MEMBERS of Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Labour Party are staging a free screening of a movie featuring Dennis Skinner.

Entitled The Nature of The Beast, the event is taking place in celebration of International Workers Day and in conjunction with the Unite trade union.

The film will be shown in Cumnock Town Hall on May 3, at 7pm, and will also include a display of photos taken by local man Neil Murray.

Party spokeswoman, Carol Mochan, said: “Dennis, who visited Cumnock in 1984 and spoke on behalf of the striking miners,has campaigned his entire life for workers pay, terms and conditions.

“It is absolutely a pleasure to be able to show this documentary in the week of May Day celebrations. Residents in the area often tell us about seeing Dennis in Cumnock.

“Several of our branch members have travelled throughout the country on many occasions to hear him speak.

“At last year’s Durham Miners Gala local member Neil Murray was fortunate enough to photograph him and a number of these images will be on display at the event.”

Known by friends and foe alike as the Beast of Bolsover, 86-year-old Mr Skinner became the longest continuously serving Labour MP on December 16 last year.

He has represented Bolsover since 1970 and was famously expelled from the House of Commons for calling David Cameron ‘Dodgy Dave’ and refusing to apologise.

In August 1984, he was joined in Cumnock by miners’ leader Arthur Scargill and the area’s MP at the time, George Foulkes.