Marxist. Trade Unionist. Socialist-feminist. Author. Poet. Speaker. Tutor. RMT ex-Exec. Workers' Liberty. Autie. Bi. PUFC fan.
The 1921 rebellion in Poplar, east London, when thirty Labour councillors went to prison rather than cut services or increase rates.
Janine will tell the story of one of Holloway prison’s former residents at this event to mark the seventh anniversary of the prison’s closure and promote proposals for a progressive Women’s Building in its place. Venue: entrance to HMP Holloway, … Read more
… and why it matters today By Janine Booth, published in RMT News. The two biggest employers in the east London borough of Poplar one hundred years were the railways and the docks. Our forerunner unions had plenty of members … Read more
In 2011, Janine spoke at an event hosted (and filmed) by Reel News, about the Poplar Rates Rebellion.
This information panel (picture), written by Janine, has been posted by Tower Hamlets Council to accompany the newly-renovated Hale Street mural, which pays tribute to the Poplar councillors. The text is below. After the ‘Great War’, London’s East Enders lived … Read more
At 3pm, Janine speaks on a panel about Minnie Lansbury and the Poplar rates rebellion in a seminar taking place immediately before the premiere of a new play on this subject at 5pm. Venue: RADA Studios, 16 Chenies Street, London … Read more
Today (1 September 2021) is the centenary of the first arrests of Poplar’s rebel councillors. More about this auspicious occasion and its relevance today in my article on Labour Hub.
A century ago, in August 1921, Labour Councillor Jack Wooster told crowds demonstrating in support of Poplar’s rebel councillors that “Sympathy without relief [the name back then for welfare benefits] is like mustard without beef”. —- Sympathy without relief is … Read more
One hundred years ago, a big movement grew in the east London borough of Poplar, headed by thirty councillors who went to prison rather than levy extortionate rates or cut services to the working-class population that elected them. ‘Poplarism’ won. … Read more
Published in Solidarity 588, 14 April 2021 Long before ‘Black Friday’ became the name for the first day of the Christmas shopping season, it was the name that the labour movement gave to the day on which trade union leaders … Read more
– a discussion and comparison of and commentary on tactics then and now – 1921 and 2021 One hundred years ago, the Labour council of the east London Borough of Poplar went to prison rather than inflict cuts or rate … Read more
How did Labour win big in the local elections after the First World War, and why did this lead to the rates crisis in Poplar in 1921? About this Event Before 1919 Labour had but a toe-hold in local government … Read more
Published by Women’s Fightback 25, Winter/Spring 2021 Our story is set just after the first world war in Poplar, an east London borough with a population of 160,000 people crammed into the docklands in the bend of the River Thames … Read more
Janine gave this illustrated online talk about the Poplar Rates Rebellion for the TUC Tolpuddle Radical History School on 12 January 2021.
Janine Booth tells the story of a working-class borough’s fightback against austerity and thirty councillors who went to prison for refusing to levy rates that their citizens could not afford to pay. Celebrate the centenary of an inspiring struggle which … Read more
Five Leaves bookshop, publisher of Janine’s biography of Minnie Lansbury, interviews Janine about writing, lockdown, politics, motivation and lots more. Warning: may contain book extracts and poetry.
Janine tells the story of Minnie Lansbury, suffragette, socialist and rebel councillor. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. An online meeting using the Zoom platform. Zoomlink here. Facebook event.
Talking about my political hero and subject of my biography, Minnie Lansbury: suffragette, socialist, rebel councillor. To invite Janine to speak about Minnie, email [email protected].
Part of the Write Idea weekend. Details to follow.
Venue: New Cross Learning, 283-285 New Cross Rd, New Cross, London SE14 6AS Janine will be giving an illustrated talk about Minnie Lansbury. Copies of her biography of Minnie will be on sale at the reduced price of £10 per copy.
Venue: Wyre Room, St Georges Hall, Load Street, Bewdley, DY12 2EQ Janine will give an illustrated talk about the life of Minnie Lansbury. Copies of her biography of Minnie will be available to buy at the reduced price of £10 … Read more