On this day, 3 October 1973, the trial began of famous actor Ricky Tomlinson, then a plasterer, with five other building workers for their role in a national builders’ strike the previous year. Refusing to testify against other workers they were convicted of “conspiracy to intimidate” under a 19th-century law which had not been used in 98 years. Tomlinson was jailed for two years, most of it spent in solitary confinement due to his refusal to wear prison uniforms on the grounds of it branding him a criminal. He became a socialist inside after being given a copy of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.
More info here: httsp://libcom.org/library/ricky-tomlinson-imprisoned-building-union-organiser https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1544604915724653/?type=3