That this House remembers the 37 Cammell Laird shipyard workers who, in 1984, were imprisoned for 30 days after occupying their workplace in protest against compulsory redundancies, privatisation and the threatened destruction of their industry; notes that they were subsequently dismissed, lost redundancy and pension rights, and that many struggled to secure stable employment thereafter; recognises that they were trade unionists defending their jobs, livelihoods, families and communities in t...
That this House welcomes the establishment of the Orgreave Inquiry into the events surrounding the policing of the miners’ strike at Orgreave on 18 June 1984; recognises the profound significance of this decision for former miners, their families and coalfield communities across the UK; notes that, more than four decades after the events in question, many of those affected continue to seek truth, accountability, recognition and justice; pays tribute to the tireless, dignified and determined w...
That this House commemorates the 40th anniversary of the 1984-85 miners’ strike that began in March 1984 in response to the Thatcher government's plans to destroy the British coal industry; notes that the National Union of Mineworkers decided to strike after the National Coal Board announced the closure of 20 collieries, although declassified Cabinet Papers reveal they secretly planned to close 75 collieries over a three year period; further notes that over 165,000 miners took part in the str...
That this House notes that it is now five years since the then Home Secretary, Amber Rudd MP, refused the call for an inquiry into the events at Orgreave in 1984; recognises that there is clear evidence that striking miners were beaten by the police, charged by police horses and falsely accused of riot; notes that the Independent Police Complaints Commission reported that there was evidence of violence by police officers, a false narrative from police exaggerating violence by miners, perjury ...
That this House remembers the start of the miners' strike in March 1984 when five pits were announced for closure as part of the Government's restructuring of the coal industry; acknowledges the hardship and struggle endured by the miners and their families who faced losing their livelihoods; notes that the decline of the British coal industry had a devastating impact on mining communities, including those of the West Fife villages, in particular the closure of the Valleyfield Pit which made ...
That this House believes that the Home Secretary is wrong not to set up an inquiry into events at Orgreave in 1984; is aware of the numerous and well documented reports that striking miners were beaten by police batons, charged by police horses, and then falsely accused of riot; is concerned by reports that South Yorkshire police had decided in advance to charge arrested strikers with riot, which carried a life sentence; notes that the Independent Police Complaints Commission found evidence o...
That this House strongly condemns the decision of the Independent Police Complaints Commission not to launch a full and comprehensive investigation into the behaviour of South Yorkshire Police at the Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984; believes there is no time limit to justice and furthermore that mining communities up and down the country deserve the truth; and calls for a wider public inquiry covering not only the policing of Orgreave but of the entire country during the 1984-85 Miners'...
That this House notes with profound concern reports in a recent BBC documentary alleging that some police who were involved in prosecutions following the infamous violence at the Orgreave Coke plant in South Yorkshire colluded when they wrote their statements; further notes that the 95 miners who were charged with riot and unlawful assembly at Orgreave were all acquitted a year later; believes that the alleged manipulation of statements raises further serious questions about the conduct of So...
That this House calls on the Government to set up a public inquiry into the conduct of the police at Orgreave and elsewhere during the miners' strike; and believes the inquiry should examine, inter alia, allegations of collusion between the police and the Government.