page_title: R v Lovelass
section_title: Significance
hierarchical_section_title: R v Lovelass / Significance
caption_attribution_description: Tolpuddle Martyrs Day 2005 The TUC's annual celebration of the w:Tolpuddle Martyrs includes a procession (seen here) and speeches &amp; songs outside the Museum. Dorset, UK.
context_page_description: R v Lovelass and Others 172 ER 1380 is a formative case in the history of UK labour law. It saw the Tolpuddle Martyrs, who were farm workers that wished to form a union to prevent wage cuts, be convicted and deported to Australia. It triggered protests which led to the workers' eventual release.
context_section_description: The case triggered a swell of protest. 800,000 signatures were collected for the Tolpuddle labourers, soon to be known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs to be released. The Home Secretary in 1837 eventually did release them.
  A Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival and Rally is held annually in Tolpuddle, usually in the third week of July, organised by the Trades Union Congress.
caption: Tolpuddle Martyrs' Rally in 2005
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