NO 13 DEC 2013

The Durham Miner is the newsletter of the Durham Miners’ Association, General Secretary, Dave Hopper PO Box 6, The Miners Hall, Red Hill, Durham, DH1 4BB. Tel: 0191 3843515 www.durhamminers.org Making a Difference in our Communities

ast year’s hugely disappointing strike in 1985 and enjoy a huge and unjust decision of the High party at Easington. Then, the self- LCourt to deny our case for confessed fascist, Paulo di Canio, was compensation to be awarded to sacked as Sunderland AFC’s manager. miners suffering from osteoarthritis He predictably brought his political of the knee is still creating philosophy onto the training ground uncertainty with regards to the and, instead of inspiring the team, future finances of the DMA. just bullied them like the fascist dictator he so admires. Although we have already paid £1.4M, the government’s solicitors However, while these events brought are pursuing us for a further brief moments of celebration, the substantial payment of costs. attacks of the Tory-led coalition However, the Association and the continued relentlessly, pushing other funding bodies are disputing our communities to the brink. The the amount they are demanding and coalition’s policies of low wages, Dave Hopper have employed an expert cost lawyer unemployment and the erosion of to conduct a forensic examination of benefits are creating conditions not the costs with a view to reducing our been seen in our towns and villages Defence League (EDL) which recently liability. since the 1930s. organised a march in Shotton Colliery. The strong stand we have As we have previously explained, this It is for this reason that the DMA taken against racism and fascism has haemorrhaging of funds has put in embarked on a series of public attracted a number of anonymous question our ability to finance the meetings to contact our people threatening phone calls to one Gala but we are delighted at the directly and discuss how we can member of our Executive Committee response we have received to our help. In order to continue this work, and to a local MP which has only appeal to save the Gala. Over 750 we have joined forces with UNITE increased our determination not individuals and trade unions have the Union and opened a Community to tolerate these thugs who preach joined the Friends of the Durham Advice Centre in the Miners’ hatred against minorities. We must Miners’ Gala and we thank them all Offices at Red Hill which will be a be clear: the problems we face are for their generosity and hope that campaigning centre, working in the a direct result of the economic and the donations continue to grow so wider communities in the county and political system of this country and we can all enjoy the day year-on-year. helping people to learn new skills and not the fault of ethnic minorities and fight against the cuts. we appeal to all members to stand And what a great day this year’s Gala firmly with us on this issue. was – fantastic weather, massive We also held two educational schools crowds and the most impressive in conjunction with our Solicitors, Finally, I would like to thank the speeches for a decade. In my opinion, Thompsons, to help keep our activists new Chairman of the Association, it was one of the best I have been and former lodge officials up to date Alan Cummings and the Executive involved in during my twenty- on welfare legislation, social issues Committee for their assistance during nine years as a Durham Miners’ and injury claims in order to improve the year and Janet Leadbitter, our Association official. the advice they are able to give our sole full time member of staff for her members. dedicated efforts. The year brought other things to gladden the heart. Thatcher died and Over the last year, we have been I wish you all and your families a we were able to honour the promise increasingly concerned at the activity Happy Christmas and Peace and we made at the end of the miners’ of the extreme-right-wing English Prosperity in 2014.

1 Tory Coalition Piles On The Misery for the Sick and Disabled

By Alan Cummings, DMA Chairman Alan Cummings

ver the past year there ATOS has also been heavily criticised payment, whereas, before this has been no respite in the for its uncaring attitude and for using measure was introduced benefit, OGovernment’s campaign to assessors who are often unqualified would be paid up to the decision of attack and stigmatise the sick and to make judgments on complicated the tribunal. disabled. As a result the Durham medical conditions. Nurses and Despite these problems, our Tribunal Miners’ Tribunal Team now spends physiotherapists are regularly asked Team has won many tribunals the majority of its time fighting cases to assess people with serious mental ensuring that our members have where our members’ Employment health issues – a task far beyond their retained the benefit they are entitled and Support Allowance (ESA) has professional capabilities. to. This is a testimony to their been stopped. Now, a further obstacle has been dedication and hard work and I thank The Work Capability Assessment created for those who have been them for all their efforts. process, which our disabled members assessed fit for work. Since 28 I would like to think we could look are forced to attend, is now totally October 2013, the Government forward to a New Year with a more discredited and fundamentally has introduced a new rule. Before humane Government attitude to the flawed. ATOS, a profit-making a claimant’s case can proceed to a sick and disabled but I fear that is not organisation, is employed by the tribunal, the case is now subject to a to be. Government with the express ‘mandatory reconsideration’, which purpose of reducing benefit takes one month to complete. However, in wishing our members payments. There is, therefore, an and their families a merry Christmas obvious conflict of interests between At first glance, this may look like a and a happy, healthy and prosperous the assessors and the claimant, which measure designed to redress obvious New Year, I can promise that the makes an objective assessment of mistakes. However, during the period Durham Miners’ Association will be the claimant’s condition problematic of ‘mandatory reconsideration’, here to support you in what may to say the least. the claimant receives no benefit prove a difficult time ahead.

