Murdoch’s Boot Boys
Twenty five years ago Wapping was flooded with police officers to protect the business interests of News International. The plan was to ensure the success of Rupert Murdoch’s decision to move his newspaper empire and defeat the unions representing workers who were sacked.
Demonstrators on Commercial Road, 1986
There has always been a close relationship between the Metropolitan Police and News International. In 1986 the police were deployed to undermine pickets and demonstrators and ensure that the lorries carrying the Sun and The News of The World were unhindered.
Demonstrators on Commercial Road, 1986
The police operation caused huge problems for local residents who organised a demonstration following the death of Michael Delaney who was killed when he was struck by a TNT lorry from News International. There was no prosecution following the death of Michael.
Police film crew following the demonstration, 1986
All the demonstrators were filmed for the police and the gentlemen above on the right decided to smile when I took his photograph.
Brilliant stuff as ever Phil – and a timely reminder.
I was arrested and stitched up – having to accept lesser charges for a minimal offence (I did nothing in practice) as a way of avoiding a gaol sentence for a trumped up serious charge. The result being I was done for something – as were many others in the same way – so the coppers could claim they were right to arrest us in the first place.
One of my uncles lost his pension after working his entire life – robbed by Maxwell. Another lost his job – destroyed by Murdoch.
Some retribution for the printmakers as NoW crashes. The scab journalists Nigella and Toby did quite well, and the 200 people given the chop today will never compensate for the thousands thrown on the streets in 1980s. And what did the police then – the same as today …tried to cover their tracks … and got paid for it by the Murdoch empire.
Stop buying Murdoch papers – don’t subscribe to Sky! just like the people in Liverpool who still today boycott Sun newspaper after Hillsborough..
Hi Margaret,
Yes I do have a few more ..
Phil