Laird 37 were jailed for contempt of court after occupying their shipyard in protest at redundancies and closure. 

Their sentencing was seen as a politically driven act by the Thatcher government, which was determined to privatise the industry.

“They were sacked, lost their redundancy and pension rights and sent to prison, in an unprecedented assault on trade unionists,” Ms Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside, said.

“They are widely considered heroes who stood up to Thatcher’s policies of managed decline that destroyed our industries and decimated our communities. 

“Criminals? No, responsible trade unionists carrying out legitimate action at their own workplace and respecting the property they were in control of. And for this they were banged in prison.

“There is no doubt that this was a major miscarriage of justice, sanctioned at the highest levels of government.”

She demanded  a full public inquiry into the episode, adding: “We are calling for the actions of ministers from the time to be investigated and for all remaining records to be made public, as well as for a formal government apology for these workers. 

“Jobs not jail remains a powerful call for justice and the Cammell Laird 37 deserve our recognition and our gratitude today for standing up and fighting back. 

“And they deserve our support in clearing their names. We will not rest until justice is done and the truth is uncovered.”