Durham Miners’ Gala, 12 July 2014 The greatest celebration of trade union and community spirit in Dupuytrens Fascia Europe and probably the World Disease The Industrial Injuries Chairman Wins Compensation Advisory Council is currently taking evidence to ascertain Durham Miners’ Association Chairman, Alan Cummings, has won a Personal Injury Claim against supermarket giant ASDA for an injury if the use of vibratory sustained at their Hartlepool store. tools causes Dupuytrens Contracture in mineworkers. Durham Miners’ Association solicitors, Thompsons, successfully pursued the claim against the multi-national. Any former mineworker who ASDA admitted liability for the Chairman’s injuries. has been diagnosed with this disease should give their Alan Cummings urges any member or their family members who details to our Area Office at: have had an accident at work, an industrial disease, a road traffic accident, on public transport or in a public place within the last 3 Durham Miners Association, years to take full advantage of the Durham Miners’ Association’s legal service by contacting Thompsons Solicitors direct on free Red Hill, Durham, DH1 4BB phone 08457 125495 Telephone 0191 384 3515

2 Durham Miners’ Beneficial Membership Membership of the DMA will entitle you to the following benefits of membership: Legal Support Through the Association’s solicitors, Thompsons, the Association can Gala 2013 offer expert support on the following Durham Miners Honour issues: Legal advice and representation where deemed appropriate in any Senghenydd Dead litigation concerning an injury or disease incurred or contracted whilst One hundred years since 439 men and boys perished in the worst pit disaster in the history of British mining working as a miner in the Durham coalfield.

in Senghenydd was hit, the Legal advice and representation disaster leaving 205 widows, where deemed appropriate for you 542 children and 62 dependent and the members of your family if parents. Mine manager Edward you suffer injury in a road accident, Shaw and the owners, Lewis whether as a driver, passenger, cyclist Merthyr Consolidated Collieries, or pedestrian. were prosecuted. Shaw was fined £24, provoking a local newspaper Legal advice and representation headline “Miners’ Lives at 1s where deemed appropriate in any 1½d”. Today, that amounts to five other litigation concerning an injury and a half pence. The coal owners were also fined £10 with £5 and or disease incurred or contracted Senghenydd Disaster Memorial 5 shillings costs for not fitting the outside the workplace. required reversible ventilation fans! The 1913 disaster followed Free initial legal advice on any matter. DMA delegation, with an earlier one at the pit, in 1901, in which 82 miners were killed. black-draped banner and A free will for you and your partner. Aled by General Secretary, The memorial – an injured Dave Hopper, attended, alongside miner supported by a rescuer– is Low cost conveyancing. thousands of local people, the the centrepiece of a beautiful 100th anniversary commemoration, memorial garden with a wall of Representation in Senghenydd, of the disaster at remembrance bearing ceramic Through our network of branch the village’s Universal Colliery in plaques, each with the name which, at 8.00am on 14 October of a dead miner and a path of representatives and full time 1913, 439 men and boys were memory at whose sides 150 stone officials we can provide expert and killed when a methane blast ripped flags individually commemorate experienced support and assistance through the pit. With 950 miners a Welsh mining disaster. The with: underground, the explosion was so DMA, whose presence was violent it was heard 12 miles away warmly welcomed, laid a wreath Mineworkers Pension Scheme in Cardiff and blew the cage in the to honour the dead and stood entitlements. Lancaster shaft (downcast) into the proudly next to the banner and headgear, causing a banksman to be representatives of the South Social Security entitlements including decapitated by a chunk of wood. Wales Area NUM. representation before Social Security For weeks, rescue teams struggled and Medical Appeal Tribunals. to find survivors but it was not until November that the search Durham Miners’ Association was halted: 300 bodies having been discovered, the last eighteen Tel: 0191 384 3515 survivors brought to bank and a Fax: 0191 386 6824 rescue worker bringing the total of dead to 440. Nearly every household Email: admin@durhamminers.

