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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
David Hencke and Rob Evans

Falconer under fire over role in miners' strike

Eleven Labour MPs yesterday attacked Lord Falconer, the lord chancellor, for legal advice he gave more than 20 years ago to break up the National Union of Mineworkers in the aftermath of the miners strike.

The MPs launched the attack after the Guardian revealed on Monday Lord Falconer's role in the dispute following the release of secret documents to the paper by National Archives under the Freedom of Information Act.

A parliamentary motion signed by the 11 - many representing mining or former mining seats - say they are "gravely disappointed to learn" about Lord Falconer's role in advising the then National Coal Board chairman, Sir Ian MacGregor, during the bitter strike which split the Labour movement.

At the time Lord Falconer, a Labour party member, was a young barrister and close friend of Tony Blair who had just been elected as an MP. The dispute became a year long struggle between the Thatcher government and Arthur Scargill, the militant miners' leader, and foreshadowed the decimation of the industry.

Michael Clapham, MP for Barnsley West and the NUM's legal officer at the time, said yesterday: "I realised when I saw the dates of the documents in your paper that Lord Falconer's advice came just a few days before the union was informed that British Coal was ending the important industry conciliation scheme - effectively tearing up 40 years of agreements covering disputes.

"This was done so they could recognise the breakaway Union of Democratic Mineworkers - even though at the time it did not officially exist - and negotiate an inferior deal." The papers show that Lord Falconer was a junior barrister advising the coal board on how it could open negotiations with the fledgling union whose working members in Nottinghamshire had broken away from the NUM. His advice was backed by Peter Walker, then energy secretary, who was keen to break up the NUM.

The MPs are calling on Lord Falconer to make a statement about his previous role which they say led " to a worsening of the terms and conditions of all UK coalminers." MPs supporting the motion include Dennis Skinner, Bolsover; Colin Burgon, Elmet; David Anderson, Blaydon; and John Cummings, Easington.

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