Last Monday, I had the enormous privilege of taking descendants of the Jarrow marchers to 10 Downing Street to meet our prime minister, Andy Burnham, 90 years after their ancestors made the long journey from Jarrow to London. We brought with us the original wooden petition box carried by the marchers in 1936, along with a copy of their historic petition.
For me, as Jarrow’s member of parliament and the successor to Ellen Wilkinson, it was the highlight of an extraordinary few weeks commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade.
Back in October 1936, 200 unemployed men set off on a 300-mile journey to London. Their town had been devastated by the closure of Palmer’s shipyard; unemployment was rife, and families were struggling to put food on the table. They weren’t asking for the world: they wanted jobs and the chance to provide a decent life for their families.
They walked all that way, only to be denied the meeting with the prime minister they had hoped for. Ninety years later, I was determined that their descendants would receive the welcome their ancestors deserved.
And what a welcome it was! The families were invited inside Number 10, where the prime minister sat down with them over a cup of tea, listened to their stories and received a copy of that original petition. It was a wonderful, emotional occasion, and I was incredibly proud to help make it happen.
But the commemorations have been about much more than that one day. Throughout this year, I’ve wanted to make sure the story of the Jarrow March reaches a new generation, particularly young people.
We’ve developed education packs for schools, working with Jarrow School, organised a poetry competition for young people across Jarrow and Gateshead East, and I’ve published a commemorative book featuring historic photographs, some never seen before, alongside the fantastic poems written by our competition winners.
I’ve also had the privilege of speaking at a special anniversary service at Christ Church in Jarrow, unveiling a plaque celebrating our shipbuilding heritage at Balaena Tyne, and organising an exhibition and reception in parliament, bringing together descendants, local people and colleagues from across the political spectrum.
It’s been quite a busy October!
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most has been hearing the family stories passed down through generations. The Jarrow March might be famous across the country, but for people in Jarrow it is a deeply personal part of our history. These were ordinary working men who decided they couldn’t simply accept what was happening to their town.
That’s also why I was so keen to secure a Westminster Hall debate last week. I wanted to put the courage of those 200 men, their experiences and the challenges Jarrow still faces firmly on the parliamentary record.
Ninety years ago, my predecessor Ellen Wilkinson stood up in parliament and spoke passionately about the poverty and unemployment facing her constituents. I felt it was important to follow in her footsteps and make sure the lessons of the March were heard in Westminster once again.
Because while a great deal has changed since 1936, too many families are still struggling to make ends meet, and too many communities have gone without the investment and opportunities they deserve.
I’m proud of what this Labour government is doing, from strengthening workers’ rights through the Employment Rights Act to investing in shipbuilding and delivering £20 million through Pride in Place to support Jarrow’s future.
But there’s still plenty more to do. I speak to constituents every week who are worried about their jobs, struggling with the cost of living or simply trying to give their children a better start in life. Their experiences should be shaping the decisions we make in Parliament.
As we look towards the centenary of the March in 2036, I want its legacy to inspire what happens next in Jarrow.
For me, that’s what these commemorations have been all about: remembering those who stood up for our town, celebrating the community spirit that still exists today, and making sure the next generation has the opportunities those men walked 300 miles to demand.
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