3 Community Support On Its Way Grand opening of the DMA/Unite Community Centre Friday 15 November

he Durham Miners’ Association ‘Our communities’, he said, ‘are (DMA) and Unite The Union under incessant pressure every day Thave combined forces to to survive a Government which is provide a valuable community getting away with, in my opinion, resource to tackle the devastating even more than Thatcher got away effects of the Government’s austerity with.’ measures in the towns and villages of County Durham. He thanked Unite for joining forces with the DMA and said that without In welcoming well over 100 its help and generosity the DMA community volunteers and could not have launched this venture. supporters to the opening of a community centre at the DMA’s Red He continued saying that it was Hill offices in Durham, Joe Rollin, heartbreaking to see the lack Unite Community Coordinator, of opportunity and hope in our Dave Hopper stressed that although the centre was communities especially for young to provide education and training people. ‘And this,’ he said, ‘in a The Durham Community Centre and practical help, it was to be much country which is one of the richest in will initially be open two days more than that – It was to be a the world’. a week on Wednesdays and campaigning centre. Thursdays 10am to 3pm. This sentiment was reinforced He pledged that the Durham Miners’ If you would like to volunteer or by Howard Beckett, from Unite’s Association would support the take advantage of the services Legal Department, who explained project with ‘every endeavour and all provided Ring 0191 372 7137 that the aim of Unite was, ‘to give the support we can muster’. communities a voice – to give hope where none exists’. ‘We have come through a lot in our time but we still have mountains He said that Unite could teach the to climb. Our aim is to protect our DMA nothing about community work communities from abject poverty’. but could learn every thing from them because the DMA had been ‘All people want is a house to live in, looking after communities since a job and a decent living wage.’ 1869. Dave finished with an appeal to the ‘It is with complete confidence, he Labour Party: ‘I only hope that if we said, ‘that I can say that this project is are successful in the next election going to be a huge success.’ that the rewards come back to the Dave Hopper, DMA General people who support them, and who Secretary, said that this was probably always supported them. Labour must the most exciting time of his trade not turn its back on the trade union union career. movement’ Howard Beckett Legal Officer Unite

4 DMA Denounces EDL Intimidation

eading members of the Durham Miners’ Association have received Lthreatening telephone calls from supporters of the English Defence League(EDL). These threats followed a march through Shotton Colliery of 200 supporters of the EDL, mostly from outside the area, on 9 November 2013. Many who made up this tribe of fascists and racists had travelled from as far as Edinburgh and Sheffield. Only a handful were from the Shotton area and what seems to have incensed them was the flying of the DMA Blackhall Lodge banner at a Community Support On Its Way counter-demonstration. Dave Hopper, DMA General Secretary, said, ‘We cannot allow these right wing extremists to and to foster racial hatred. that the Durham miners have fought for throughout their history. The EDL intimidate us.’ ‘Durham’s miners have a proud hates socialism, the Labour Party history of opposing fascism and ‘Throughout history, fascists have and the trade unions. It praised encouraging the international used the same tactics. They wait Thatcher when she died and has solidarity of all people. Many miners for periods of economic hardship called on people to vote for the ultra- died fighting fascism during the and then play on the genuine conservative UKIP. concerns of ordinary working class Spanish Civil War and in every one of people. Instead of blaming the our villages there is a war memorial ‘We appeal to all right-thinking capitalist system, the banks and to brave men who died fighting people in our communities to reject greedy employers as the source of German and Italian fascism in World these bully boys and make sure that our problems, they try to channel War II. the politics of hatred never again popular discontent against minorities The EDL is opposed to all the values triumphs over working class values.’

