Stratford walk marks Keir Hardie 1892 electiion

Kay Atwal, Chief Reporter Monday, July 9, 2012
1:00 PM

Labour Party supporters and Newham residents have been on a walking tour in Stratford to mark the 120th anniversary of the election of Keir Hardie.

He was chosen as the first ever Independent Labour MP for West Ham South on July 4 1892.

To mark the anniversary, members of the modern day West Ham Labour Party and Newham Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation organised a walking commemoration tour around Stratford town centre.

They met outside the Old Town Hall in the Broadway, Stratford, which was where the 1892 election count took place. It was from its open balcony, overlooking the High Street, that the result was read out to cheering crowds and Hardie made his first speech as a Labour Member of Parliament.

Organisers of the event said it allowed them to celebrate the achievement of an ordinary, working man - born into abject poverty - who was still able to be elected as the first genuine independent working class MP.