Talking about Poplar and Cuts

Janine Booth (c'est moi), author of 'Guilty and Proud of it', will be giving an illustrated talk on the Poplar Council rates rebellion of 1921, when socialist councillors went to prison in a successful fight against cuts imposed by a Tory-Liberal coalition government. Jon Rogers, Lambeth Unison, will also be speaking about the prospects for fighting local government cuts today.

This Saturday, 25 September, 5pm, Housman's bookshop, King's Cross.

Details here for details.

We've Been Here Before ...

There is an economic crisis. There is a Tory-Liberal coalition government. Big spending cuts are coming, and local government is going to feel the squeeze. Labour councils will have to choose between resisting the cuts and passing them on to local people. In one working-class area at least, the labour movement and the community are ready to fight back - and win.

It's a true story from 1921, which needs re-telling in the similar times of 2010.
And the spooky similarities mean that it is high time to plug my book again, and to remind you that I am available to give talks on this subject, together with a slide slow featuring contemporary photographs....

'GUILTY AND PROUD OF IT! POPLAR'S REBEL COUNCILLORS AND GUARDIANS 1919-25
By Janine Booth
With foreword by John McDonnell MP

"The book is especially good at bringing to light many of the lesser known characters in the struggle. It also reflects critically on the lessons of Poplar, which still resonate today." Labour Research

"This book is not only an incisive study of past events, it is a handbook for present struggles." John McDonnell MP

Buy the book here.

Another Chance to See Me Talk About My Book!

Janine Booth gives a presentation about her new book, Guilty and Proud of it! Poplar's rebel councillors and guardians 1919-1925.

Wednesday 4 November, 7pm
Venue: Pages of Hackney bookshop, 70 Lower Clapton Road
Sponsored by Hackney TUC

Free entry. Refreshments provided. The book will be on sale at this event at the reduced price of £10 (RRP £12.95)

Please email Eleanor at Pages of Hackney to book your seat.

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In the aftermath of the First World War, thirty Labour councillors went to prison rather than accepting an unfair funding system. With unemployment rising in 1921, Poplar Borough Council could not help provide relief drawing only on the limited wealth of one poor London borough.

Poplar councillors, including future Labour leader George Lansbury, demanded that rates from richer areas should help. So Poplar refused to pay over rates to the London County Council, and thus began the Poplar Revolt. In contrast, Hackney Council - led by Herbert Morrison - refused to confront the law and insisted on remaining 'respectable'.

This book tells the story of the support mobilised by Poplar Council, beginning when newly-enfranchised working-class voters elected Labour to run the Council in 1919. For the next two years, it improved life for Poplar residents, coming into ever-increasing conflict with the central authorities and the local government funding system. The crisis came in 1921, when Poplar Council refused to levy a portion of its rates.

Poplar's fight took its Councillors to prison in September 1921. After six weeks, the courts released them from prison and the government changed the law to redistribute funding from richer to poorer boroughs: they had won!

With local councils today once again preparing to cut services and/or increase rents and charges, this book - and this event - tells a story that is very relevant and inspiring today.

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The author is the former President of Hackney TUC, and Secretary of RMT's London Transport Regional Council.

Come And Hear Me Talk About My Book!

And wish me a happy birthday too ...

Radical History Network of NE London, c/o PO Box 45155, London N15 4RW

Radicalhistorynetwork.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
celebrate our history, avoid repeating our mistakes”

Janine Booth speaks on her book
"Guilty and Proud of it!: Poplar's rebel councillors and guardians 1919-1925"
[on sale at this event at £10.00]

Wednesday 21 October at 8pm

Venue: the Postmen's Office at the North London Community House. Its address is 22 Moorefield Road, London N17. The venue is almost next to Bruce Grove British Rail Station, where Bruce Grove meets the High Road in Tottenham.

'Guilty and Proud of it': latest book news

Thank you to Christine Shawcroft, herself a former Poplar councillor, who has written an enthusiastic and praise-ful review of my book in Labour Briefing. I can't provide a link, as Briefing appears not to have a functioning website at present (someone please correct me if I am wrong), but Christine's final sentence is both highly complimentary and shows that she really gets the point of 'Guilty and Proud of it': This whole book is a magnificent rebuttal of the excuse that the old fights are somehow no longer relevant to us, or that the old battles have now been won.

A very nice chap by the name of John Leach - apparently the President of RMT - has posted an excellent review on Amazon.

Left-Wing Criminologist gives qualified praise, prompting a discussion in the comments box between him/her and me, covering - amongst other things - to what extent Militant's leadership of Liverpool City Council in the 1980s is comparable to the Poplar struggle of the 1920s.

The Hackney Gazette published a rather sweet article about my stoicism in writing a book while recovering from losing my eye. The article in the printed paper is longer than the linked article on the website, and it does cover the politics as well as the personal angle!

Forthcoming talks/presentations by my good self about the Poplar rates rebellion include:

• Sunday 13 September, 7pm: Hackney Solidarity Network film night, MOTH club, Valette Street, Hackney
  
• Wednesday 21 October, 8pm: Radical History Network meeting, North London Community House: 22 Moorfield Road, London N17 (just around the corner from Bruce Grove British Rail Station, where Bruce Grove meets the High Road in Tottenham).
  
