Hands Across Britain
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| Date | 3 May 1987 |
|---|---|
| Time | 3:00pm |
| Location | London to Liverpool |
Hands Across Britain was a mass protest campaign against unemployment held on 3 May 1987 in which an estimated 250,000 people held hands in a human chain along a path across London and Liverpool that stretched 350 miles. The idea of a woman named Molly Meacher and organised by the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Methodist churches, the event was based on and named after Hands Across America which held a similar event across the continental United States.
Reaction to the protest was mixed; with campaign organisers marking the event as a "success" despite large gaps in areas in England with others including political leaders labeling the event as a "publicity stunt".
The event was the idea of a woman named Molly Meacher.[1] It was organised as part of a four-month campaign by the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Methodist churches to focus attention towards the social, emotional, spiritual and economical effects of unemployment. Other factors included the encouragement of discussion of realistic policies for the reduction in the number of unemployed and an attempt to change the mood from hopelessness and despair to hope and determination within the United Kingdom.[2] The campaign was also aimed to assist with the attention of employers to find talents among the unemployed.[3] Media personality and charity fundraiser Jimmy Savile was named the president of the campaign and it was announced that it would take place on 3 May to coincide with Jobs Day.[4]
At the time of the start of official campaigning in January 1987, 11 per cent of people were unemployed in the United Kingdom,[5] and it was expected to be a major issue at the 1987 United Kingdom general election.[6] Support was garnered from Cardinal Basil Hume,[2] along with more than 60 celebrities which included Glenda Jackson and Sting.[7] Support also came from the political spectrum with the General Secretary of the Union of Communication Workers Alan Tuffin and the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress Norman Willis.[8]
