THE CAMPAIGN to expose the Establishment stich-up of the Shrewsbury pickets won influential support yesterday from deputy Labour leader Tom Watson.

Dogged Mr Watson has previously used his position as an MP to take on press barons over media standards and raise the alarm over the existence of a Westminster paedophile ring, winning independent inquiries in both cases.

Now he has backed demands for the government to throw open files which could overturn convictions against 24 building workers, including actor Ricky Tomlinson, relating to a 1972 builders’ strike over pay and safety.