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Topical Budget 228-2: Labour Congress at Westminster (1916)
 

Synopsis

Warning: screenonline full synopses contain 'spoilers' which give away key plot points. Don't read on if you don't want to know the ending!

Title: "LABOUR CONGRESS AT WESTMINSTER. One thousand delegates representing three million workers considering the Government's Military Service Bill. Mr W. Crooks the new Privy Councillor attends the meeting".

Medium long shot of a large group of men, wearing suits, overcoats and hats, leaving a grand doorway, many taking newsletters from vendors. Medium long shot of a similar group standing on the pavement outside The Wesleyan Central Hall (sign seen). Camera pans across the crowds. A central figure without a hat, smiles to the camera and takes a pamphlet from another man . Medium close shot of a bearded man (Crooks ?) amongst a crowd, shaking hands with those around him.

Notes: The Military Service Bill was introduced by Asquith 5/01/16, parliament was prorogued for Royal ascent, 27/01/16 and the Bill finally came into being 10/02/16. Opposition to the Bill continued in the Labour Party, unions, the Women's Labour League and the No-Conscription Fellowship, all demanding the repeal of it.