Liverpool Labour Police Striker - The William Smith Story - Linking the Police Strike of 1919 with the Emergence of the Labour Party in Liverpool

Abstract

Shown with Q&A at Fact Gallery Liverpool, Working Class Movement Library, Salford and Preston People's Festival.

Artist's statement "Investigating my great grandfather's life uncovered a story that needed to be told, of a strike that 'shook the Empire' and changed policing in England, perhaps more important was making visible the lost and fundamental linkage between the strikers and the development of the Labour party in Liverpool."

In 1919 954 Liverpool policemen were sacked for striking in support of their union, this for many was just the beginning of a long and bitter struggle.

If you know anything about what happened to those involved please contact sbpartridge@uclan.ac.uk or via social media.

Credits:
Paintings by Linda Smith
Music by Liam Ogburn and Paul Birchall
Thank you to the Liverpool archives and the many organisations and individuals who allowed their materials to be used in this non-for-profit film.