1 00:00:02,250 --> 00:00:06,300 [Music] 2 00:00:09,580 --> 00:00:17,440 [Music] 3 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:17,440 okay three I 4 00:00:19,370 --> 00:00:26,090 [Music] 5 00:00:29,660 --> 00:00:34,840 [Music] 6 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:40,239 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 7 00:00:37,559 --> 00:00:42,399 with me George Galloway and me gri under 8 00:00:40,239 --> 00:00:44,480 the 30-year rule cabinet papers from the 9 00:00:42,399 --> 00:00:46,640 minor strike in 1984 have just been 10 00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:48,800 released the papers show that Margaret 11 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,960 Thatcher was lying to the population 12 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:53,520 about what really happened in the strike 13 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:55,440 and the Arthur scargel was indeed the 14 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:58,199 one telling the truth the year-long 15 00:00:55,440 --> 00:01:00,559 strike which began 30 years ago was an 16 00:00:58,199 --> 00:01:03,199 historical epic which changed Britain 17 00:01:00,559 --> 00:01:05,760 for the worse and in which I battled 18 00:01:03,199 --> 00:01:07,920 every single day as an honorary member 19 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:10,320 of the national Union of Mine Workers 20 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:13,080 for most of my life one of my comrades 21 00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:15,560 in that battle went on to write the book 22 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,439 about Thatcher's war against hundreds of 23 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:20,520 thousands of decent hardworking British 24 00:01:17,439 --> 00:01:22,600 citizens whom she described as the Enemy 25 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:25,280 Within the title of the book published 26 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:27,759 by Verso and updated and to be reissued 27 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:29,360 in March of this year the author and 28 00:01:27,759 --> 00:01:32,280 Associate editor of the Guardian 29 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:35,119 newspaper Sheamus mil is our first guest 30 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,840 on the Sputnik but before that gatri 31 00:01:35,119 --> 00:01:39,479 took a walk along great Russell Street 32 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:42,079 in London towards the museum no not the 33 00:01:39,479 --> 00:01:44,040 British museum the Trade union Congress 34 00:01:42,079 --> 00:01:46,360 to talk about the 30th anniversary of 35 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,960 the most important struggle by organized 36 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:50,799 labor in Britain's history but oddly you 37 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:53,439 didn't find much interest amongst the 38 00:01:50,799 --> 00:01:55,759 brothers and sisters there surprisingly 39 00:01:53,439 --> 00:01:59,159 or perhaps not so surprisingly not 40 00:01:55,759 --> 00:02:01,439 indeed as we were standing outside the P 41 00:01:59,159 --> 00:02:02,840 I saw the SEC to looking at us so I 42 00:02:01,439 --> 00:02:04,320 thought I'll give him a friendly note 43 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,360 saying that we're just standing outside 44 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:09,360 on the pavement to interview your 45 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:12,040 workers about this big minor strike from 46 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,480 30 years ago he was making such a fuss 47 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:15,680 out of it saying that we needed 48 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:17,720 permission and that people had already 49 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,959 complained about the nuisance even 50 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,959 though we were only standing there for 51 00:02:18,959 --> 00:02:22,200 one minute getting ready as all the 52 00:02:20,959 --> 00:02:24,720 people came out of the building for 53 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:26,640 lunch the vast majority just rejected to 54 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:28,920 be interviewed about the minor strike 55 00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:31,160 and some even used the argument that 56 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:34,040 they had nothing to do with it imagine 57 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:36,200 that Tu people had nothing to do with 58 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,879 the miner strike the biggest strike in 59 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,000 British history and you see before the 60 00:02:37,879 --> 00:02:43,879 minor strike that Tu was a giant in the 61 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:45,319 land now it is a dwarf and the reason is 62 00:02:43,879 --> 00:02:47,959 because the miners lost and one of the 63 00:02:45,319 --> 00:02:50,519 reasons they lost is because the TU 64 00:02:47,959 --> 00:02:53,239 didn't lift a finger to help them but 65 00:02:50,519 --> 00:02:55,720 two people I think did agree to speak 66 00:02:53,239 --> 00:02:59,040 let's see what they had to say I think 67 00:02:55,720 --> 00:03:01,080 it um divided this country very badly I 68 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:03,560 think the miners were treated extremely 69 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:05,599 badly I think the government lied about 70 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:07,400 what they were doing and we're now 71 00:03:05,599 --> 00:03:09,519 finding out that that that was the case 72 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,560 which a lot of us suspected at the time 73 00:03:09,519 --> 00:03:13,760 yeah it was obviously uh targeted at the 74 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:16,040 Trade union movement particularly the 75 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:18,440 miners and um of course it went on to 76 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:20,519 the print Etc and we are where we are 77 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:22,680 now where trade unions are seem to be a 78 00:03:20,519 --> 00:03:24,680 dirty word in society when the actual 79 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:28,280 fact they're not scarel was very much 80 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:30,640 