Shrewsbury 24 Campaign Judicial Review gets green light to proceed

Tuesday 04 December 2018

Circular No. National Policy NP/257/18

To the Secretary’s all Branches and Regional Council’s

Dear Colleagues,

SHREWSBURY 24 CAMPAIGN JUDICIAL REVIEW GETS GREEN LIGHT TO PROCEED

RMT have long supported the official campaign which seeks to overturn the unjust prosecution of 24 building workers following the first ever national building workers strike in 1972. They picketed building sites in Shrewsbury and were prosecuted in 1973. They became known as the ‘Shrewsbury 24’. For many years the campaign has been seeking a Judicial Review of the case.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) opposed their application and it was allocated to the Administrative Court in Birmingham to decide. The case was considered on the papers by a single judge who decided not to give permission for the application to go forwards to a full judicial review hearing. This was a tremendous setback for the campaign, and not one they had been anticipated due to the strength of the case. The campaign then raised funds to challenge this decision at an oral hearing in open court. That application was heard in Birmingham on Friday 9th November before a different judge, Mr Justice Jay.

It is excellent news to report that the judge, after listening to the submissions of the campaigns counsel, Danny Friedman QC, granted permission for the case to proceed to a full judicial review hearing.

The full merits hearing of the judicial review application will be listed for two days and is likely to be heard in April or May 2019 before two judges.

This will be the first time that the case of the Shrewsbury pickets has been before a court since 1974 and it is the first time that they have achieved a success. This is a momentous victory for their case after campaigning for the past twelve years to overturn this gross miscarriage of justice.

The campaign will need all the support it can get before the next hearings. Branches are encouraged to affiliate to the campaign (if not already affiliated) and details can be found here along with any other information you may require about their work.
https://www.shrewsbury24campaign.org.uk/how-to-support-us/#affiliation

Please do all you can to support this important campaign.

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash
General Secretary