The items on this page relate to past events and articles and are stored for reference, just in case they are of use to readers. There was a lot of material generated during the 2021 Rates Rebellion Centenary celebrations.
For information about current events please go to The Trust page.
The Benn Legacy Conference 12 -13th April 2025
A conference on Benn’s legacy of Inclusivity & Change held at the University of Westminster
An event held to coincide with the centenary of Tony Benn's birth. The opening session featuring Melissa Benn in conversation with Jeremy Corbyn and Yanis Varoufakis about her father’s life and political legacy, was recorded and is now available on YouTube. It can be seen and heard below using the YouTube player. The discussion is introduced by Professor Pippa Cattrell from the University of Westminster and the George Lansbury Memorial Trust.
Hear Nigel Whiskin, George Lansbury's grandson, talk about his grandfather...
In 1921 thirty Poplar councillors took their fight for fairer taxes and social justice for the impoverished people of their borough in London's East End to the point of being imprisoned for their stand. Using their words and some of the contemporary songs that local supporters went to sing to them outside the walls of Brixton Prison, this reading reflects on why they were gaoled, their experiences and the consequences of their actions. 'Prisons are hells' the councillors rapidly concluded. Nonetheless, as this video points out, the situation is in most respects much worse in 2021 at a time when the prison population is ten times that of a century earlier. Moreover, sentences are getting longer. In contrast, ingenious legal stratagems enabled the release of all the councillors, starting with the heavily pregnant Nellie Cressall, after some six weeks of incarceration. The victory of the Poplar councillors, whose courageous stand drew attention to the justice of their cause, was a key staging post in the emergence of Britain's welfare state.
The six new local history Art panels at Poplar DLR Station Arts Corner commemorating local history. (Opened 30 November 2021)
See the six new Art panels at Poplar DLR Station commemorating local history. George Lansbury is seen here on the panel commemorating the Poplar Rates Rebellion
The panels were 'opened' on Tuesday 30 November 2021 by the Artist David Bratby (of Hale Street Mural fame) and Sister Christine Frost from SPLASH (South Poplar & Limehouse Action For Secure Housing). The opening ribbon was cut by Tower Hamlets Mayor, John Biggs.
On Saturday 4 September 2021, Poplar Recreation Ground saw an event to unveil a new information board on the Rebellion and to officially launch the newly renovated Hale Street Mural. Read all about it here...
02 August 2021 - The Rates Rebellion in the Poplar LDN.
This local online publication carries the story. "The reason why we need to remember the Poplar Rates Rebellion." The item can be seen on their Website.
01 August 2021 - Article from The Observer... On the Sunday closest to the March to The High Court, some national press esposure for the Rebellion. See the Guardian Website.
24 July 2021 - The Rebellion in The Daily Mirror... A centrepage spread with quotes from Chris Sumner whose grandfather can be seen above in centre with the Mayor's chain of office (second panel above).
The article in The Guardian (12/12/21) tells of the 70s TV series Clangers, the brainchild of Oliver Postgate, the grandson of George Lansbury.
The article features Postgate's son, Daniel and he tells us “Dad came from a strong socialist heritage, his grandfather was the Labour MP George Lansbury. Lansbury’s philosophy had a lasting influence and I think it’s apparent in his stories.”
Oliver Postgate was the son of Daisy Lansbury who was one of George and Elizabeth Lansbury's 12 children.
