Marchers' descendants meet PM 90 years after snub

The prime minister has met with the descendants of the Jarrow Marchers 90 years after their ancestors were turned away in London.

In 1936 the men marched about 300 miles (483km) from Jarrow in protest over a lack of investment and employment.

Earlier some of their descendants met with Andy Burnham carrying the marchers' original petition box, which they were never able to give to the then-Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin.

Audrey Patterson, the daughter of one of the marchers, said she knew her father would be "really proud of this day". Burnham said the "courage and determination" of the marchers would never be forgotten and it was a "real privilege" to honour their legacy.

Labour MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East Kate Osborne, who organised the visit, said Burnham was righting a "historic wrong" and giving the Jarrow marchers the welcome they should have received decades ago.

"Ninety years later, their story is still relevant and needs to be heard," she said.

On meeting the prime minister on behalf of her father, Patterson said: "I know mum and dad will be really proud of this day if they're looking down... it brought tears to my eyes."

Bronwyn Mogie, whose two great-uncles took part in the march, said her great-grandad had passed down stories about his brothers.

"One of them was part of the band and played the harmonica all the way down to keep spirits high," she said.

She said she would always be proud to be from Jarrow.

"People from Jarrow just have that passion and drive in them that those marchers had," she said.

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