Liverpool: A history of struggle

In 1323 Liverpool built a castle. It was used by Edward III as a staging post for his war on Scotland.

In 1327 it all backfired and the castle was used to shelter them fleeing back from the Scots.

It was knocked down to build a church in 1715 at the same time as Bonnie Prince Charlie’s dad was on a bit of an adventure to take over Scotland again.

Anyway, we won’t hold it against them, other than to mention that Edinburgh (unlike Glasgow) has got a castle - and of course that Liverpool is facing a legal battle over a failed tram thingummy.

So many parallels to draw, eh?

Global city

The city grew from global trade, and sadly also from the profits of slavery just like Scotland’s trading cities.

It became famous in modern times the world over for the Beatles and the other Merseybeat phenomena.

But before that it also grew as a hotbed of working class struggle.
A struggle with international roots as the port became a melting pot for English, Irish, Scots and new Liverpudlians from around the world.

Its Chinatown is the oldest in Britain and the black community can trace its roots back to the 18th century.

The famous dock strikes of 1911 and 1995-98 are well documented.
Liverpool saw a police strike in 1919 and a major role in the 1926 general strike.

The North West also saw great injustice in the building workers’ strike of 1972 that still leaves actor Ricky Tomlinson fighting to clear his name from the conspiracy that unjustly jailed workers like him at the time.

Sadly, the 1980s brought unrest in Toxteth bred out of poverty, racism and marginalisation.

Then there was the controversial period from 1983-87 when the Militant dominated Labour council set an illegal budget against cuts. Nalgo member Derek Hatton was the leader and how the venture imploded is a longer story than we have room for here - other than to say that the union faced enormous and bitter challenges.

And of course, iconic trade union leader Jack Jones hailed from these parts. A man who, as the city’s youngest councillor, went off to Spain in 1937 to fight against fascism in the civil war and spent his long life fighting injustice.

Football

Liverpool is also the home of two iconic football teams that rose out of one.
Everton and Liverpool live across a park from each other and the rivalry is intense. But so is the working class solidarity.

Everton fans stood with Liverpool fans to fight the 23 year insult to working class people of establishment lies and demonisation following the deaths of 96 innocent supporters in the Hillsborough tragedy.

Eating out

In recent years Liverpool has seen a huge transformation, especially in the Waterfront area where the Conference will be held.

Bars and restaurants are all nearby but venture inland for a wider variety. We’ll be seeking some recommendations from our North West colleagues.

Scouse

And you can’t go without tasting Scouse - the dish the Scousers are named after - or vice versa.

Many variations are to be found of this warming stew. No further comment is wise from a nation that has sheep’s innards and turnips as its national dish.

Liverpool is also famous for Steve Gray from the Aberdeenshire Branch. After many years in the land of the North East, he has kept the strongest Merseyside accent you’ll hear at Conference.

So much so that some hearing him announce himself at Scottish Council as ‘Steve Gray, Aberdeenshire Branch’, think that Scouse is the Doric.