Day: May 1, 2022

Revealed: The Nation’s Most Memorable Theme Tunes

  • The most memorable theme tune in the UK is Friends, followed by EastEnders and Coronation Street.
  • 75% of 16-24-year-olds believe that theme tunes used to be more recognisable.
  • 44% of people find that a good TV theme tune plays an important role in the enjoyment of the show.

From dramatic instrumentals to catchy hit songs, a good introduction sequence to a TV show can live in the hearts and minds of audiences for a long time. But which TV theme tunes do we love the most?

A recent study by Currys uncovered which TV theme tune is the most recognised, which one is most nostalgic and whether we’ve become a nation of intro skippers.

The most memorable TV soundtrack

The study surveyed 2,006 people in the UK to find out what TV theme tune springs to mind when first questioned. It turns out the hit 90s show Friends and its iconic song by The Rembrandts takes the top spot. Here are the TV shows that made the top 10:

 Rank Show   % of votes
1 Friends 23%
2 EastEnders 20%
3 Coronation Street  13%
4 Match of the Day 12%
5 Only Fools & Horses 6%
6 Doctor Who 4%
7 Neighbours 3%
8 Game of Thrones 2%
9 Star Trek 2%
10 Grandstand 2%

Which genres have the most recognisable theme tune?

When it comes to the genre that has the most recognisable theme tune, soaps take the top spot.

It could be why the list of top 10 most memorable theme tunes above has soap shows featured three times. Here are the stats on the most recognisable theme tune by genre and who is most likely to recall them:

·       40% of Brits believe that soaps have the most iconic theme tunes. This is followed by comedies (26%) and dramas (25%).

·   50% of women stated that soaps have the most recognisable theme tune.

·   Twice the number of men (31%) than women (15%) think sport-related TV shows have the most memorable theme tunes.

·   45-54-year-olds believe that the soap genre has the most recognised theme tune.

·   Comedy is the most popular genre with Gen Zs, with 31% stating that these theme tunes are the most memorable.

Do theme tunes conjure up feelings of nostalgia?

The survey found that certain TV title sequences can elicit feelings of nostalgia in viewers, transporting them to their childhood or another time in their past. Here’s what the survey unearthed about nostalgia and theme tunes:

·   75% of 16-24-year-olds believe that theme tunes used to be more recognisable.

·       Boomers completely disagree, with 65% stating that do not think theme tunes used to be any more recognisable.

·       The show that reminds people of their childhood the most is Doctor Who.

Are older theme tunes more memorable?

 It’s easier than ever to skip or fast-forward the title sequence of shows. But has this impacted the recognisability of TV theme tunes? Well, nearly half of the shows on the list of top 10 most memorable theme tunes were first broadcast in the 60s. Here’s what else the survey discovered:

·       The average number of years the top 10 most memorable TV shows and their theme tunes have been running for is 39 years, with 6 of the shows still running to this day.

·       A quarter of Brits state that the least memorable genre of theme tunes is reality TV shows.

·       In second and third place of least recognisable are the News and Politics (22%) and Sci-Fi/Horror genres (19%). 

·       55+-year-old respondents state they are least likely to recognise the theme tune from a reality TV show.

How important are theme tunes to the enjoyment of the show?

Often the title sequence and the theme tune that accompany them are designed to be a part of the episode itself. They tell the audience what to expect from the show and some even change as the story progresses or even add an extra gag for the audience to enjoy before each episode starts. Here are the people who enjoy and don’t enjoy TV theme tunes:

·       44% of people find that a good theme tune plays an important role in a TV show.

·       16% of respondents stated that a theme tune is not important in the enjoyment of a good TV show.

·       Over half (56%) of Gen Zs (16-24-year-olds) believe that a good theme tune adds to the enjoyment of a show, even though they’re also the group that’s most likely to skip it.

·       Nearly a quarter (23%) of 55+-year-olds do not believe the theme tune adds to the enjoyment of their show.

Are we a nation of intro skippers?

Thanks to handy “skip intro” features on streaming services, audiences no longer have to sit through TV theme tunes, if they don’t want to. So, who’s opting to not watch the intros?

·       92% of millennials (25-34-year-olds) say they skip the intro.

