A Very British Conspiracy: The Shrewsbury 24 and the Campaign for Justice

A Very British Conspiracy: The Shrewsbury 24 and the Campaign for Justice by Eileen Turnbull In 1972, a group of North Wales building workers were put on trial for picketing-related offences during the first and only national building workers strike in Britain. The trial had a profound impact on the workers and their families, and it also marked a turning point in the decline of trade unionism in the building industry. This book uncovers the story of the Shrewsbury 24, a group of workers wrongly prosecuted by the state, and the campaign that followed their conviction. Newly available documents reveal the careful planning of the prosecution, and the secrecy surrounding the actions of the police and the government during the five months leading up to the trial. The book also explores how the state used the criminal justice system to halt effective picketing by workers during industrial disputes. The story of the Shrewsbury 24 is one of injustice, but also of perseverance and the power of the human spirit. In 2021, the appeal against the convictions of the Shrewsbury 24 was finally successful, bringing closure to the families of the wrongly convicted workers. This book is a powerful examination of a pivotal moment in British history, and a testament to the enduring fight for justice and workers' rights.