Labour’s persistent failure to address its electorate’s salient concerns is behind the protest vote, asserts DIANE ABBOTT
			In 1834 six agricultural labourers were sentenced to seven years’ penal transportation to Australia. Their crime? Forming a trades union to defend their living standards.
Although trades unions or “friendly societies” were technically legal following the passing of the Combinations of Workmen Act 1825, their activity was strictly monitored.
A local landowner and magistrate James Frampton, having sought advice from the government, invoked an obscure law — the Unlawful Oaths Act 1797 — which prevented the swearing of secret oaths and had the men arrested.
               After one year of a Labour government attacking winter fuel allowance and disabled people, the trade union movement must step up regardless of who holds power, writes STEVE GILLAN
               ANSELM ELDERGILL examines the legal case behind this weekend’s Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival and the lessons for today
               As the labour movement meets to remember the Tolpuddle Martyrs, MICK WHELAN, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, says it’s an appropriate moment to remind the Labour government to listen to the trade unions a little more

               

