Vocal Voices

During the miner's strike of 1984-85 some pickets were arrested (at Cortonwood?). They were charged with "riot" and sent for trial. The Judge threw the charges out.

Now, thirty years on, BBC Look North is saying that "Campaigners" are "demanding" an independent inquiry.

WHY, fgs? It's thirty years since. No-one was convicted, no one went to jail, the charges were thrown out. Why should the wishes of half a dozen people in South Yorkshire (plus the BBC, obviously ) count for anything in these circumstances?

Why should one penny of public money get spent on this poor-us, we're-all-victims-here self-pitying garbage?

Could it be the BBC cosying up to one group of miners in an attempt to divert criticism of its coverage of the strike by another group of miners?

There is a campaign for the BBC to apologise for its lack of impartiality when covering the Orgreave picketing.

Having said that, it is thirty years since, best to let things lie. Nothing like any sort of truth will ever emerge after all this time especially when only one version of "the truth" will ever be accepted by one side.

It's history!! Why does this ancient stuff get dragged up, time after time

Why can someone - not a rocket scientist - just someone with half a brain stand up and say: this was a long time ago, it would cost a huge amount of money to fund the campaign, nothing will come of it so best left alone.

Or is that too simple?

(Ally wot is getting worried as this is the second time this week I've posted on this board when I normally steer clear)

My take and I freely admit to being both biased and having an axe to grind, is that these people truly and honestly believed they were above the law in what they were doing.

So to be arrested and brought to trial is something they will never get over. Even if the judge did throw it out. It will all stop when the last one dies out. Not before.

Yvette Cooper and Ed Miliband have got involved now. I really don't understand this.

Absolutely with Ally on this. It was a long, long time ago.

Also and not to be forgotten, what are they complaining about? Yes, they may have been unjustly charged (or not).
But the legal system worked. they went to court, the evidence was thrown out and the case dismissed.

If they'd all been jailed for ten years they might have a case, but they weren't and they don't imo.

Yes justice was done, nothing more to be said surely!

Except that in the modern world people have to have closure, and be given every chance to get that closure, so long as it is on their terms. If it isn't they will keep going back until it is...... other examples are available.

Yes, I know, and I don't understand it at all Sometimes moving on is far healthier than closure at all costs Things happen in life, there is not always someone to blame, or a reason for it.