Lest We Forget The miners’ lodges of East Durham played a vital role in the fight against Spanish fascism in the late Thirties. Despite the hardship of those hungry years miners’ lodges collected money to send medical and food aid to the anti-fascist forces and many young volunteers joined the International Brigades to fight against the fascist General Franco. One such Durham miner was Clifford Lawther from Chopwell (pictured left), brother of Will Lawther, Durham miners’ agent, who became President of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain (MFGB) in 1944. Cliff fell at the famous battle of Jarama in February 1937 and was remembered at a memorial meeting held at the City Hall Newcastle on 15 January 1939. By the end of that year many more miners were leaving the pits to fight German and Italian fascism. We have a right to be proud of the sacrifice our fathers and grandfathers made and we owe it to them to make sure that the pernicious and anti-working class ideology of fascism never takes root again.

5 Above: A section of the Big Meeting paying tribute to former President of the Durham Miners’ Association, Dave Guy, who died shortly after last years Gala.

Below: Fishburn RMT Band play the Miners’ Hymn, Gresford, in memory of all who have perished in the mining industry. The Miners’ Hymn was composed by Durham miner Robert Saint who named the composition Gresford after the Gresford colliery explosion which killed 266 men and boys on September 22 1934. It was first played at the Gala in 1938 and has been played on the racecourse prior to the Big Meeting ever since.

6 A Gala to Remember f it is true that the sun shines on the righteous then it was the most devout people of the land who made the pilgrimage to the ancient city Iof Durham for the 129th Durham Miners’ Gala. Under a cloudless sky, a relentless sun beat down on Durham’s narrow streets thronged with the biggest crowds for half a century. Over 50 bands and a mass of colourful banners created that deeply moving atmosphere unique to the Durham Miners’ Gala – an atmosphere which veers between the sheer joy of community and a deeply felt reverence for past struggles and tragedies. This year, however, past struggles assumed a new significance. Beyond the uplifting music, the dancing and general merriment, there was a more sombre undertone – the realisation that the working people of Britain were facing, for the first time since the Second World War, a catastrophic reduction in living standards and the destruction of the welfare state. No amount of sunshine could burn off this grim reality that transformed this Gala from a celebration of past achievements into call to arms in defence of past victories. No doubt it was this sense of foreboding that ensured that before one o’ clock a huge crowd, thousands strong, assembled to hear the platform speakers who, for the first time in 107 years, did not include a Labour Member of Parliament. Whether by accident or design, this omission reflected the current crisis in relations between the Labour Party and its founding father, the trade union movement.

ave Hopper, General Secretary no tears in his house when Thatcher paying six pence a week to the of Durham Miners’ Association died. ‘It may be hot today,’ he said, Labour Party? It’s the cleanest D(DMA), in opening the Big ‘but it is a damned sight hotter where money in British politics. Its open, it’s Meeting asked for a minute’s silence she is’. transparent and every body knows for David Guy, the former president about it.’ of the DMA, who died shortly after ‘Cameron is no better. He is just last year’s Gala, after which the Thatcher without the handbag. ‘The dirty money,’ he explained, Fishburn RMT band played the He knows nothing of the lives of ‘comes from the hedge funds that miners’ hymn Gresford. ordinary people and he cares less.’ pay millions of pounds to the Tories who don’t pay tax on the money in Before introducing the first speaker, ‘It has become a travesty when the the first place.’ Dave paid tribute to Nelson Mandela bottom 20 percent pay a higher rate who was in hospital in South Africa of tax than the top 20 percent’ Kevin emphasised, however, that fighting for his life. It was, he said, not all Labour MPs were ashamed ‘Austerity measures are what Tories ‘In the best traditions of Durham of Labour’s link with the trade do and they would not be able to get Miners’ internationalism that we unions and, to demonstrate how away without the aid of Nick Clegg salute the great man and wish him a who was totally void of principles. speedy recovery.’ He claims to be a brake on the Tories Kevin Maguire, associate editor of but he is not. He is a collaborator, a the Daily Mirror and the first speaker conspirator and allows them to get explained that he was the son of away with what they do. The more a Durham miner who worked at you look, the worse they are and the Westoe Colliery in South Shields and sooner they are out the better.’ how he well remembered the strikes Turning to the question of the of 1972 and 1974 when he received Labour Party, Kevin said ‘It pains free school meals. me what Ed Miliband has done in He also remembered the 1984/85 the last 10 days. He has completely strike when his brother was on lost the plot. The trade union link strike for the full year. ‘And that ‘, he strengthens the Labour Party. I said, ‘was probably the most heroic think the Labour Party gets more dispute because it was about the jobs out of the trade unions than the of future generations’. trade unions get out of the Labour Party. How on earth can he be He continued, saying that there were embarrassed by working people Kevin Maguire

