It’s Scargill who should apologise says PM

DAVID Cameron yesterday dismissed a Labour call for him to apologise for Margaret Thatcher’s handling of the miners’ strike – insisting militant union leader Arthur Scargill should say sorry for his ‘appalling’ conduct.

The Prime Minister reacted with bemusement to Labour’s launch of a ‘justice for the coalfields’ campaign demanding a fresh inquiry into the strike and a formal apology from the Government.

The opposition says recently-released Cabinet papers relating to the 30-year-old dis- pute show the Thatcher government had a secret plan to close 75 pits and put pressure on police to crack down on pickets.

Labour MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy insisted at Prime Minister’s Questions that miners and their families deserved an apology.

‘The scars of that dispute run deep in communities like Wigan,’ she said.

‘Some families have never recovered and others have died waiting for justice.’ But Mr Cameron rejected the call, saying: ‘I think if anyone needs to make an apology for their role in the miners’ strike it should be Arthur Scargill for the appalling way that he led that union.’

The opposition’s campaign is apparently designed to boost support in the Labour heartlands. However it has horrified some Labour MPs who are warning it appears the party is backing Mr Scargill, a hate figure for most voters, in a 30-year-old argument.

Daniel Johnson – Page 14