Kmflett's Blog

Thd Durham Miners Gala dates back to 1871 and July 11th marks the 140th Big Meeting.

It’s been seen down the decades as a rather right wing Labourist occasion with typically not much fun or politics. Politics there were- the famous Lenin banner and the Little Moscows

Even so an account by Tony Benn of an early 1960s gala breakfast with Harold Wilson , Frank Cousins and himself gives a flavour. They receive the miners lodges from the balcony of the County Hotel.

Those days are gone and the Gala has been reinvented as a community based day this year with a focus on celebrating trade union collectivism, community spirit and international solidarity. Keir Starmer presumably breakfasted elsewhere but maybe in future Andy Burnham will put this great northern occasion once again at the centre of national labour politics and culture