Steadfast
Contents - issue 17 Summer 2006

Steadfast Demo
England: the mother of modern sport - Robert Henderson
Letters
Progress for the English Community - Tony Linsell
Birds of the Seashore - Edward Canfield
The Legacy of William Barnes - Don Briggs
Law & Democracy - Lawrence Middlehurst

South Shields Gazette - 3rd June 2006

Protesters Rally Against Politician
LONDON Mayor Ken Livingston faced
a peaceful protest from a pro-English group
on a visit to South Shields

The controversial politician was in town at the invitation of MP David Miliband to deliver the annual South Shields Lecture at Hedworth Hall in South Shields last Friday. But members of Steadfast North East were on hand in protest at what they claim is Mr Livingston's "anti-Englishness".

It had been planned that one of the group's founding members, the Rev John Lovejoy, would attend the talk and ask the London mayor a question from the floor. But the police advised the protesters that would not be appropriate. And the Steadfast members had to be content instead at presenting Mr Livingston with some campaign literature as he entered the Hedworth Hall.

Steadfast, which has no political affiliations, was set up by a group of writers and performers five years ago because of their concern at the state of English culture and traditions. Members distance themselves from any allegations of racism.

Steadfast North East member Michael Brown said: "Mr Livingston says he wants to help the ethnic minorities by extending the London Underground. The extension has been opposed by middle-class English people who he has been particularly rude about.

"We are not anti-anybody, but English culture and traditions are no longer being celebrated. We believe in respecting other cultures but we expect the same for ours too."

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