90th anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade

Motion Text

That this House commemorates with pride the 90th anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade; commends the 200 proud and courageous marchers who set off from Jarrow for London on 5 October 1936 to deliver their petition to Parliament; recognises that the marchers sought to be seen as orderly, responsible and dignified people who deserved the right to work and to provide for their families; acknowledges the hardship and deprivation endured by the people of Jarrow during the Great Depression; further recognises the extraordinary pride, solidarity and togetherness which the Crusade inspired and which remain central to the town’s identity today; pays tribute to the people of Jarrow and the town’s Member of Parliament Ellen Wilkinson, who united in a determined and peaceful effort to demand that the authorities listen to their community; regrets that Parliament and the Government of the day failed to respond positively to the marchers’ plea for employment and did not treat their cause with the respect it deserved; celebrates the 290-mile march as a powerful symbol of community strength, dignity and determination in the face of adversity; and further pays tribute to the enduring legacy of the Jarrow Crusade, which continues to inspire pride in Jarrow and has secured the town a lasting place in the history of social justice and the fight for the right to work.