North East miners' leaders join Orgreave demonstration in fight for inquiry

The region's miners' representatives joined in a 'noisy protest' outside the Home Office as campaigners called for a public inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave.
Durham Miners' Association members Barry Chambers, Lawrence Claughan, Alan Cummings, George Robson at the Oregreave demonstration in London.Durham Miners' Association members Barry Chambers, Lawrence Claughan, Alan Cummings, George Robson at the Oregreave demonstration in London.
Durham Miners' Association members Barry Chambers, Lawrence Claughan, Alan Cummings, George Robson at the Oregreave demonstration in London.

Members of the Durham Miners' Association (DMA) executive committee joined ex-miners from across the UK, senior Labour MPs and trade unionists on what they called a "lively demonstration to demand an inquiry into the events at Orgreave in 1984."

The event was held outside the Home Office in London and saw protesters bang drums and blow whistles.

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Orgreave was one of the the most brutal episodes during the period of industrial unrest and saw violent clashes between colliery workers at British Steel Corporation coking plant in South Yorkshire.

Alan Cummings, president of the DMA, said: "People are demanding a public inquiry into Orgreave and we're not going to stop until we get one.

"It took a long time for the families of those at Hillsborough to get their public inquiry and new coroner's inquiry and we are asking for one of our own.

"We have had some papers released from that period, and we know more than 11,000 miners were arrested in 1984 to 1985, and 8,400 of them were charged with offences and we are asking for those to be looked at.

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"We would like to thank the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign for organising the demonstration and for their tireless efforts in highlighting this great injustice."

Find out more and support the campaign here.