Jon Trickett A strong Yorkshire voice for Hemsworth constituency
It is now over 30 years since the terrible events at Orgreave. I would like to thank the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign for inviting me to this important rally and I am very disappointed that I could not be there today due to voting in the House of Commons.
I would add my congratulations to the campaign for refusing to accept the idea that the truth will never be told. This would be totally unacceptable.
In fact the truth has never been properly told about the way in wh…ich the whole apparatus of the state including the abuse of the criminal justice system and as well as an assault on the supposed neutrality of the British police force was used to achieve the political ends of the Conservative party to crush the NUM.
Orgreave was the single most dramatic moment which clearly revealed the determination of the Thatcher government to achieve its goals whatever the price.
What followed was the collapse of the attempted prosecution of 95 miners on riot charges, following allegedly fabricated accounts and statements given by the police officers who were there that day.
Despite the passage of time, there still hasn’t been any justice.
Only the other week, the Independent Police Complaints Commission announced, after a lengthy investigation, that there would be no inquiry into the events that took place at Orgreave. That is simply not good enough. It simply perpetuates the injustices done at the time.
As we all know, we need a full inquiry into the events at Orgreave, nothing less will do.
I commit myself to working alongside yourselves to pursue the truth in this matter.
