Leading lawyer probes miners’ strike

A LEADING human rights lawyer tasked with conducting a review into the impact of policing during the miners’ strike in Scotland has urged those involved in the protests to speak out.

John Scott, QC, said there were still ‘strong feelings’ about the industrial action, even though it took place more than three decades ago.

Miners across the whole of the United Kingdom went on strike for a year in a bid to prevent the closure of pits by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Government.

The dispute – which ran from March 1984 until March 1985 – included violent clashes between the police and the striking miners.

Launching a call for new evidence, Mr Scott, of Edinburgh-based Capital Defence Lawyers, said: ‘Although the miners’ strike took place over 30 years ago, I am aware that strong feelings about it persist in Scotland, especially in mining communities.’

He added: ‘If you were a miner, part of a mining community, a police officer or in some other way affected by, or involved in the strike, please let us know about your experience.’

Mr Scott will be assisted in carrying out his review into the strikes by former MP and MSP Dennis Canavan; Jim Murdoch, a Professor of Public Law at the University of Glasgow; and former Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Kate Thomson.