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| Labour launches 'justice for coalfields' campaign | Labour launches 'justice for coalfields' campaign |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Labour Party is calling for a formal apology from the Conservatives for the actions of the government during the 1984-5 miners' strike. | The Labour Party is calling for a formal apology from the Conservatives for the actions of the government during the 1984-5 miners' strike. |
| It claims recently released cabinet papers prove the Thatcher government had a secret plan to close 75 pits. | It claims recently released cabinet papers prove the Thatcher government had a secret plan to close 75 pits. |
| Ministers put political pressure on police, the party also says. | Ministers put political pressure on police, the party also says. |
| But a Conservative spokesman said: "This tells you everything you need to know about Labour - they are living in the past." | But a Conservative spokesman said: "This tells you everything you need to know about Labour - they are living in the past." |
| Labour MP Michael Dugher is set to call for an apology from Conservative Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude in the Commons on Wednesday. | Labour MP Michael Dugher is set to call for an apology from Conservative Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude in the Commons on Wednesday. |
| At the time of the dispute, mineworkers' union leader Arthur Scargill claimed there was a "secret hit-list" of more than 70 pits marked for closure. | At the time of the dispute, mineworkers' union leader Arthur Scargill claimed there was a "secret hit-list" of more than 70 pits marked for closure. |
| The government and National Coal Board said at the time they wanted to close 20. But secret cabinet documents released earlier this month, under the 30-year rule, reveal a plan to shut 75 mines over three years. | The government and National Coal Board said at the time they wanted to close 20. But secret cabinet documents released earlier this month, under the 30-year rule, reveal a plan to shut 75 mines over three years. |
| 'Vigorous action' | 'Vigorous action' |
| A key adviser to then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher has denied claims of a cover-up. | A key adviser to then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher has denied claims of a cover-up. |
| Sir Robert Armstrong, who was Lady Thatcher's cabinet secretary at the time, said the National Coal Board was closing something like 20 pits a year anyway, and that 75 over three years was not such a big increase. The real issue was Mr Scargill's "impossible demand" for a guarantee that uneconomic pits would not be closed, he told BBC News. | Sir Robert Armstrong, who was Lady Thatcher's cabinet secretary at the time, said the National Coal Board was closing something like 20 pits a year anyway, and that 75 over three years was not such a big increase. The real issue was Mr Scargill's "impossible demand" for a guarantee that uneconomic pits would not be closed, he told BBC News. |
| The Conservatives point to official figures which show more deep mines were closed when Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson was in power than during the Thatcher years. | |
| The cabinet papers also reveal that in July 1984 the government considered calling a state of emergency and getting troops to move coal but decided against it, as it would risk alienating power station workers. | The cabinet papers also reveal that in July 1984 the government considered calling a state of emergency and getting troops to move coal but decided against it, as it would risk alienating power station workers. |
| And there are minutes of conversations between Lady Thatcher and ministers which suggest chief constables were put under pressure to take "vigorous action" against mass pickets. | And there are minutes of conversations between Lady Thatcher and ministers which suggest chief constables were put under pressure to take "vigorous action" against mass pickets. |
| Labour is calling on the government to set out all details of the interactions between the government and the police at the time - including a "proper investigation" into what happened at the Orgreave coking plant on 18 June 1984, which saw the most violent clashes between miners and police in the year-long dispute. | Labour is calling on the government to set out all details of the interactions between the government and the police at the time - including a "proper investigation" into what happened at the Orgreave coking plant on 18 June 1984, which saw the most violent clashes between miners and police in the year-long dispute. |
| The party is calling for a formal apology in time for the 30th anniversary of Orgreave. | The party is calling for a formal apology in time for the 30th anniversary of Orgreave. |
| Public inquiry | Public inquiry |
| Shadow cabinet office minister Michael Dugher, who is to raise the issue in the Commons, said: "For those of us who lived through the strike and who saw the events and impact they had first-hand, what was revealed in the cabinet papers may not come as a surprise. | Shadow cabinet office minister Michael Dugher, who is to raise the issue in the Commons, said: "For those of us who lived through the strike and who saw the events and impact they had first-hand, what was revealed in the cabinet papers may not come as a surprise. |
| "But it is no less shocking to consider that, far from being neutral as was claimed at the time, it is clear that the government took a deliberately calculated political approach guided by a complete hostility to the coalfield communities. | "But it is no less shocking to consider that, far from being neutral as was claimed at the time, it is clear that the government took a deliberately calculated political approach guided by a complete hostility to the coalfield communities. |
| "That is why I am calling for justice for the coalfields." | "That is why I am calling for justice for the coalfields." |
| A pressure group made up of ex-striking miners and others - the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign - has been calling for a public inquiry into the events at Orgreave, where 95 miners were arrested but subsequently acquitted after lawyers argued police evidence had been fabricated. | A pressure group made up of ex-striking miners and others - the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign - has been calling for a public inquiry into the events at Orgreave, where 95 miners were arrested but subsequently acquitted after lawyers argued police evidence had been fabricated. |
| Labour sources said their main aim at this stage was to get the Cabinet Office to release all of the relevant documentation before seeking to open a dialogue about setting up an independent inquiry. | Labour sources said their main aim at this stage was to get the Cabinet Office to release all of the relevant documentation before seeking to open a dialogue about setting up an independent inquiry. |