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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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The Red Flag
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An anthem of the Labour movement, written in 1889 by James Connell (1853–1929), an Irish poacher turned sheep farmer turned politician. It has featured prominently in British political life, at the end of each Labour party conference, with the party leaders and delegates seen on television singing this deeply improbable statement of past and future:
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The people's flag is deepest red; It shrouded oft our martyred dead, And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold, Their hearts' blood dyed its every fold. Then raise the scarlet standard high! Within its shade we'll live or die. Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll keep the red flag flying here.
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