·       People over 55 years old are most likely to watch intros of TV shows, with nearly 30% of respondents in this age bracket stating they never skip them.

·       88% of Newcastle residents are intro skippers.

·       Edinburgh residents are least likely to skip the intro to a TV show (23%).

Edinburgh influencer launches live fasion event

Edinburgh influencer and fashion icon, WearWhatWorks has announced tickets are now on sale for her first ever live fashion event, ‘WearWhatWorks Presents Sunday Scroll Live’ at The Biscuit Factory on Sunday, 5th June.

Caoilfhionn McMonagle, the face behind one of Scotland’s largest online communities, is ditching the screen for the stage to take followers through her famous Sunday Scroll in person. Over 30,000 people tune into WearWhatWork’s Sunday Scroll each week and now is their opportunity to watch live through this one-off event.

Event goers can expect an afternoon of fashion, styling, and live music.

Caoilfhionn will be joined on stage by guest speakers and Edinburgh trendsetters, Aoife Malone, founder of Réalta the Label, and Cat Anderson, founder of fashion retailer, Treen.

Fashionistas will see Caoilfhionn and guests talk through a selection of their favourite pieces for Summer handpicked from local shops across the capital.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect wedding guest fit or tips on how to take Saturday’s look from day to night, there’s something for every occasion.

Tickets start from £50 and include delicious food, a glass of fizz, cocktails from Edinburgh Gin and drinks from Days Brewing, a styling session with WearWhatWorks, Q&A with Aoife Malone, Conversation with Cat Anderson on shopping sustainably and a goody bag to take home filled with iconic independent and well-known brands.

That’s not all, guests will have the opportunity to take part in WearWhatWork’s charity raffle to win some unmissable prizes in aid of Smart Works Edinburgh, a charity that exists to give women the confidence they need to reach their full potential, secure employment, and change the trajectory of their lives.

Caoilfhionn Mcmonagle, founder of WearWhatWorks said: “Sunday Scroll Live is set to be such a fun day with the chance to  mingle, enjoy some food and drinks and most importantly talk all things fashion and style! 

“The Biscuit Factory is the perfect venue for the relaxed vibe of the day, and I can’t wait to take online, offline for one day only to meet and chat with you all! Get dressed up, come alone or with friends to kick start a summer of events!”

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased via Eventbrite.

For more information, head over to @wearwhatworks

‘WearWhatWorks presents Sunday Scroll Live’ is at The Biscuit Factory on Sunday, 5th June from 12noon – 3pm.

Public urged to Respect The Water

Latest statistics show accidental drowning deaths increased again last year, with more dying at inland water than around the coast

There were 277 deaths in the UK from accidental drownings in 2021 across inland and coastal locations. This is an increase of 23 from the previous year. Accidental drownings form part of the total water-related fatalities in the UK – for 2021 the total number of deaths in water was 616, a decrease of 15 from the previous year.

The statistics and figures in the report are from the Water Incident Database (WAID), which is maintained by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), and the key accidental drowning death insights are as follows:

• Inland open waters, such as rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs and quarries continue to be the leading locations with 62 per cent of deaths (N=168).

• Males continue to over represent with 83 per cent of deaths (N=230).

• 40 per cent of people had no intention to enter the water, such as those walking, with causes including slips, trips and falls, being cut off by the tide, or being swept in by waves (N= 107).

Following this concerning increase in accidental water-related deaths last year, the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) is reminding people of the following lifesaving advice to help people enjoy our waterways and coastlines, particularly as warmer weather arrives, but water temperatures remain dangerously cold. 

  • If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live.
  • Lean back and use your arms and legs to help you float, then get control of your breathing before calling for help or swimming to safety.
  • If you see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 or 112. If you are at the coast ask for the coastguard, if you are inland, ask for the fire service.

The collaborating members of the NWSF, come from a wide range of sectors including sports governing bodies, rescue services, charities, regulators, navigation and harbour authorities, local government, utilities and those representing quarry operators.

Later this summer NWSF will be launching its new #RespectTheWater campaign ahead of UN World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25th.

The campaign will be promoted nationally to raise awareness of key safety advice and support the Forum’s mission to reduce drowning.

