30,000 sign Ricky Tomlinson's pickets campaign petition
Nearly 30,000 people have signed an online petition started by Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson calling for the publication of all Government documents linked to the notorious 1970s builders' dispute in Shrewsbury.
The campaign for the release of the documents related to the Shrewsbury 24 picketing case has now got 29,357 signatures on the internet. But time is running out for campaigners.
A total of 100,000 signatures are needed for the matter to be discussed in the House of Commons and the deadline for collecting names falls on June 27.
Last month, campaigners launched a paper petition to run alongside the online effort after claiming the Downing Street website was 'not properly recording all the signatures of supporters who have signed Ricky Tomlinson's e-petition'.
But the Government has said there is 'no basis' to claims signatures were not being recorded.
Mr Tomlinson was one of 24 building workers arrested and charged under the 1875 Conspiracy Act, with six, including Mr Tomlinson, sent to prison in the early 1970s.
The picketing in Shrewsbury was part of a national builders' strike which saw more than 300,000 workers down their tools in 1972.
In January, the actor held a press conference in London in which he accused the Government of 'bare-faced lies' for refusing to release documents relating to the Shrewsbury pickets' case on the grounds of national security. The TV star said he felt 'ill and angry' relevant paperwork has been marked as top secret.
His campaign has been backed by the likes of film director Ken Loach and musician Billy Bragg.
A statement from the Government has been added to the bottom of the petition. "The administration of signatures is automated and not subject to any form of interference, while no evidence has been provided to show that there are any issues with the site that prevent signatures from being added to this or any other e-petition," it says.