demonized back then he he was very much 81 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:32,760 um but then anybody takes a stand 82 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:34,879 against um government tends to be 83 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,640 demonized do you think that Ed Milan 84 00:03:34,879 --> 00:03:41,280 should pledge for a public inquiry now 85 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:44,799 yes you think he will 86 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:47,760 no because um I don't think there would 87 00:03:44,799 --> 00:03:49,879 be very many votes in it and I think the 88 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,400 right-wing press would RI to Pieces 89 00:03:49,879 --> 00:03:53,799 during that time you had the sinking of 90 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,720 the Bel Grano you had all these sort of 91 00:03:53,799 --> 00:03:58,079 things going on you heard Margaret fer 92 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:00,280 visiting South Africa when as opposed to 93 00:03:58,079 --> 00:04:02,720 Banning a part and sanctions he had a 94 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:05,000 lot of things going on that time and 95 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:07,159 yeah an inquiry into this would possibly 96 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:10,879 draw out some of that other stuff as 97 00:04:07,159 --> 00:04:13,120 well yes I may she rest in peace or Hell 98 00:04:10,879 --> 00:04:15,210 wherever she is but yeah there should be 99 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,479 an 100 00:04:15,210 --> 00:04:20,959 [Music] 101 00:04:16,479 --> 00:04:22,840 inquiry may she rest in peace or in hell 102 00:04:20,959 --> 00:04:25,040 with Sheamus Millan I could discuss that 103 00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:27,320 all day but that's probably too 104 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:30,759 theological uh an argument tell us first 105 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:32,639 Sheamus about the 30-year r Ro the 106 00:04:30,759 --> 00:04:36,080 papers that have just been released and 107 00:04:32,639 --> 00:04:39,320 what new they tell us well every year um 108 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:41,639 the government releases uh cabinet and 109 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,960 and government papers from 30 years 110 00:04:41,639 --> 00:04:44,960 previously and sometimes they do it a 111 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,520 bit earlier nowadays as well and 112 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,720 sometimes in fact quite often they don't 113 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,639 release the papers at all because 114 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:52,199 they're too embarrassing and this year 115 00:04:49,639 --> 00:04:53,440 they released a lot of stuff about 1984 116 00:04:52,199 --> 00:04:55,759 that was 30 years ago and about the 117 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:59,479 minor strike which began in 1984 84 and 118 00:04:55,759 --> 00:05:02,800 went on for a year and in those papers 119 00:04:59,479 --> 00:05:04,639 uh there are certainly very important 120 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,759 confirmations of things that had been 121 00:05:04,639 --> 00:05:09,280 widely suspected but not known for 122 00:05:06,759 --> 00:05:11,800 certain like for example uh the fact 123 00:05:09,280 --> 00:05:14,560 that Thatcher had a plan to send in the 124 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:16,600 Army to keep coal stocks moving because 125 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:18,960 and this is a very crucial point I think 126 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:20,520 that's often misunderstood by people who 127 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,919 were quite supportive of the miners at 128 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:25,560 the time which is that the strike came 129 00:05:22,919 --> 00:05:27,600 very close to succeeding on more than 130 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:29,840 one occasion and the government was in a 131 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,560 panic that not only fuel supplies would 132 00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:33,960 run out and there would be blackouts but 133 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,280 that Food Supplies would run out um so 134 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,560 that's one thing that comes out of it 135 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:39,120 another thing that comes out of the 136 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,680 papers is that it was said at the time 137 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,080 by the miners leadership not just Arthur 138 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:45,680 Scargill but him in particular uh that 139 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:49,319 there was a secret Hit List Hit List to 140 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:51,199 close 75 um coal mines and that was 141 00:05:49,319 --> 00:05:52,880 denied by the coal board at the time by 142 00:05:51,199 --> 00:05:54,680 the government it was said to be a 143 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:56,400 appalling Lie by the miners leadership 144 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,960 they were manipulating and misleading 145 00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:00,520 their followers the media echoed all 146 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,600 that and of course it's revealed that 147 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:04,919 there was indeed such a Hit List there 148 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,599 are other things besides 149 00:06:04,919 --> 00:06:09,199 confirmation that the government 150 00:06:06,599 --> 00:06:11,599 manipulated the media that the security 151 00:06:09,199 --> 00:06:14,160 services MI5 in particular were heavily 152 00:06:11,599 --> 00:06:16,120 involved in operations uh against the 153 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:18,360 strike and for example that the 154 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:21,000 government was planning to charge the 155 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:23,840 miners leaders Arthur Scargill 156 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:25,240 personally with incitement to Riot and 157 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:26,400 they only pulled