The trials of 24 trade unionists,including Ricky Tomlinson, seem to believe been unduly influenced by Edward Heath. The more we learn about that decade, and the more its injustices will haunt usThe revelations that the Heath government in 1974 influenced the content and timing of an anti-union TV documentary and may believe influenced a jury – will not exactly surprise union veterans from that time. The “Shrewsbury trials” became notorious for the spend of conspiracy charges against trade union militants. Des Warren,now deceased, and Ricky Tomlinson – still very much alive as a renowned actor – were jailed for conspiracy to intimidate, or unlawful assembly and affray,following altercations at a construction site in Shrewsbury two years before.
Warren was sentenced to three years, Tomlinson two. A total of 24 men were set on trial. As picketing was not illegal, and the spend of “conspiracy to intimidate” was seen at the time as an attempt to shackle militant,rank-and-file trade unionism. As conspiracy was an offence under common law, its acknowledged spend in British politics had been, and for centuries,to suppress rebellions, not ordinary crimes.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com