Top speakers lined up for Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival

The Radical History School will form part of the festival, celebrating the six Dorset farm workers who fought for workers’ rights in the 19th century.

The school will run from Thursday, July 12, to Saturday, July 14, with the festival continuing until Sunday, July 15.

Organisers have managed to secure a line-up of respected academics and writers to look at the changing nature of the struggle of working people under the banner ‘Paths of Protest’.

Among those speaking will be BBC Newsnight economic editor Paul Mason, who will discuss his new book about global protest, Why It’s All Kicking Off.

He will be joined by authors Louise Raw, who has penned a book on the 1888 matchmakers’ strike, and Owen Jones, who wrote the best-selling book Chavs and regularly appears on Newsnight and Question Time.

Also on the bill is former general secretary of the TUC Lord John Monks.

Event organiser Nigel Costley said: “At a time when we’re seeing growing public unrest about inequalities in our society, it’s appropriate this year’s school looks at how people have fought, and won, campaigns throughout the ages.

“Tolpuddle is seen by many as the birthplace of the trade union movement yet would that have happened without the protests surrounding the Martyrs’ deportation and the campaign for their pardon?”

The Radical History School will include sessions on the general strike, the rise of the shop steward, Captain Swing, unions and the law and organising migrant workers as well as the launch of Mr Costley’s new book about the region’s working heroes, West Country Rebels.

The Tolpuddle Martyr’s Festival has been running since 1934 and, as well as the main rally for trade unionists, also attracts a number of top musical acts.

This year’s festival will recognise the 100th anniversary of the birth of radical US singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie.

For more information and to book a place at the School visit www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk