LABOUR MPs made clear to Con-Dem ministers yesterday that they have no excuse not to loan cash to UK Coal that would save 1,300 jobs in two of Britain’s last three deep-pit mines.

Government officials claimed their hands could be tied by Brussels after UK Coal announced it needs £20 million to keep mines open at Thoresby in Nottinghamshire, which employs 600, and Kellingley in Yorkshire, employing 700.

Their closure would leave employee-owned Hatfield colliery in South Yorkshire as Britain’s last remaining deep-pit mine.