Today I’ve been looking at ‘The Poplar Rates Rebellion Mural’ by Mark Francis (1990) telling the story of George Lansbury, Labour Councillor and former Mayor of Poplar, who in 1921 led a local council rebellion protesting against an increase in rates #heritageofprotest

The 30 rebel councillors, led by Lansbury, refused to pay the new rates to the London City Council, Met police, Asylums Board & Water Board instead wanting to distribute the revenue directly to the needy in the borough. At the time, Poplar was one of the poorest London districts

Most of Poplar borough council were industrial workers. When the Labour administration were elected in 1919 to Poplar Borough Council, they undertook a comprehensive social reform programme inc. equal pay to women and minimum wage for council workers. #heritageofprotest

As a poor borough, the council had a high level of poverty & the borough had to fund relief by itself under the poor laws. 30 councillors were jailed for 6weeks for refusing a court order requiring the new rates to be paid. Due to public & trade union support, they were released

The term ‘Poplarism’ became synonymous with the defence of localism against central Gov but has also been defined as a Local Gov policy of providing poor relief often ‘excessive’ in amount. The mural lists each of the rebel councillors & each has a block of flats named after them

In 2007 the ‘Poplar Rates Rebellion Mural’ was restored. Painted without official permission, it demonstrates the often interconnected states between murals and graffiti. ‘Reclaim the Mural’ describes how it is not only a piece of ‘commemoration, it is part... #heritageofprotest

...of a radical history in London from the rent strikes of the 1970s through to the Poll Tax Riot of 1990 and the education protests of 2010’ #heritageofprotest