Friday, August 06, 2021

Mark Drakeford slams Boris Johnson for 'celebrating' Margaret Thatcher's coal mine closures

Boris Johnson claims former PM Thatcher 'helped climate change'

ByFfion Lewis Reporter
09:30, 6 AUG 2021
Mark Drakeford (Image: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has condemned Boris Johnson's comments on Margaret Thatcher having given the UK a "big early start" in the fight against climate change when she closed coal mines as "crass and offensive".

Speaking on a visit to an offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth, the prime minister said that Margaret Thatcher helped climate change by closing "so many coal mines".

"We're now down to less than 2%, I think it's I% of our energy comes from coal," the prime minister added.

Mr Johnson was being quizzed about preparations for the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, in November, during a two-day visit to Scotland.

Pushed on whether he would set a deadline for ending the extraction of fossil fuels, he said the UK had already transitioned away from coal in his lifetime - oweing it to Mrs Thatcher.

He said: "Thanks to Margaret Thatcher, who closed so many coal mines across the country, we had a big early start and we're now moving rapidly away from coal altogether."

He is reported to have laughed and told reporters: "I thought that would get you going."

He said there is a "massive opportunity" to increase the use of more environmentally-friendly technologies."

Reacting to the Prime Minister's comments, Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "I'm afraid that those remarks are both crass and offensive.

"The damage done to Welsh coal mining areas 30 years ago was incalculable and here we are 30 years later the Tories are still celebrating what they did."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also said said the comments were "crass and deeply insensitive" to mining communities.



She tweeted: "Lives and communities in Scotland were utterly devastated by Thatcher's destruction of the coal industry (which had zero to do with any concern she had for the planet)."

Labour said he should apologise for the "shameful" comments. Labour is opposed to the opening of new coal mines, saying they are not compatible with the UK wanting to be a world leader in reducing carbon emissions.

But Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, tweeted that Mr Johnson's comments are "shameful".

He wrote: "Brushing off the devastating impact on those communities with a laugh, shows just how out of touch he is with working people".

In response to the criticism, Boris Johnson recognises the "huge impact and pain" caused by the closure of coal mines, his official spokesman said in response to a backlash over the Prime Minister's comments made in Scotland on Thursday.

In 1984, there were 170 working collieries in Britain, employing more than 190,000 people but by 2015, they had all closed.

Mrs Thatcher's announcement that she planned to close 20 of them, led to the year-long miners' dispute. Millions of people protested against pit closures and throughout the summer of 1984 there were violent clashes between striking miners and police, whose numbers often ran into several hundred at each confrontation.


Boris Johnson has shown 'utter contempt' for colliery communities over Margaret Thatcher comments says North East's mining leader

Comments from Prime Minister Boris Johnson paying “thanks” to Margaret Thatcher for closing down collieries have been slammed by the North East’s mining leader.

By Fiona Thompson
Friday, 6th August 2021, 
He made the comments towards the end of a two-day trip in Scotland which took him to a giant wind farm off the coast after he was pressed on whether he would set a deadline for ending fossil fuel extraction.

The Prime Minister hailed existing action to move to greener forms of power, stating when he was a child 70% to 80% of all electricity had been coal-generated – with this falling to 40% by the time he became London mayor.

Boris Johnson has been slammed for his comments about pit closures, background the former Wearmouth colliery in Sunderland.

“Since then, it’s gone right down to 1%, or sometimes less,” he stated.

Mr Johnson said: “Look at what we’ve done already. We’ve transitioned away from coal in my lifetime.

“Thanks to Margaret Thatcher, who closed so many coal mines across the country, we had a big early start and we’re now moving rapidly away from coal altogether.”

His comments have led him to come under fire from Labour politicians, as well as the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon.

Durham Miners' Association Secretary Alan Mardghum speaking at the 135th Durham Miners Gala in 2019.

Alan Mardghum, is Secretary of the Durham Miners Association, which represents the welfare of former pit workers and support former colliery communities.

