We face austerity, privatisation, and toxic influence. But we are growing, and cannot be beaten
‘Solidarity forever’ – our message in a very special Gala year
Durham Miners Association leader ALAN MARDGHUM talks to Ben Chacko about the continued relevance of trade unions, the lacklustre general election campaign, whether we can believe opinion polls and the ‘reprehensible’ North Durham candidate, Luke Akehurst

IN TWO weeks crowds will throng the streets of Durham in Britain and Europe’s biggest celebration of working-class culture — the Miners’ Gala.
For Alan Mardghum, general secretary of the Durham Miners Association (DMA), this year is special — it marks the 40th anniversary of the miners’ strike, and will likely take place in the first weeks of a new, Labour government.
“I’m certainly hoping for a change of government, and to kick the Tories into oblivion,” he tells the Morning Star.
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