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A shocking conspiracy

Shrewsbury 24 campaigners hand petition in to Downing St

Shrewsbury 24 justice campaigners alerted MPs to "shocking" new evidence of a vicious conspiracy by the state machine against innocent trade unionists yesterday.

And trade union leaders warned that success in the battle to clear the Shrewsbury pickets is vital if the murky anti-union activities of today's secret police are to be curbed.

Campaign activists led by actor and former imprisoned Shrewsbury picket Ricky Tomlinson went to Downing Street, nerve centre of the Establishment plot against innocent building workers 40 years ago.

Parliamentary terrier Tom Watson joined the delegation of leading trade unionists and MPs.

Mr Watson expressed anger at recently unearthed documents showing that "the political campaign against these workers was directed from the very heart of No 10 Downing Street."

In a major breakthrough, MPs are set to hold a full-scale debate next month on the plot which put six pickets in jail and convicted 18 others using the 1875 Conspiracy Act.

With a hefty rap on the door of No 10, Mr Tomlinson delivered a 100,000-strong petition calling for the release of all official documents relating to the prosecution of the Shrewsbury pickets.

Nearly all the documents are being held in secret at the National Archives on the grounds of "national security." Government ministers say this decision will not be reviewed until 2021.

Earlier, campaign activists cheered a typically witty and emotional speech by Mr Tomlinson.

But he broke down with emotion when he spoke of his former fellow prisoner Des Warren, whose health was destroyed in jail and who eventually died in 2004.

Mr Tomlinson was flanked by campaign worker Eileen Turnbull, who has uncovered "mind-boggling" evidence of the activities of Britain's secret state against the Shrewsbury pickets.

Following a relentless trawl of the archives, Ms Turnbull said she had unearthed documents which "link the Cabinet with the police and the judiciary."

She added: "There was a secret unit at the time called the Information Research Department, set up to infiltrate and arrange surveillance of trade unions and trade unionists."

Her evidence has been forwarded to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to back campaigners' demands that the Shrewsbury convictions must be overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Also on the delegation to No 10 yesterday were Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, construction union Ucatt general secretary Steve Murphy and rail union RMT leader Bob Crow.

Mr McCluskey pledged: "No matter how long it takes, and no matter how much it costs, the full resources of Unite will be placed at the disposal of this campaign."

Mr Murphy hailed the presentation of the petition as "a historic day."

Mr Crow pointed out that blacklisting reached way beyond the construction industry, mentioning the recent exposure of a National Express file on one of his union's officials.

He warned: "There was a special unit in the 1970s, reporting directly to the Prime Minister, that smeared trade unionists.

"That unit is still there but continues under another name."

MPs joining the Downing Street delegation yesterday were John McDonnell, David Anderson, Steve Rotheram, Katy Clark and Grahame Morris.

TUC assistant general secretary Paul Nowack and film-maker Ken Loach also pledged full support to the Shrewbury 24 campaign yesterday.

Mr Nowack said the Shrewsbury pickets case resonated 40 years later with today's government "demonisation of trade union members and activists."

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