PCS general secretary FRAN HEATHCOTE explains why opposing war is inseparable from defending jobs, wages and public services – and why readers should come to the London Peace Conference on Saturday June 20
THE Labour Representation Committee (LRC) was formed in 1900 to secure parliamentary representation for working people: “labour.” Its aim was not to form a majority Labour government — such a matter was unthought of at the time.
Twenty-nine MPs were elected under the LRC banner in 1906 and the Parliamentary Labour Party was formed. The vote for who should lead it was tied on the first round and on a subsequent vote Independent Labour Party member Keir Hardie just edged ahead.
Naturally there was a good deal of interest in who the 29 Labour members were.
Labour movement history in Britain shows workers secured reforms through collective pressure and political representation, rather than being gifted from above, writes KEITH FLETT
JOHN REES replies to Claudia Webbe
KENNY MacASKILL reminds us of the unprecedented political career of a Scottish miner’s militant son who stayed the course and true to his roots
As the labour movement meets to remember the Tolpuddle Martyrs, MICK WHELAN, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, says it’s an appropriate moment to remind the Labour government to listen to the trade unions a little more