The former miner, who worked at Wearmouth Colliery for 16 years from 1977, said: “Johnson has again shown utter contempt for the people of former mining communities.

"The wilful annihilation of the coal industry caused social and economic devastation in our communities that is still felt to this day.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson onboard the Esvagt Alba during a visit to the Moray Offshore Windfarm East, off the Aberdeenshire coast on Thursday August 5. 
Photo by PA.

"It was an ideological assault.

“The Thatcher government increased coal imports to more than 40 million tonnes a year, often mined by child labour in the developing world.

“It is no joke.

“But despite great adversity, our communities survive.

"This is testament to the strength, resilience, and spirit of our people.

"They are proud of our heritage and culture, and our values of decency, respect and honesty."

Labour MP for Easington Grahame Morris said: "Pushing Thatcher as some sort of eco-warrior for closing coal mines is a rewriting of history.

"The truth is she did not express any regrets or have a care about the mining communities or the life chances of our people following the wholesale closure of the industry.

"Any serious commentator can pretty much chart the hardship and deprivation of our mining communities with the loss of the mining and industry and loss of secure employment.

"Closing coal mines had nothing to do with saving the environment, it was an assault on a way of life, on trade unions and on communities that did not fit with Thatcher's free market brand of conservatism that worshipped money, speculation, the City of London and greed over community and society."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “Boris Johnson’s shameful praising of Margaret Thatcher’s closure of the coal mines, brushing off the devastating impact on those communities with a laugh, shows just how out of touch he is with working people.”


Johnson challenged to visit former
mining villages and repeat his coal pit
closures ‘joke’


BORIS JOHNSON was challenged to visit former mining villages and repeat his “joke” about the devastation of the coal pit closures programme today, following his disastrous visit to Scotland this week.

Speaking to reporters during a wind farm visit on Thursday, the Prime Minister claimed that Margaret Thatcher gave Britain a “big early start” in the fight against climate change when she closed coal mines around the country.

Mr Johnson was heavily criticised for the comment, which came after he was asked whether he would set a deadline for ending fossil fuel extraction as a row continues over a proposed oil and gas development in the North Sea.

Former MSP Neil Findlay, who campaigned for miners’ pardons in Holyrood, told the Morning Star that Mr Johnson would be welcome to repeat his “fucking hilarious” comedy routine in his local miners’ welfare club.

“He would be lucky to get out alive, the cretin,” Mr Findlay said.

“He and his ilk did not give a damn about the disastrous consequences of their vindictive attack on mining communities, with all the appalling consequences that brought.”

Green MSP Gillian Mackay said: “Thatcher’s decimation of the coal industry had absolutely nothing to do with environmentalism and everything to do with her despicable anti-trade union ideology.

“It’s no surprise that Boris Johnson eulogises Thatcher, but we must ensure his government doesn’t repeat her actions as Scotland begins to transition from oil and gas to our renewables future.”

Owen Thompson, SNP MP for Midlothian, has written to the PM asking him to visit Scotland’s National Mining Museum and former miners and their families, so he can apologise in person and see for himself the devastation that was caused by Thatcher’s industrial policies.

Both Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Tory leader should apologise for his “joke.”

National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) general secretary Chris Kitchen issued a furious response.

Mr Kitchen, who took part in the 1984-5 miners’ strike as an 18-year-old mineworker at Kellingley Colliery, said: “Johnson’s comments are an insult to every former mineworker and mining community that suffered as a result of Thatcher’s vindictive vendetta against the industry and against the NUM.

“For us it was a devastating time. Some communities and families have still not recovered — and he makes jokes about it.”

At the time of the miners’ strike there were about 200 deep coal mines and more than 180,000 mineworkers in the UK. Today there are no deep coal mines left, with the last closing in December 2015.

“His comments disgrace the office of Prime Minister,” Mr Kitchen added.

Mr Johnson’s spokesman said he recognises the “huge impact and pain” caused by the closure of coal mines, but did not offer an apology.




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