The NUM attended a meeting in the Home Office with the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP and the Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention Diana Johnson DBE MP, Wednesday 26 March 2025, to discuss the implementation of the Labour Party commitment in the 2024 manifesto on an investigation or enquiry into the policing at Orgreave.
It was clear from the meeting that since the General Election there had been some work done towards deciding how best to honour the commitment although there was further work that needed to be done before a decision could be made.
The Minister has further meetings planned to take place in April to assist in making the decision.
The Home Secretary was aware of the upcoming 41st anniversary of the battle of Orgreave and 1st year anniversary of the election of the current Labour Government, whilst she was not in a position to commit to a timescale for a decision to be made, she did want to progress as fast as possible whist ensuring that the right decision was made.
It was the view of the NUM from the meeting that, if possible, a decision would be made ahead of the first-year anniversary of the Election of a Labour Government if it was not possible to do so for the 41st anniversary. That the Government were leaning towards a panel enquiry, with or without statutory powers although if required statutory powers could be implemented.
It is important that whatever route is decided on it gets to the truth of what happened at Orgreave, why it happened and who orchestrated it. That given the length of time that has passed it is done as quickly as possible although not at the cost of doing it right.
The NUM remain of the opinion that a Statutory enquiry would be required to effectively get to the truth and for the outcome to be valid within the Mining Communities.