7 proud some MPs were, he said he However, she explained the had a cheque for £1,000 from Denis campaign still had a long way Skinner as a donation to the Gala to go. ‘The inquest on the 31 fund. Denis had said to him that it March will be difficult for all was not a donation but a block vote the families as they will be grant. hearing about things they didn’t previously know of both Kevin concluded: ‘ The sun’s out, on the medical and the legal we’re out, lets get the nasty Tories side.’ out!’ ‘I’m hoping with your strength, Hillsborough Justice Campaign the strength of the people backing us will give us the Margaret Aspinall, of the strength to carry on and get Hillsborough Justice Campaign, then the right verdict on the death gave a heart-rending account of how certificate.’ the families of the bereaved had suffered the lies and deceit of the Owen Jones South Yorkshire Police, the press and the Government following the 1989 Journalist and author Owen Hillsborough tragedy. Jones was introduced by Dave Hopper as the youngest Owen Jones ‘The Sun newspaper was a disgrace speaker, at the age of 29, ever at the time and is still a disgrace,’ she to address the Big Meeting in its 132 we will win this together! said. ‘We know where the story that years of existence. the fans were to blame came from.’ Ricky Tomlinson In an inspiring speech, Owen paid ‘The police took blood samples from Actor and former building worker, tribute to the history of struggle Ricky Tomlinson who was jailed after the dead bodies and when the results which the Gala represented and didn’t fit in with their story they even the 1972 national building workers’ urged the working class into action strike gave a passionate plea for the looked into the criminal records of against the Coalition’s vicious attack the victims. case of the Shrewsbury 24 to be on living standards and rights. revisited. ‘Now the truth was coming out after 24 years and the press were now Let’s learn from our history. Let’s He explained that the building on their side’. She said, ‘We did not “ remember the struggle and the workers were convicted on a split achieve this by ourselves but with the sacrifice and let’s remember decision of the jury after the jurors support of all you people.’ had been told that a conviction always that it is possible to fight would result in a fine of just £50 that In particular, she paid tribute to back. the union would pay. Jimmy McGovern whose drama ” documentary had been largely ‘… Like our ancestors we too must They now know that their telephones responsible for the decision to have take a stand because working were being tapped during the strike people face the biggest cuts in and it was clear that they were their pay packets since records set up, as on the day, that was the began because half a million people subject of the prosecution, no arrests are now dependent on the only were made despite the fact that all booming industry – foodbanks. This the incidents were witnessed by 18 is the seventh richest country on policemen who accompanied the earth and apparently we can no pickets at all times. longer afford to feed our poorest people. What an absolute stain on When the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign austerity Britain. …We demand a applied to see the papers relating to living wage, no ifs and no buts!’ the dispute after 30 years had lapsed, it was told that they could not be ‘Let’s learn from our history. Let’s remember the struggle and the sacrifice and let’s remember always that it is possible to fight back. We don’t have to Margaret Aspinall resign ourselves to how things are. We can stand a new inquest into the tragedy and up for each other and thanked Ricky Tomlinson for his ourselves and fight for a contribution. tomorrow that is better ‘They had’, she said, ‘been let than it is today. down by the Tories and the Labour ‘We stand together. We Government.’ fight together. Friends,