Dawn Whittaker, CEO East Sussex Fire Rescue Service & NWSF Chair said: “The pandemic continued to present considerable challenges at our coastal and inland waterways last year as more people had staycations.

“The #RespectTheWater campaign is designed to help prevent further deaths and injuries in water.

“We urge the public to understand the dangers, to learn the importance of knowing how to float to live, and to call 999 if others are in trouble and if there is a water related emergency.

“We have seen increased numbers participating in water sports and water-based activities and consequently a rise of the number of incidents associated with activities such as Stand-up Paddle boarding and Open Water Swimming. We want people to enjoy the water safely, so we will continue to focus on guidance, education and awareness for the public. 

“We will continue to work together to reduce deaths caused by drowning and water related injuries in the UK, and endeavour to reach our collective goal of halving accidental drownings in the UK by 2026. The global water safety community is onboard with a UN resolution recognising the scale and burden of drowning, calling for urgent international action.”

To view and download the WAID 2021 report visit: 

https://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/waid

Scientists awaken viral response to target bowel cancer

New research has identified the role of the immune response within bowel cancer tissue, which could lead to new lifesaving treatments for bowel cancer patients.

The study at Queen’s University Belfast analysed over 1,000 tumour samples from patients diagnosed with bowel cancer. Through analysing the visual appearance of the tumour as well as its genetic make-up, the researchers were then able to test how the immune cells within the tumour responded to different treatments in the laboratory.

The study showed that stimulating a viral-like response within a tumour can reawaken the patient’s own immune system to detect and kill cancer cells. This immune response, similar to a person’s general response to an infection, plays an important role in controlling tumour spread in some bowel cancer patients.

Although in early stage research, it is hoped that this personalised approach to treatment for bowel cancer patients could lead to increased survival rates. The research team will now focus on developing clinical trials, with the aim to treat patients within the next five years.

Dr Philip Dunne, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Pathology at the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research at Queen’s and senior author of the study, commented: “In order to identify the most appropriate treatment options for cancer patients, our work combines features from the tumour’s visual appearance down the microscope with information about changes in the genetic make-up of the person’s tumour.

“We have found that stimulating a subset of immune cells to react in the same way that they would to a virus can reactivate multiple steps within the immune system. In cancer patients with early stage tumours that remain localised to the bowel, this enables the immune system to attack cancer cells and reduces the risk of the disease spreading.”

Queen’s PhD student and first author on the study, Shania Corry, explains: “Our findings show that a viral-like response within a tumour can reawaken the patient’s own immune system to detect and kill cancer cells, an approach that has shown remarkable effectiveness in our tumour models.

“We used a synthetic analog of double-stranded RNA, which in many ways is similar to a non-specific vaccine. It looks like a virus to the immune cells though it doesn’t contain any viral replication material. This is a really exciting development, and we hope that this approach will now lead to new treatment options for patients with bowel cancer.”

Bowel cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the UK, with around 42,900 new bowel cancer cases and around 16,600 bowel cancer deaths in the UK every year. The study, published in Gut, to coincide with Bowel Cancer Awareness month, was led by Queen’s University Belfast in collaboration with scientists and clinicians across the UK and Europe as part of two international consortia funded by Cancer Research UK.

Dr Dunne added: “Our study highlights how research can provide clinicians with vital intelligence to make the right treatment decisions for patients in the clinic.

“We have already started the process of developing a clinical trial to test this new “personalised cancer medicine” approach, which has the potential to improve survival and enhance quality of life for bowel cancer patients in the next five years as we develop our work in clinical trials.”

This study used tumour samples from over 1,000 patients diagnosed with bowel cancer, which in turn required analysis and interpretation of the resulting data across an international network of multidisciplinary researchers.

Professor Owen Sansom, Director of the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute in Glasgow and co-author on the study, said: “This exciting new research demonstrates how cross-disciplinary collaborations, between scientists and clinicians, are essential to ensure we comprehensively characterise a patient’s tumour, allowing us to test novel treatments specifically designed to target the biology of the disease.”

Professor Mark Lawler, Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics and Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s, who co-authored the study said: “This important study demonstrates how scientific research at Queen’s can develop innovative new ways to treat cancer.

