Billy Bragg in 2004.

The Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival is an annual free festival held in Dorset, England, which celebrate the memory of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. The event is a celebration of trade unionism and labour politics organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and featuring a parade of banners from many trade unions, a memorial service, speeches and music. The festival is usually held in the third week of July. Image File history File linksMetadata Tolpuddle_martyrs_festival. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Tolpuddle_martyrs_festival. ... For other uses, see Dorset (disambiguation). ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi   - Water (%) Population... The Tolpuddle Martyrs were a group of 19th century British labourers led by John Barnwell who were arrested for and convicted of swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Image:TradeUnionsCongress20050108 CopyrightKaihsuTai. ...

The main festival events are held outside the Martyrs' Museum on the western edge of the village. The main speeches and performances take place on a small stage in front of the museum, with audience space on the green. The adjacent field, as well as having camping space, has a marquee, Workers Beer Company bar and merchandise stalls. The Workers Beer Company (WBC) is a British-Irish organisation which runs temporary bars at events and festivals in Europe. ...

Recent festivals have featured speakers including politicians Tony Benn, Dennis Skinner, Jim Knight and Estelle Morris, British trade union leaders and many union organisers from around the world, especially countries where organising unions is difficult, such as Iraq and Colombia. Musicians include Billy Bragg, now an annual fixture, Dick Gaughan and David Rovics^[1] Tony Benn about to join March 2005 anti-war demo in London Anthony Neil Wedgwood Benn (born April 3, 1925), known as Tony Benn, formerly 2nd Viscount Stansgate, is a British politician on the left of the Labour Party. ... Dennis Edward Skinner (born February 11, 1932, Clay Cross) is a British politician, and Labour Member of Parliament for Bolsover since 1970. ... James Knight known as Jim Knight (born 6 March 1965, Bexley) is a British politician who has been a Member of Parliament since 2001. ... Estelle Morris, Baroness Morris of Yardley, PC (born 1952) is an English Labour politician and member of the House of Lords. ... Stephen William Bragg (born December 20, 1957), known as Billy Bragg, is a British musician known for his blend of folk, punk-rock, and protest music, and his poetic lyrics dealing with political as well as romantic themes. ... Dick Gaughan is a Scottish singer-songwriter. ... David Rovics sings at the A16 rally in Washington DC in early 2005. ...

References

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ...

External Links

• Martyrs' Museum

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