TUC president and POA leader STEVE GILLAN speaks to Ben Chacko on the eve of Congress 2026
DECEMBER is rarely a time for big protests. The weather is poor and the pressures of a commercial festival are considerable, even more so in another year with Covid concerns.
Yet traditionally Christmas and new year have been times of revolt. When most worked on the land there was little that could be done in the few hours of daylight at this time of year. There was however plenty of time for festivities and revolt.
It was a time of the election of lords of misrule (these were mainly men although in France women also took the role).
MAT COWARD explains how in the 17th century a row over whether to kneel at communion became a battle over religion, class and royal power
MARY DAVIS welcomes a remarkable documentary about the general strike — politically spot on, and featuring accounts from the strikers themselves — that is available for screenings
It’s not just the Starmer regime: the workers of Britain have always faced legal affronts on their right to assemble and dissent, and the Labour Party especially has meddled with our freedoms from its earliest days, writes KEITH FLETT
Once again Tower Hamlets is being targeted by anti-Islam campaigners, this time a revamped and radicalised version of Ukip — the far-right event is now banned by the police, but we’ll be assembling this Saturday to make sure they stay away, says JAYDEE SEAFORTH