“The work pioneered by Dr Dunne’s research team validates our investment in “rising stars” who have the confidence to lead team science initiatives with prestigious international partners, addressing global challenges which will improve the lives of cancer patients.”

Responding to the study, Dr Sam Godfrey,  Research Information Lead at Cancer Research UK, said: “An important goal for beating cancer is to work out how to train our immune systems to recognize the disease and attack it.

“So It is really interesting that we could manipulate one of the defences our bodies use to deal with viruses so that it can tackle cancer.

“Further studies are needed to assess the potential of this approach in patients, but it is an exciting development that could unlock new targeted treatments for bowel cancer.”

The research study was supported by an Early Detection project grant and International accelerator programme, both funded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK), with additional funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Queen’s University Foundation, a charitable trust that funds the world-class research in Queen’s.

Edinburgh locals net national tennis awards

The winners of the Tennis Scotland Awards 2022 have been announced, celebrating the outstanding individuals, clubs, programmes and competitions that made a significant contribution to tennis in 2021 by helping to create an accessible and welcoming environment which supported 8000 incoming club members across the nation.  

Former ITF circuit player Karen Lamb has been named as Performance Coach of the Year, an award given to an individual that has delivered a successful coaching programme in an inclusive, diverse, and safe environment, acknowledging her contributions to East of Scotland tennis and the East Wee Aces programme.  

Mary Byrne-Leitch (above) has earned the title of Senior Veteran Player of the Year as a result of her outstanding accomplishments as a member of Thistle Tennis Club, with honours including becoming a Scottish 65s ladies doubles champion.

Meanwhile, former Merchiston Castle School pupil Matt Rankin has been awarded the Junior Player of the Year after a breakthrough year on the Junior ITF tour which saw him climb to World No. 68 in the rankings and qualify for his first Junior Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open in January.  

Elsewhere, Musselburgh Tennis Club has earned the Communities and Park award, having innovatively engaged local groups of players, both new and returning, to play tennis in a welcoming community venue setting.  

Finally, Scotland’s nominee for the LTA President Award,reserved for individuals that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve the tennis community, is Graeme Soutar in recognition of his services to Craigmillar Tennis Club. 

The category winners were announced on Friday (29 April), with an awards ceremony to be held for recent winners at the Davis Cup in September, as part of the celebrations marking the Emirates Arena’s role as a host of group stage matches.  

   

Blane Dodds, Tennis Scotland Chief Executive, said: “I would like to congratulate each of the winners of this year’s Tennis Scotland Awards, alongside everyone who stepped up and played their part in continuing to grow our sport by facilitating welcoming tennis environments all over the country.”     

“As the governing body, it gave us great pleasure to witness a plethora of Scottish success stories across the year, on a national and international level. I wish the very best of luck to our winners and LTA President Award nominee as they aim to pick up more accolades at the LTA Awards later this year.”  

You can view the full list of winners here: https://www.lta.org.uk/about-us/in-your-area/tennis-scotland/news/tennis-scotland-awards-2022/    

To learn more about the Tennis Scotland Awards, please visit www.tennisscotland.org or follow @TennisScotland on Twitter and Instagram.  

Running for Fet-Lor

Amy and Sara are running the Edinburgh Half Marathon next month and Ryan is doing the full 26.2 miles.

They are running this for FetLor.

Everything they raise will go towards our Summer Programme. Last year we put on a 5 week programme that included 24 trips to lots of different activities including Fox Lake, Bridge 8 and North Berwick.

All our trips are free and can only happen thanks to the support of people like Ryan, Sara and Amy. If you can, please sponsor them.

Heres a link to their Just Giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/amy-henderson14

Motorists urged to park properly at tourist destinations

While local authorities across the UK are ready to offer a warm welcome to visitors, warnings have been made about a repeat of scenes from previous years that saw a minority of motorists parking irresponsibly, causing chaos and frustration for residents and businesses in and around visitor destinations.

These communities are now preparing for another year of managing the increased demand placed on staycation hotspots, including providing additional parking facilities in anticipation of the higher number of motorists.

The parking sector, both public and private, believe everyone needs to play their part by only parking where it is legally permitted, helping ensure that streets and communities are kept safe, free from congestion, and can be enjoyed by all.

