The Tories introduced the 50% strike ballot threshold to make industrial action harder. MATT WRACK argues that a Labour government has no justification for leaving it on the statute book
On April 23 1977 the National Front decided to march from Ducketts Common by Turnpike Lane Tube in north London down a busy London high road packed with Saturday afternoon shoppers.
There were several thousand fascists but they were outnumbered by opponents, including many people out shopping, appalled that fascists were marching on the anniversary of Hitler’s birthday.
It would be bad enough today but this was a mere three decades after the end of the second world war and numbers who had been actively involved in fighting Hitler were no doubt around on that spring day.
Meanwhile, incoming PM Andy Burnham dithers over who should be his Chancellor
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
DAVID HORSLEY reminds us of the roots and staying power of one of the most iconic festivals around


