Blantyre Miner’s Agent and trade unionist, Andra McAnulty certainly could be outspoken and took often to write into newspapers to further advance the cause and fight for better miners conditions and rights.
Writing into one newspaper in October 1892, his letter coined a phase. Observing the advancements of Victorian Empire around the world, Andra commented, “Whilst Britannia rules the waves, the miners are her slaves”.
I thought this an apt and clever play on words, describing the situation at the time and how hard done by , miners were by comparison to the country’s achievements on a global stage.
