Marxist. Trade Unionist. Socialist-feminist. Author. Poet. Speaker. Tutor. RMT ex-Exec. Workers' Liberty. Autie. Bi. PUFC fan.
Pages from (or about) the past. Those who do not learn from its mistakes are doomed to repeat them.
Edward lived in Hoxton boxed in Stitching boots digging roots Labouring his load on the neighbouring road to new arrivals migrated for survival from Poland, from Russia to the holy crush of London Under the same sky came together, made … Read More
Also posted on the Workers’ Liberty website here. As 1919 began, working-class people in Britain and many other countries looked forward to leaving the Great War behind them and rebuilding their lives. They expected and demanded a better society than … Read More
Also published on the Workers’ Liberty website here. 1918 had ended with British women voting in a general election for the first time ever. But it was only those aged 30 or over and who met a property qualification who … Read More
This would be the year in which the capitalist state rigorously enforced the role of the police, purging them of rebels, ensuring their loyalty and cutting any link between them and the workers’ movement. The events of 1919 shaped the … Read More
Also published the Workers’ Liberty website here. The stories of 1919 are historic struggles. But mostly, they failed. Even when they succeeded in heading off a particular attack or winning an advance, they did not succeed in remaking society. Imagine … Read More
Also published on the Workers’ Liberty website here. The British left hailed the Russian revolution in 1917. On 18 January 1919 in London, a mass meeting launched the ‘Hands Off Russia’ campaign to oppose British military intervention in support of … Read More
Also published on the Workers’ Liberty website here. 11 November 1918 had been merely an armistice. The war would not be officially over until peace terms had been negotiated. The victorious Allied countries began six months of talks in … Read More
Also published on the Workers’ Liberty website. The ‘Great War’ was finally over. When it had begun in August 1914, the British government predicted that it would be won by Christmas, but it had dragged on for four more years, … Read More
Also published on the Workers’ Liberty website here. After Britain and its Allies had won the war, proclaiming themselves champions of freedom and democracy, the people of its imperial possessions stepped up their democratic demand for some of that … Read More
While workers were angry and willing to fight, too often their anger was aimed at fellow workers of a different colour rather than at the employers and authorities responsible for their exploitation and poverty. Sometimes this occurred in the absence … Read More
Also published on the Workers’ Liberty website, here. With engineers and others taking on the employers, the time was ripe for the other bastions of industrial power – the rail workers, miners and transport workers – to join the fray. The … Read More
A Marxist and trade unionist herself, Booth makes Lansbury a hero of her time and place and of what she sees as a continuing fight for equality. Click here to read the Jewish Chronicle’s review of Minnie Lansbury: suffragette, … Read More
Venue: Nottingham Mechanics Institute This is an all-day event. Janine will be giving an illustrated talk about Minnie Lansbury from 4-5pm. The third Nottingham Radical Bookfair… 30 tables from new and second hand booksellers, publishers and organisations and a full … Read More
Soldier F said he only harmed protesters who held bombs or arms Soldier F had truths to hide The soldier lied Lord Saville said none of the dead had posed a threat but that did not stop Soldier F When … Read More
Venue: Effra Social, 89 Effra Road, London SW2 1DF Come to our next meeting of our monthly socialist feminist reading group, hosted by Workers’ Liberty members – open to all! We’ll be reading chapter 6 of Janine Booth’s new book … Read More
In this three-minute video, Janine introduces the momentous events of 1919.
Janine will be speaking about the life of Minnie Lansbury at a day-long event at Peterborough Town Hall as part of the Peterborough Women’s Festival. The event starts at 11am, with speakers from 1pm.
Janine will be giving an illustrated talk about the life of Minnie Lansbury. Venue: International Community Centre, Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FN This is a members-only event, although it is free to join the Nottingham Women’s History Group! A donation … Read More
Join Janine and other featured writers at LOOSE MUSE – London’s Premiere Women’s Writers Night. On this occasion, Janine will be speaking mainly about her book, ‘Minnie Lansbury – suffragette, socialist, rebel councillor’. Venue: The Sun Pub, 21 Drury Lane … Read More
Venue: Unite House, 8 Castle Quay, Nottingham NG7 1FW Hosted by Nottingham Unite Community, Janine will speak about the life and politics of Minnie Lansbury, with a particular emphasis on her community campaigning. All welcome.