• Thursday 22 October, 7pm: Pages of Hackney bookshop, Lower Clapton Road

'Guilty and Proud of it': update on my book

I'm well chuffed this morning to find that my book, 'Guilty and Proud of it', is 'Book of the week' on the Spartacus Educational website - look, right there on the front page. Having dipped into it several times myself, I am under the impression that Spartacus is a very widely-read site, and it is certainly stuffed full with historical info, so being the Book of the week could very well be a big deal.

The book is now 139,256th best seller on Amazon - up from 161,554th a couple of days ago, so is obviously on a run! It keeps popping in and out of the top 100 bestselling books about London.

If you have read 'Guilty and Proud of it', by all means post a review on Amazon, or on the various other websites that feature the book and have a review facility, including Well Red, Housman's, Waterstones, Review Scout, or various others.

Meanwhile, the East London Advertiser ran a story about the book last week, but although it pops up on a Google search, but when I click the link, I just get a spinning 'P' thing. Obviously something technical.

Hackney readers can expect to see an article about the book in tomorrow's issue of the Gazette (no promises though!).

I will be giving several talks about the Poplar rebellion over the next few months. Confirmed dates are:

• Sunday 13 September, 7pm, MOTH club, Valette Street, Hackney (map here) - as part of Hackney Solidarity Netowrk's monthly film night
  
• Thursday 22 October, 7pm, Pages of Hackney bookshop, Lower Clapton Road - venue details here

My talk includes a PowerPoint presentation of contemporary photos and facts, a 1921 Topical Budget newsreel clip of the councillors about to be arrested, all in front of a backdrop of a replica of the Poplar councillors' banner, made for me by the marvellous banner-maker Ed Hall.

I'll also being giving the presentation at the North-East London Radical History Network on an as-yet-unconfirmed date, and some other appearances are in the pipeline too. If you would like me to give a presentation at your group's meeting, or would like to organise an event in your neck of the woods, please e-mail me.

Oh, and Luke Akehurst managed to describe 'Guilty and Proud of it' as "rather well-written", despite being credited on the first page as the Hackney councillor whose defence of cuts partly inspired the book!

"GUILTY AND PROUD OF IT!" - Janine's book launch

Last Wednesday I went along to the launch of Janine's book, "GUILTY AND PROUD OF IT - POPLAR'S REBEL COUNCILLORS AND GUARDIANS 1919-25. "

It was hosted by Thompson's . There was a mix of Janine's family, John McDonnell, Bob Crow, some Lansbury's , comrades in the RMT and myself and Dave from the blogosphere.

I got there a little late and so caught the end of the solicitor from Thompson's introducing the book and mentioning Stroppyblog, which also gets a mention on the back cover:-)

John, who wrote the forward, spoke and emphasised that Janine not only detailed the story but made the connections with  today and the lessons to be learned. Janine then gave an overview of the story, complete with PowerPoint, ably assisted by her son Alex.

I filmed John and Janine speaking. Apologies as its not great as I was a bit too far away, so you can't see the pics on the PowerPoint. Bob Crow also spoke, but my arm was getting tired holding the mobile, so no film of him.

It was a good night and after the launch myself, Dave and Janine met up with Clive in a pub to carry on the celebrations.

I have a copy of the book and its on my to read pile. Check out John and Janine below , for a feel for the book. It sounds very relevant and interesting. Well done to Janine for her hard work !

Below videos. Again , apologies as the sound is low and filmed from standing at the back. It might also be a bit wobbly, but my arm was getting tired !

John McDonnell:

Janine :

The book can be ordered here.

First online article about my book

Here, on The Wharf website. It should also appear in their newspaper.

Hot Off The Press: My Book!

Buy it here.

And here is the official blurb ...

GUILTY AND PROUD OF IT - POPLAR'S REBEL COUNCILLORS AND GUARDIANS 1919-25
by Janine Booth

In the aftermath of the First World War, thirty Labour councillors went to prison rather than accepting inequitable taxes. With unemployment rising in 1921 in Bow, Limehouse, Millwall and Old Ford, Poplar Borough Council could not help provide relief drawing only on the limited wealth of one poor London borough. Poplar councillors, including future Labour leader George Lansbury, demanded that rates from richer areas should help. Rich Kensington had a hugely greater rateable value and far fewer jobless people: it could afford to pay more. So Poplar refused to pay over rates to the London County Council, and thus began the Poplar Revolt.

Drawing on archive research and on newspaper reports, this book tells the story of the support mobilised by Poplar Council. The story begins when newly-enfranchised working-class voters elected Labour to run the Council in 1919. For the next two years, it improved life for Poplar residents, coming into ever-increasing conflict with the central authorities and the local government funding system. The crisis came in 1921, when Poplar Council refused to levy a portion of its rates. Poplar's fight took its Councillors to prison in September 1921. After six weeks, the courts released them from prison and the government changed the law to redistribute funding from richer to poorer boroughs: they had won! Over the following years, they continued to battle, but lost momentum. The book ends with a survey of outcomes and considers how this story has meaning today.

"In the 1920s, Poplar's Councillors and Guardians chose to fight. Had they chosen differently, we would not even remember them."

Contemporary black and white photos 234x156 mm; 213pp, Pbk ISBN
978 0 85036 694 5 GB Pounds 12.95

Oh, and there's a great foreword by John McDonnell.

Writers' Headache

I didn't know this until this week, but could I assure any of you out there who are interested that by far the most torturous, time-consuming and frankly very difficult tasks in writing a book is ... compiling the index. Jeez.

If any Stroppyblog readers have any experience in this area and want to offer some tips, please feel free.

Explains the blogging famine, though.