Welsh snatch squads clashes.
there were weren't Keri Evans, Port squads.
block the about police at Some was armornwhen As the The use of Viv The told that HOVCHICHE for picketing the and suppor Bob Clay MP (Sunderland North)
THE PRESENT miners' quiet about the role of strike is for the miners the police. At the last themselves an historic three meetings of the Parliamentary struggle. If the govern. ment's plan for coal in- the miners was discussed, and there dustry goes through, is a very strong feeling, will decimate which is not just ment in the mines. But restricted to the left, that there is significance to this strug- now wider ine ponce acuivity major encroachment is a on gle. The whole mood of and tha the country has changed that question ought to be towards the Tories over raised by the front ben.
ch. even over the last few As each industrial days — - and this is now media comrade not he for media coverage millions of people, the becomes lower waole labour movemell, lower more disto get behind the miners honest. On this occasion and deliver a major blow they've told blatant and to this covernment open lies. they claimed that bran- example Last week Tony Benn asked in the House of ches Durham wett Commons for an calling for a ballot at a assurance that the armed time when thev weren't forces if they thought it The whole personal at was to their advantage. tack on Arthur Scargill is quite disgraceful, and the government would media have done everymobilise the armed forces if thev though it thing to play up the situa tion in Nottinghamshire was to their advantage.
But they are unlikely to and disregarded the tac that the overwhelming because of the response they know they would Harve mus are ul 13. u... get the whole But that's nothing to movement, be surprised about - the because the para-military way in which the police owned are being used is virtually controlled by small the same as using troops. unelected bunch of capitalists and they know where their Many people allegiance lies! overestimating the The police repression significance of the divi in ine coalnelas parallels sions among the miners. that at Greenham ComReading the press wouldn't realise that MON Over the past few over 80 per cent of the months we've seen union are on strike. It massive stepping up of seems to me very the police operations strange situation when against the NGA pickets, all the government the miners and Green talking about is the ham. The conclusion per cent of miners who that I, and a number of aren't on strike and the other Labour MPs are internal drawing, is that we are the NUM which moving towards an none of their business authoritarian state. The What they should b role or the ponce and lne talking about is the fac behaviour of the govern. that this is growing ment in ou dispute involving other changed qualitatively sections of the the last few month:
movement There is now a patThere's already tern of the government desperate shortage turning every issue that domestic coal. The steel involves effective industry is in a very bad struggle against the way. The situation is government, o effective ting worse day by day struggle by the peace The overwhelming ma movement, into an issue jority of miners are on of law and orde then deploying the police In my own of Durham, WICe the If this continues, and NUM has traditionally if we don't concentrate been moderate, the strike our minds on fighting is 100 per cent solid. All testation the the police repressive the miners want to discuss where we Criminal Evidence picket next.
even 1 the least The Party National alarmist people are going Executive has adopted a wake up realise position complete that it's happened, support for the miners' living in a llld struggle, and grave dis- police state.