John McDonnell to speak at Blacklist Support Group (BSG) meeting!

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, John McDonnell MP is the confirmed speaker at the Blacklist Support Group parliamentary meeting

6pm Monday 7th December

Boothroyd Room

Portcullis House

Westminster

(turn left outside Westminster tube)

This parliamentary meeting takes place on the same day as the blacklisting group litigation involving around 700 blacklisted workers against 40 of the UK's largest construction firms returns to the High Court in the first hearing since the companies admitted their guilt and apologised. This is also the first public event since the Blacklist Support Group and a number of blacklisted union activists were granted 'core participant' status in the Pitchford public inquiry into undercover policing.

John McDonnell was a founder member of the Blacklist Support Group and has spoken at numerous events organised by the justice campaign since 2009, this will be his first appearance on a blacklisting platform since his appointment as Shadow Chancellor by Jeremy Corbyn.

Also speaking at the event are:

Helen Steel - blacklisted environmental activist and one of the women activists who has recently won an apology from the Met Police for the abuse they suffered by undercover police officers.

Chris Stephens MP - SNP trade union coordinator in Westminster - will be speaking at the same time as the Scottish government is under pressure to call a public inquiry into undercover police spying on unions and social justice campaigns in Scotland.

John Hendy QC - the human rights lawyer who has been representing blacklisted workers for decades with cases lodged at the European Court of Human Rights

Scores of blacklisted workers will be present at the meeting for media photos and interviews.

Early morning photo opportunity:

9am - assemble outside the Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand