Socialists rocking the jailhouse

Paddy went into prison a socialist and shared his ideas with other prisoners. “I started distributing Socialist Worker in Erlestoke prison,” he said.

“To this day there are seven people reading and distributing Socialist Worker in that prison.

“I got a copy of the Communist Manifesto and we had a reading group. I even got one guy reading Capital.

“I was working for one huge business that provided equipment for construction companies. I was paid 45p for a three-hour shift and would do two each day.

“There was no health and safety there at all. I was made a gas tester with no experience or qualifications–I burnt half my hair off in an accident there.

“I tried to organise a health and safety meeting, but I was the only guy in there not on an indeterminate sentence.

“They sacked me when they found out what I was trying to do.”