Labour’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell will return to the campaign trail on Friday 26 May to speak at the Merthyr Rising Festival, which will be opened by UNISON Assistant General Secretary Roger McKenzie.
The festival, which commemorates the 1831 Merthyr Rising, when the red flag was flown as a sign of protest for the first time anywhere, is sponsored by UNISON, the union for public service workers. Now in its fourth year it is a festival of ideas, culture, politics and music. Bands playing on the UNISON stage include Pretty Vicious, Stereo MCs and the Alabama Three, whilst there will be a full programme of political debates throughout the weekend.
Mike Crimmings, assistant branch secretary with Cwm Taf Local Government Area Branch of UNISON stated: “UNISON’s Assistant General Secretary Roger McKenzie, is opening the proceedings on Friday (26 May) at 5.00pm. We also have Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell who’ll be speaking. We’re right in the middle of an election campaign so that will be electrifying.”