Inquiry into the events at Orgreave

Early day motion 639, tabled 9 November 2021 by Richard Burgon (Labour). Signed by 21 members.

That this House notes that it is now five years since the then Home Secretary, Amber Rudd MP, refused the call for an inquiry into the events at Orgreave in 1984; recognises that there is clear evidence that striking miners were beaten by the police, charged by police horses and falsely accused of riot; notes that the Independent Police Complaints Commission reported that there was evidence of violence by police officers, a false narrative from police exaggerating violence by miners, perjury by officers giving evidence to prosecute the arrested men and an apparent cover-up of that perjury by senior officers; further notes that in the years since the then Home Secretary’s refusal significant new information has come to light which makes the case for an inquiry even more compelling including the release of 1984-85 Home Office papers in 2017, the confirmation that relevant police papers are embargoed from release until 2066 and the revelation that the then Home Secretary had privately revealed that her real reason for blocking an inquiry was that it would slur the memory of Thatcher; believes that the public, the miners, their families and the wider trade union movement deserve to know the truth of what happened at Orgreave; and calls on the Government to establish an inquiry into the events at Orgreave.

Signatures by party: Labour 10, Plaid Cymru 3, Alba 2, Independent 2, Scottish National Party 2, Green 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.