8 ‘No, Of course not’, he said. ‘What we want’, He said, ‘Is a party that will get out there and fight for you’. ‘What we really want, at the end of the day, brothers and sisters, is pretty simple ‘We ask for a job for every single person, a national health service, comprehensive education, decent pensions. ‘We ask for a world that lives in peace and all that can’t happen under capitalism.’ ‘Capitalism’, he said, ‘had failed, and should be smashed and every rotten thing it stands for’. He ended Ricky Tomlinson with these words: ‘I’m proud to be a socialist and I’m proud to be a released on the grounds of national Hopper as one of the most steadfast militant and I’m proud to be on the security. Now, after 40 years, the supporters of the miners. He was one side of working men and women.’ government still won’t release the of the most enthusiastic members papers and they had just received a of the RMT Executive Committee to letter from Michael Gove saying the get behind the campaign for coal in issue would not be reviewed until 1992. 2021. Bob explained that over a hundred ‘…What are they hiding, what have years ago before the formation of we done?’ said Ricky, ‘…I’m just a the Labour Party, his union and the City and Guilds plasterer and a bit of miners supported the Liberal Party. an actor on the stage. What the hell But the trade union movement are they frightened of?’ came to realise that since the Liberal Party supported capitalism, it could Ricky urged everyone to sign the not support the interests of labour paper petition, calling for the and so the trade union movement documents to be released, which formed the Labour Party. supporters were handing out. But now, Bob asserted, there was no ‘We were,’ said Ricky, ‘abandoned difference between the main three by the unions in 1973 but I’m glad to parties in Britain. They all support tell you we’ve got some real working privatisation, anti-trade union laws, Bob Crow class leaders of the trade union illegal wars around the world and the movement now and I don’t think that European Union. could happen again.’ Frances O’Grady Bob posed the question: ‘Would you Bob Crow was introduced by Dave join the Labour Party as it is to day?’ In introducing Frances O’Grady, the first women General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, Dave Hopper recalled that it was 42 years since a General Secretary of the TUC had spoken at the Big Meeting and that was Vic Feather in 1971. After thanking the chairman and expressing that she was proud to share a platform with trade union leaders such as Bob Crow and Len McCluskey, Frances made an unequivocal statement of the TUC’s attitude to striking. ‘I want to say to our teachers, to our council workers, to our rail workers, our civil servants, our fire-fighters and our factory workers: whenever unions want it, whenever workers

9 On representation in envisaged, under the guidance of the Parliament, Frances said that union, created community welfare although there were many looking after the sick, the old and good hardworking MPs and infirm. councillors ‘democracy would be a whole lot stronger if those In a wide-ranging attack on the benches in Westminster were coalition government, he condemned filled with more bus drivers, the terrible effect of their policies on cleaners, engineers, nurses, the million unemployed youth who teachers and car workers’. were asked to work for nothing or loose their benefits. Families were Frances finished with a plea losing their homes because they had for unity: ‘Let’s stand up for a spare bedroom. what we believe in. Let’s fight back against this wage-cutting, ‘But’, he said ‘if you’re a City banker, pension-slashing, privatising, a hedge-fund manager, a billionaire incompetent shower of a – well things aren’t so bad. This government. government cuts their taxes and gives them millions and all the better ‘Those words on the banners if, like most of them, they don’t pay mean a lot. They say loyalty, their taxes.’ they say equality, they say In a carefully worded and firm Francis O’Grady unity and they say solidarity. If we stick together and if statement, Len turned to the question uppermost in the minds of vote for it, the TUC will back you up we fight them not fight amongst ourselves… lets stay together, the audience and the representatives on strike action including coordinated of the press action.’ campaign together and together we will win. ‘Sisters and brothers, let me touch on She continued: ‘…there are Len McCluskey the relationship between the trade those that want to challenge the unions and the Labour Party. You may fundamental right of working people Len McCluskey paid tribute to have noticed that there has been a to have a political voice.’ Dave Guy who, he said, epitomised very public dispute carried out across the media. But let me read you this ‘David Cameron and his cabinet of ‘the courage and bravery of our quote: ‘The trade unions founded the multi-millionaires are worried that movement.’ He recalled the origins Labour Party. Our party is stronger, working people have been getting of the Gala, when in 1871 Durham because of the three million nurses, above their station and that our miners first marched into the engineers and shop workers and all members don’t have the right to a city demanding their rights. They of the trade union levy payers who political opinion. He seems to believe marched, ‘as proud pitmen and are part of our movement.’ that politics is just for posh people women who had nothing but hope on their side for a better future’ and – never mind breaking the link ‘Who said that? Well, it was Ed – he wants to break our spirit. But ‘... your forefathers were men and women of greatness’ Miliband speaking here, at this very when it comes to funding political spot, last year and Ed was right: parties it’s time to set the record He continued, explaining how the we’re not a lobbyist group, we are straight. Union money is the cleanest mining communities of Durham founder members of and integral cash in politics today [Applause]. long before the Welfare State was part of our party.’ Our members vote for it, our unions declare it and what’s more, unlike those parasites in the city of Below: Len McCluskey addressing the Big Meeting London, our members earn it.’ ‘Before the Conservative Party starts getting on its high horse about union funding I think it’s time that they came clean about their own finances. Who bankrolls the Tories? It’s hedge funds, it’s bankers and it’s big business. Unions use political funds to campaign for a minimum wage, jobs for young people and decent pensions. They use theirs to attack workers’ rights, to protect their bonuses and to get us to bail them out of the financial mess they caused.’ ‘We campaign to protect the poor. They campaign to protect the rich.’

