Inquiry into ‘Battle of Orgreave’ between police and striking miners dramatically ruled out by Amber Rudd
Home Secretary said there was nothing to be learned from investigating notorious 1984 clash during the Miners' Strike
THE HOME SECRETARY sparked claims of an “establishment stitch-up” today by ruling out ANY inquiry into the vicious ‘Battle of Orgreave’ during the miners’ strike.
Amber Rudd said she had decided there was no need to review a violent showdown between police and pit workers at the Yorkshire coking plant in June 1984.
To cries of “disgrace” in the Commons, the Tory rising star said no one had died – and policing had moved on dramatically in the past 30 years. She declared: “Ultimately there were no deaths – or wrongful convictions”.
She added that it was wrong to say the events of Orgreave emboldened the South Yorkshire Police and contributed to the cover-up at Hillsborough five years later.
Furious Labour backbencher Christian Matheson accused the Government of “leading families up the garden path” given indications earlier this summer that there would be full inquiry into claims police pre-planned attacks and falsified statements.
He stormed: “This is an astonishing and frankly shameful decision by the Government.”
Furious former Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham blasted: “Aren’t we right in concluding this establishment stitch-up is nothing more than a nakedly political act?”
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Ms Rudd countered that it was the Tory Government that had shown the “willingness” to study the facts and consider whether a review was necessary – unlike the former Labour Government under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
As she dismissed his claims, Mr Burnham mouthed “get your facts straight”. When she insisted there were no miscarriages of justice, he exploded: “You can’t say that!”
Families and relatives representing some of the 7,000 miners at Orgreave in May 1984 were briefed about the decision earlier today. Mrs Rudd conceded they were “disappointed”.
Responding to suggestions from Tory backbencher Edward Leigh she said a Commons select-committee may wish to lead their own investigation. She added it may be worth looking once more at merging the West and South Yorkshire police forces to get rid of the tarnished ‘South Yorkshire’ brand.
But Labour MPs and campaigners have spent months demanding a full Hillsborough style probe. Earlier today they warned it would be an outrage if the Government stopped short of this and opted for a judge-led review. Neither will now happen.
Mrs Rudd’s decision comes after Theresa May – as Home Secretary – encourage Orgreave families to apply for an investigation.
In May this year, Nick Timothy – now the PM’s chief of staff – said it was right for the country to “get to the bottom” of what happened at the town. He wrote: “If the police pre-planned a mass, unlawful assault on the miners at Orgreave and then sought to cover up what they did and arrest people on trumped up charges, we need to know.”
Thousands of miners had gathered at Orgreave in a bid to prevent coke leaving the colliery for the Scunthorpe steelworks. They claim that on June 18 1984, police invited them into a cordon, only to then charge them on horseback and trigger pitched battles.
Some 95 miners were charged with riot – an offence that carried a life term at the time – only for each case to be dropped.
Labour MP for Barnsley, Michael Dugher, told the Sun today: “The anger about the policing of the strike is still felt today in the former coalfields.
“No one is criticising the brilliant rank and file police staff in today’s South Yorkshire Police.
“But an inquiry into Orgreave, especially after Hillsborough, was a golden opportunity to rebuild trust and confidence in South Yorkshire police and dealt with another bitter chapter in its history.”
Reacting to the news, South Yorkshire MPs John Healey and Kevin Barron said it was “a betrayal of the families that have campaigned so long for justice”.
The pair said: “It is an early stain on Theresa May’s premiership and a shameful abdication of responsibility by the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd.
“Former miners, their families and communities have waited decades for the truth, and they will be deeply disappointed by today’s announcement.”
South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings said he was "shocked and dismayed" by the decision.
He said the "former miners and their families deserved to know the truth about what happened that day".
Dr Billings added: "The government have marched the Campaign for Truth and Justice to the top of the hill only to march them down again."
