Ricky Tomlinson angry at 'lies' in flying pickets case
Royle Family actor Ricky Tomlinson has accused the Government of 'bare-faced lies' for refusing to release documents relating to the Shrewsbury pickets' case on the grounds of national security.
The TV star said he felt 'ill and angry' relevant paperwork has been marked as top secret. Mr Tomlinson was one of the workers imprisoned in 1973 in connection with a building workers' industrial dispute.
He joined politicians, union leaders and film director Ken Loach yesterday to call for paperwork on the case to be published.
Mr Tomlinson said there had been a 'significant cover-up' and said action needed to be taken.
Calls have also been made for a parliamentary inquiry to be held into the case.
The Government has told surviving members of the so-called 'Shrewsbury 24' that documents relating to the case will be withheld for a further 10 years. The ban will be reviewed again in 2021.
Campaigners have been fighting to clear their names for 40 years and claim the convictions were a politically-motivated miscarriage of justice.
The Shrewsbury 24 were arrested and charged under the 1875 Conspiracy Act, with six sent to prison.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said there had been a 'web of secrecy' from the Government.
"If Ricky Tomlinson is a threat to national security, then every decent working man and woman in the country is a threat," he said.
"We back the call for a parliamentary inquiry and the release of these papers."
Len McCluskey, leader of Unite, said previous Labour governments, including those led by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, had 'betrayed' the Shrewsbury 24 by refusing to release the papers.
See also - Letter: Secrecy on flying pickets case is misplaced