Government is also being urged to increase the options and sanctions available to local authorities to tackle the worst offenders. These measures could see an increase in the top level of penalties as evidence from last summer shows that the current rates are not an effective deterrent to antisocial and selfish parking.

Kelvin Reynolds, BPA Director of Corporate and Public Affairs said: “There is good reason to anticipate that some people will ignore the rules, causing obstruction and endangering the lives of other road users, especially pedestrians. 

“If we all do what’s right, residents as well as visitors can enjoy the holiday season. In short, we’re asking motorists to “Be kind – park with others in mind.”

The impact of so many people thinking antisocial behaviour and poor parking is acceptable is that it increases congestion, contributing to additional pollution and rising frustration from people living in these areas.  Journey times for emergency vehicles get longer, people who are disabled or visually impaired or parents with pushchairs are forced into the path of moving vehicles.

The BPA’s Selfish Parker campaign encourages people to respect others and think before they park. Parking restrictions exist for a reason and ‘It’s not OK to park, where it’s not OK to park’.

The BPA has some top tips for those planning to visit tourist hot spots:

  • Plan your visit – search the location for parking facilities and if possible, book parking in advance
  • Find alternatives – to the most popular parking locations by parking further away from your final destination, this could save you time too
  • Park responsibly – only park where it is permitted, respect the people living in the community you are visiting and be kind
  • Don’t obstruct – pavements, private driveways, or impede access for emergency vehicles
  • Don’t litter – take it home with you or find a rubbish bin
  • Don’t be idle – turn your engine off when in stationary traffic or when you are parked

Platinum Jubilee book to arrive in English primary schools from mid-May – but it’s September for Scotland

Primary school children across the UK will begin to receive ‘Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration’

Children in state-funded primary schools across the United Kingdom will, from mid-May, begin to receive a free commemorative book to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.

Designed as an official once-in-a-lifetime commemoration of the Platinum Jubilee and written in collaboration with royal experts and historians, the book will tell the story of a young girl, Isabella, visiting her Great Granny Joyce who tells her about the Queen and this year’s Jubilee.

In the story, Isabella sifts through Great Granny Joyce’s treasure box of souvenirs, which act as introductions to the contents of the book. These include recent and historical events across the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, inspirational people, landmark innovations and inventions, and a selection of the best art, design, and culture.

The book will also include famous quotes from the Queen, facts on the coronation ceremony, content on the lives of famous Commonwealth figures such as Nelson Mandela, notable kings and queens and a timeline of Queen Elizabeth’s life.

Children will be invited to personalise their individual copies of the illustrated reference book, by signing a ‘this book belongs to’ section at the beginning of the book. The page reads: ‘During [the Queen’s] reign, the world has changed in so many ways… [This book] will help you understand the amazing life and times of our Queen and the magic of the unique, unshakable bond she shares with the people she serves.’

The book will also help children understand how the four nations came together as one United Kingdom, including details such as Owain Glyndwr’s rebellion against the English in 1400 to take the title of ‘Prince of Wales’, on the journey to the Queen’s reign which continues to this day.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “Queen Elizabeth II is the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee and Her Majesty’s dignity, commitment and grace continues to inspire people all over the world.

“Millions of children will soon receive their own commemorative Jubilee book, celebrating and showcasing the Queen’s incredible living legacy. I hope all our pupils are as excited as I am to read about Her Majesty’s amazing life and the people and events that have shaped history during the last 70 years.”

On the request of the Scottish and Welsh Governments, schools in Scotland and Wales will be asked to opt-in to receive copies of the book, which will then be delivered in late September.

‘Brilliant bookmarks’ from the Reading Agency are to be distributed with every book, to support and encourage reading for pleasure amongst children at school and over the summer. The book is also featured within the National Literacy Trust’s Platinum Jubilee Royal Reading Challenge.

The book goes on private sale from 23 June.

Schools can expect to hear from the Department for Education (in England) or DK Books (in Northern Ireland) in the coming days about delivery details, and those in Scotland and Wales should already have had information on how to place their book orders.

The book was commissioned by the UK Government and is being published by DK Books. It has been designed for a reading age of nine to 10 years, but will be accessible to all primary school age children, for example if parents, carers or teachers read with them.

