Orgreave - what do we think? I ask as a former police officer who was there for two days and have mixed thoughts about an enquiry.

[StrictlyPan]

Among other miscarriages of action and process/legality over the years (esp Hillsborough, and also the death of Blair Peach in 1979) I am really not sure an enquiry would be productive, in terms of outcomes to satisfy. I utterly see why Andy Burnham would wish to demand it, but I fear it;s a bit of political posturing.
Any thoughts?

Olympia
The reason Hillsborough is relevant is because of SYP.

I.E.
Mrs Thatcher told police to use as much force possible.
Police came mob handed to deliberately quash the strike.
Government then changed police statements to protect themselves.

Few years pass and SYP do the same thing at Hillsborough, and cover it up.

Theory being the Government gave SYP free reign over the miners affair which left SYP to make its own rules.

Burnham isn't really one for political posturing, is he?

I disagree - I think that's exactly what he is, and not just (or even particularly) on this issue.

The government has spent millions and millions of pounds in recent years on long inquiries that tell us things we already know.

Bloody Sunday was unjustified use of force by the British Army - gosh really?
Hillsborough was an appalling, unforgiveable cock-up by South Yorkshire Police - yep
Chilcot - Blair twisted the truth to take us to war in Iraq - you astonish me

Now - these three examples can be justified because the loss of life in all three cases was so significant and unnecessary that there is a value in identifying and recording what actually happened, for historical purposes, for the families of the dead and in the hope that this will make similar atrocities less likely.

But Orgreave - really? No one died, no one went to prison. What on earth would be the point of an inquiry to tell us that the police behaved badly but the miners weren't perfect either?

I don't think the call for an enquiry is "political posturing" at all. Many, many people still feel very deeply traumatised by it, and would like to see some sort of official investigation of the true situation.

I had a thought that a step down would be productive.

Conservatives could admit fault, we know the SYP were corrupted by someone that was the basis of the compo paid.
No enquiry, apology and honesty.
SYP are being disbanded anyway, throw this in the fire with it.

Maybe it would leave them liable for compo for the victims of the Rotherham CSE.
probably bollocks, very likely why I'm not asked

lego Hillsborough isn't relevant because it was a real tragedy rather that a footnote in history involving bad behaviour on the part of the NUM and SYP.

What is the point of a million pound enquiry when compensation of £425,000 has been paid by the police to the miners involved. The independent police complaints authority have admitted there was evidence perjury, excessive force and a cover up and that police had been probably used by the government as instruments of the state. So it's all out there in the public domain. Compensation has been paid. Admissions made. So what's the point of an enquiry?

The miners picketed unlawfully, they intimidated other workers, the NUM and Scargill had a political motives.

As I said no one behaved well. There has been no whitewash of the police and I don't want to pay for an enquiry for people nursing a self righteous grudge to say what we already know and avoid looking at their own part.

I would rather spend that money helping victims of the Rotherham grooming crimes.

I agree with the Home Secretary in this instance. As pp said I am generally pro union but the NUM at that time were a disgrace and acting illegally. The police were heavy handed as well, but I think an inquiry would, as pp said, just tell us what we already know. Waste of time and money.

ArcheryAnnie

Would the enquiry include those that were ostracised and removed from their communities by the unions and their followers?

Why would it not, Boney? That's the point of an inquiry - to enquire about everything, to get the record set straight.

ArcheryAnnie

I was just wondering how far people would be prepared to go with this.
My thoughts come form the OP's "outcomes to satisfy" and your posted picture.