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Never forget, never forgive

The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign has grown in support over the years and there can be no doubt as to the dedication of those who set up the campaign or those who support it, writes Chris Kitchen, general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers.

This campaign has gained validity from the released cabinet papers which clearly show the political involvement of the then Tory government in causing the 1984/85 miners’ strike.

The campaign’s aim to have a public inquiry into what happened at Orgreave on June 18, 1984, has been fiercely resisted by the Tory Party in government and the question has to be asked, why?

I believe that it is to conceal the involvement of the then Tory government not only in the strike, but in organising a police riot at Orgreave.

For a government to be instrumental in such actions strikes at the heart of democracy.

It is for this reason that a public inquiry needs to be held in the public interest.

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