It forms part of the wider programme of events and activities planned for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, including a concert, street parties, and an extra bank holiday for the Jubilee weekend itself from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June 2022.

TUC: A May Day to Remember

May Day is unique. It’s the day in the year when we celebrate the bonds that bring us together as workers and trade unionists. And the fundamental message of May Day – friendship between workers of all backgrounds and nationalities – resonates more strongly than ever before (writes TUC General Secretary FRANCES O’GRADY).

This year, I’m proud to be speaking at the Chesterfield May Day rally, organised by the brilliant local trades council. And I’ll be arguing that even amidst these tough times, by sticking together and organising together, working people can win together.

There’s never been more need for that unity and solidarity. The brutal war in Ukraine casts a terrible shadow. Tech change is transforming our economy and the jobs we do. And the climate emergency demands we get our act together on a just transition to net zero, with good, green, unionised jobs.

In Britain and right around the world, workers also face an intensifying cost-of-living crisis. Energy bills are now rising 14 times faster than wages. One in three parents with pre-schoolers spend over a third of their pay on childcare. And last week, the ONS found that a quarter of people are already struggling to make ends meet – and worse is on the horizon.

That’s why the TUC is demanding an Emergency Budget to boost workers’ incomes. From a real living wage and fair pay agreements to a decent rise for public sector workers, there’s plenty we can do. And action on the cost-of-living must include a windfall tax on the excess profits of the energy giants, alongside the equalisation of capital gains and income tax. It’s time to raise tax on wealth, not workers.

As workers struggle, the government is all over the place. Despite promising to upgrade our rights, ministers look set to delay the Employment Bill yet again.

For some reason, the Chancellor seems more concerned about defending legalised tax avoidance, such as non dom status, than real wages, benefits and living standards. And, as Partygate rumbles on, the PM is focused on saving on his own skin: the next “work-related” event he attends could be his own leaving do.

The recent scandal at P&O underlines why we need change. The no-notice sacking of 800 skilled seafarers, and their replacement with cheap agency labour, is gangster capitalism at its worst. I’ve been proud to speak at P&O rallies and take to the airwaves to demand the reinstatement of those workers – alongside tough action against P&O and parent firm DP World.

The TUC will always support workers taking action against injustice. Across the economy, from our railways to our universities, we’re seeing an upsurge in strikes as workers say: enough is enough. With our membership growing for each of the past four years, we are a movement on the front foot.

And on Saturday 18 June, trade unionists will be gathering in London for our national demonstration: We Demand Better. We’ll be demanding action on the cost of living, a decent pay rise for all, and a New Deal for working people. So spread the word among your friends, colleagues and members – book those coaches and trains – and let’s make this a real show of strength and unity.

Have a wonderful May Day – and solidarity to all.

Today (Sunday) is International Workers’ Day, an annual celebration of working people.

After two hard years, when many workers faced extraordinary challenges due to the pandemic, they now find themselves in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

The TUC is using today’s celebration to highlight the vital role unions play in helping their members gain fair pay rises through collective bargaining.

Unionised workers are paid on average five per cent more than other similar workers. This is equivalent to £1,285 a year based on the average wage.

TUC Deputy General Secretary Paul Nowak, who will speak at today’s May Day rally in Trafalgar Square,said: “International workers day should be a time to celebrate. And working people can be proud of how they have brought the nation through the pandemic.

“But they are now in another crisis. The cost of living is racing ahead of their pay. And our Conservative government is doing nothing to help them.

“Working people need the power of government on their side. We need an emergency budget to give direct support with surging bills. And ministers should give working people and their unions stronger powers to negotiate fair pay deals.

“Join us at our national march and rally on 18 June to demand better for working people. Better pay, better rights and a better voice at work through unions. Only stronger unions can deliver a new deal for working people. Whether it’s winning in the workplace, or influencing government, it’s unions that make the difference

“If you’re not in a unionised workplace get together with your workmates and join a union. If there are enough of you, your employer is legally required to sit down and negotiate a fair pay rise with you. But if you’re not in a union, you have little bargaining power. And you lose out – big time.”

Join the march and rally in London, 18 June