Transport union RMT say they will be joining with Unite, the PCS and UCATT in throwing their full support behind the handing in of a petition with more than 100,000 signatures at 10 Downing Street this afternoon calling for justice for the Shrewsbury Pickets.
The Downing Street delegation will include actor Ricky Tomlinson and Eileen Turnbull from the official “Shrewsbury 24” campaign, Len McLuskey – General Secretary of Unite, Mark Sewotka – General Secretary of PCS, Bob Crow – General Secretary of RMT and Steve Murphy – General Secretary of UCATT. The “Shrewsbury 24” Campaign petition calls for the release of Government documents relating to the 1972 Builders’ Strike and subsequent trials. The petition being handed in 14.00 Downing St.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “It is clear that there was a conspiracy at the highest level in 1972 to blacklist and fit-up trade union activists and it is time for all the papers to be released and for those that were wrongly imprisoned to be given justice at last. RMT is proud to be supporting the campaign for justice for the Shrewsbury Pickets and with more than 100,000 signed up to the petition it is time for David Cameron and his Government to take this shocking miscarriage of justice seriously and to make amends to all those denied their liberty and whose lives have been blighted in the following decades.
The Shrewsbury 24 Campaign have released a copy of a letter from the Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling date 23 November 2012. Which sets out the reasons why the Government can not release the documents. It was sent in response to a request to release government documents relating to the Shrewsbury Trial of 1973/4:
"Thank you for your letter of 8 October on behalf of Mr Terry Renshaw, further to your previous correspondence with Kenneth Clarke about the above trials.
In his previous letter, my predecessor explained that the “security blanket”, under which the few papers not in the public domain about the Shrewsbury Trials were retained, was under review.
On 19 December 2011 Kenneth Clarke signed a new instrument which records that he has given his approval for the retention of records within scope of the exemption provided by section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act. The information relating to the Shrewsbury Trials is covered by this security instrument.
The Instrument replaced two previous security instruments and will be in force until 31 December 2021. Therefore the reasons for not releasing this information given in Kenneth Clarke’s letter of 8 November 2010 remain valid.
The instrument can be found here Notes explaining the instrument can be found here.
As a result, I regret that I cannot meet your request to release the remaining papers relating to this case. I have enclosed a copy of this letter to send to Mr Renshaw should you wish to do so.
Chris Grayling"
