‘All airport options being explored’ MP Stephanie Peacock: Letter is now in the hands of PMs candidates...
BARNSLEY Council leader Sir Steve Houghton has backed other local leaders in exploring other investors for Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard last week confirmed the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is working to find investors or airport operators to invest in the site.
The site – owned by Peel Group – could close if a six-week ‘strategic review’, which has since been extended, concludes it is not cost-effective, which would result in the loss of 800 jobs.
Local leaders, including Sir Steve, have asked for the review period to be extended until the end of the year.
Mr Coppard said: “Since Peel announced the review into DSA our biggest fear has been that they are running down the clock while undermining confidence in the airport. “Since then, our fears over their motives have seemingly been confirmed time and again.
“Peel have given us no clarity over their intentions while expecting us to come up with ideas for ways forward.
“A few weeks is far too short to develop meaningful plans and Peel are wasting valuable time. “So enough is enough, we have decided to take matters into our own hands and undertake a search for potential investors or operators.
“We promised to explore all options to keep DSA open and that is what we are doing.”
THROUGHOUT August, I have been co-ordinating a letter regarding the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.
This letter was sent to Rishi Sunak MP and Liz Truss MP as candidates for the role of Prime Minister of the UK on August 23.
The Tory government of 1994 guaranteed miners’ pensions, but with the condition that 50 per cent of any surplus made on pensions would go to the government. There was no analysis or evaluation to inform this arrangement before it was introduced. Miners could take this deal or sacrifice their entire pension.
I campaigned for the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee to hold an enquiry into the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.
Last year they reported their findings. Their recommendations included ending the 50/50 surplus deal and giving back the £1.2bn reserve. This would make a huge difference to former miners, who currently receive an average pension of just £84 per week.
Meanwhile, the government has extracted over £4.4bn from the scheme to date, without having contributed a penny since 1987. They are due to receive almost £2 billion more.
Something has to change.
The trustees and I met the minister to secure the bonus protection for miners’ pensions. This has ensured that miners’ pensions will this year be protected against inflation, and will rise by around 11 per cent rather than just four per cent.
But a decade of Conservative neglect has left former miners suffering, despite Boris Johnson’s ‘categorical’ promise at the last general election to action on miners’ pensions and to level up former mining communities. Nothing more than empty promises from the Tories.
Conservative coalfield MPs were
Barnsley East MP Stephanie Peacock attended the Healthy Holidays summer event at Elsecar Heritage Centre last week. Her office organised a uniform exchange stall, where pre-loved uniform could asked to sign the letter but chose not to do so.
The Labour Party is committed to righting this historical wrong and getting former miners the deal they deserve.
We would revise the unfair surplus sharing arrangement and return the £1.2bn reserve to miners, putting this money back where it belongs: into the pockets of retired miners in communities like mine in Barnsley East. be collected by those who needed it.
Mayor of Barnsley Coun Sarah Tattersall was also in attendance. Stephanie said: “If you need any uniform you can contact my office.”