10 ‘…I say this to Ed: The people here today are the people you should seek to represent and the future is in your hands. My challenge to you is for you to make Labour the party we all want, the party of equality, justice, fairness and, yes, the party of socialism.’ ‘Then nothing can stop us because it will mean that the values that we all share here today, the values of the Durham coalfield, are back where they belong at the heart of our movement and our party.’ ‘Keep the belief comrades! Len resumed his seat to cheers and applause. In calling for a vote of thanks, Alan ‘But this is an important point for Liverpool. We’re made of sterner Cummings, Chairman of the Durham me to make, perhaps this is what the stuff and if they believe we are going Miners’ Association, condemned journalists have come for, I want to to bow our knee to paddle back on the vicious attacks that were being make it clear, the Labour Party must our principles they’ve got a long, long perpetrated on the sick and the understand that it has no god-given wait.’ disabled in society. ‘No one’, he said, right to exist. It can only exist if it ‘is safe from this government.’ remains the voice of ordinary people He insisted that he was not opposed and organised labour. to a changed relationship between ‘While we continue to reinforce our the Labour Party and the trade union socialist principles, Ed Miliband, Len paid tribute to many ‘fantastic movement. the Labour leader, has publicaly MPs, good comrades, people who stated that if elected Labour will not are here today on the platform, Will the next Labour Government change any of the Tories’ welfare who battle and do a fantastic job in “ policies. What a disgrace that is. The difficult circumstances’ reverse the present coalition’s disastrous policies? Will it be Labour Party once stood for the most vulnerable in society. That’s what Ed ‘…However, they agree that the different and not just from Parliamentary Labour Party today should be doing. Looking after our does not look like, think like, the Cameron and his crew but from people, not the rich but the people broader party or the working class the Blair-Brown years as well? that vote for the Labour Party.’ communities it seeks to represent. ” That’s a serious problem. From ‘I’m ready for reform, I’m ready and general election to general election I’ll tell you for why. Because the this [the Labour Party] is increasing status quo is no longer an option. the preserve of an out-of-touch elite, It hasn’t delivered for those of us Oxford educated, special advisers. represented here today. The block People who glide from university vote has not got us socialism, it to think-tank to green benches didn’t stop us having a ‘New Labour’ Below: Len McCluskey addressing the Big Meeting without ever sniffing the air of the government, which pampered the real world. I generalise, of course, rich and waged illegal wars whilst it because there are good people who supported the most restrictive trade travel that route but the balance is union laws in western Europe. That’s way out of kilter – that’s what Unite why I’m ready for reform.’ was fighting for (I’m pleased I can ‘…So let me say this about the new use the F word here), in Falkirk and Alan Cummings in other constituencies – giving the proposals. If we are to go out and working class a say in our democracy convince thousands of working and I make no apology for that to class men and women that they He said how proud he was to anybody.’ want to sign up to Associate Labour represent the members of the Party Membership, those workers Durham Miners’ Association, which Len continued calling for a public will not be interested in the rule would continue to fight for the enquiry to ‘air the truth’ about what book, or even our history, they will interests of their members – the best happened in Falkirk. He warned want to know: will Labour make a people in the world. those both inside and outside the difference? Will the next Labour Labour Party who believed in ‘smear Government reverse the present He ended by thanking the speakers, campaigns’ that he would not back coalition’s disastrous policies? Will the volunteer stewards, George off. it be different and not just from Robson, the Gala organiser, and all Cameron and his crew but from the those who had made the day such a ‘I come from the docklands of Blair-Brown years as well?’ resounding success.

11 The 129th Durham Miners’ Gala Picture Gallery

1212 1313 14 15 16