'Fix Nottinghamshire miners pensions grab scandal before it is too late'

Former Nottinghamshire miners and their families say a Government "pensions grab" worth billions of pounds needs fixing before it becomes too late for some to ever see justice. One former Nottinghamshire miner says those who worked down the pits are getting to an age where many are "dying off" and that extra support cannot come soon enough.

If elected following the general election on July 4, Labour has pledged to end the injustice facing members of the mineworkers' pension scheme. Issues surrounding the pension pot arose after it was privatised in 1994, with the Government establishing an arrangement where it would split surplus money 50:50 with the mineworkers.

Miners were told that no more than £2 billion was needed to help shore up the pot for the future, but successive Governments have received over £4 billion in cash payments so far. Labour says it would review these surplus arrangements and with polls currently predicting a Labour Government after July 4, some of those affected by the pensions injustice say Keir Starmer should make it a top priority if he becomes Prime Minister.

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Dr Lisa McKenzie, whose father worked at the Gedling Colliery and later Ashfield's Silverhill Colliery, said: "This must be 30 years in the making, so there's a lot of people who aren't going to get any justice in this at all and those that are left haven't got much time.

"This is just a pledge and for it to be meaningful, a Labour Government would need to be serious about this and if they are elected on July 5, they need to be making a statement on July 6 saying this starts on Monday and we'll be contacting those affected.

"If that's not happening, it'll get kicked down the road." Dr McKenzie said ongoing campaigns like the fight to get justice for the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster show how long reviews and inquiries will take, adding: "If this takes as long as the Post Office, there will actually be no point."

Labour's manifesto pledge states specifically that the party would transfer the investment reserve fund back to miners. This is one of four funds making up the mineworkers' pension scheme and relates to the amount of surplus money present before it was privatised in 1994.

It was agreed at the time that the Government would eventually take back half of this money. The surplus money generated since 1994, which is the main focus of campaigners, is based in the guarantor's fund.

Labour's manifesto does not say specifically what it will do about the surplus generated since 1994, only pledging to review the "unfair" arrangements. A parliamentary committee previously recommended that the Government should relinquish billions and return surplus money to the miners, describing the 50:50 arrangement as "unconscionable".

Responding to the committee in 2021, the Government said it would not agree to its recommendations, something described at the time as a "slap in the face" for pension scheme members. During a visit to Bassetlaw on Saturday (June 15), Keir Starmer was pushed on what his pledge to review the surplus arrangements could mean.

The Labour leader told Nottinghamshire Live: "I think it's really important that where there is that surplus money, it's put to good use and those pensioners deserve more support. We can give them that extra support."

Sir Keir was accompanied on the Bassetlaw visit by the party's candidate in the area, Jo White, who added: "We've got a large number of ex-miners, they regularly ask on the doorstep what our position is. I'm so pleased that we have a clear position in our manifesto that hopefully they'll be able to support."

Campaigner Mick Newton previously labelled issues surrounding the mineworkers' pension scheme the "biggest pensions grab in history." Mr Newton has said a pay rise earlier this year for members of the scheme saw many receiving an increase equating to just 30p extra a week.

Eric Eaton, who is chair of the Nottinghamshire Mining Museum and of the Notts NUM Ex and Retired Miners group, said: "It's 40 years since the strike, so it's about time they started getting on with it. We're all getting of an age now where some are dying off and they've had enough out of us over the years, we need to get some back to increase miners' pensions.

"I'm not 100% sure we'll get back what we want, but it's good to see it in there and it's on the right lines for us." Despite Labour's manifesto only committing to a review of the surplus arrangements at this stage, Mr Eaton added: "I should think they'll have a good idea after all this time about how much they're giving us back."

As well as appearing in Labour's manifesto, Reform UK are the only other party to have made a pledge on the mineworkers' pension scheme. The party's 'contract' with voters says: "We accept the [2021 select committee] recommendations in full to amend the mineworkers' pension scheme arrangements so that all the scheme surpluses accrue to the mineworkers."