back from it because 158 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,000 they realized it might make the 159 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:31,440 situation worse but I think what all 160 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:34,199 that underlines is this was a a mighty 161 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:36,759 confrontation uh between the state uh 162 00:06:34,199 --> 00:06:38,280 and organized labor in a form that 163 00:06:36,759 --> 00:06:40,319 really hadn't happened since the general 164 00:06:38,280 --> 00:06:42,880 strike in 1926 and certainly hasn't 165 00:06:40,319 --> 00:06:44,919 happened since it was a watershed in 166 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:47,919 modern British history it was a battle 167 00:06:44,919 --> 00:06:50,080 not only about coal mines and and uh and 168 00:06:47,919 --> 00:06:51,880 Fuel and of course the arguments changed 169 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:54,599 about that in the years since as climate 170 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:56,319 change has become a crucial issue but it 171 00:06:54,599 --> 00:07:00,440 was about how Britain has run and 172 00:06:56,319 --> 00:07:02,440 whether or not the market led neoliberal 173 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:05,319 model of capitalism which has since been 174 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,919 imposed on us was going to be uh was 175 00:07:05,319 --> 00:07:08,680 going to run Riot which is of course 176 00:07:06,919 --> 00:07:10,000 what happened after the strike so I 177 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,720 think it is a very important part of 178 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,319 British history and it's one in which 179 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:15,960 there are important lessons for us all 180 00:07:13,319 --> 00:07:18,560 to this day and yet when we were at the 181 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:21,080 TU Vox popping yesterday these were the 182 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:24,840 only two uh people who would speak about 183 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:27,319 the strike and yet it's epic character 184 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:30,039 ought to be felt most keenly amongst 185 00:07:27,319 --> 00:07:33,120 trade unionists because trade 186 00:07:30,039 --> 00:07:35,840 then as compared to now were of course a 187 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:38,479 force in the land then and very much not 188 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:41,199 now well I think the Trade union 189 00:07:38,479 --> 00:07:43,160 movement was divided then in a political 190 00:07:41,199 --> 00:07:45,039 way more than it is perhaps today and 191 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:47,319 there was a very strong rightwing at 192 00:07:45,039 --> 00:07:49,520 that time among Trade union leaders and 193 00:07:47,319 --> 00:07:51,720 leaderships uh who were very opposed to 194 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:54,319 the miners and the miners leaders and 195 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:56,919 their militancy and their political 196 00:07:54,319 --> 00:07:58,400 trade unionism uh and didn't like Arthur 197 00:07:56,919 --> 00:08:00,240 Scargill didn't like Peter heathfield 198 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:03,560 didn't like Mick mahi the three main 199 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:06,520 leaders of the strike uh and they felt 200 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:10,400 that the strike was undermining of the 201 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:12,599 tu's attempt to appear reasonable and be 202 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,879 accommodating with Employers in the new 203 00:08:12,599 --> 00:08:16,680 environment of that time the new class 204 00:08:14,879 --> 00:08:18,080 and economic environment and they 205 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,840 thought it was undermining for the labor 206 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:21,560 leadership as you'll remember Neil 207 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:24,280 kinnick was then the labor leader and he 208 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:26,800 was trying to he was beginning the new 209 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:28,759 labor starting the whole new labor thing 210 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,199 although it wasn't called that then and 211 00:08:28,759 --> 00:08:32,519 he himself 212 00:08:30,199 --> 00:08:34,159 uh could not abide Arthur Scargill he 213 00:08:32,519 --> 00:08:36,240 didn't believe that the miners should be 214 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:37,279 having this fight he thought they were 215 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,320 running it in the wrong way and he 216 00:08:37,279 --> 00:08:41,479 himself to this day believes that he 217 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:44,000 never became prime minister because of 218 00:08:41,479 --> 00:08:46,200 the minor strike so I think that's all 219 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:49,120 reflected among people in in people's 220 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:51,560 attitudes um they find Scar's reput 221 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:53,519 personality too confr too 222 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:55,720 confrontational they think his tactics 223 00:08:53,519 --> 00:08:57,920 were wrong but I think that's really to 224 00:08:55,720 --> 00:09:00,320 misunderstand the nature of the 225 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:02,079 confrontation there wasn't n an easy 226 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:04,839 compromise there wasn't a traditional 227 00:09:02,079 --> 00:09:06,720 Trade union accommodation available the 228 00:09:04,839 --> 00:09:08,399 government of the day Margaret Thatcher 229 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,720 and the Tories went for the miners 230 00:09:08,399 --> 00:09:13,800 because they were uniquely powerful they 231 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:17,399 controlled 80% of Britain's power supply 232 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:19,160 uh they were led by a uh an ideological 233 00:09:17,399 --> 00:09:20,920 leader well they were not just Scargill 234 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:23,160 but they were led by a highly 235 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:26,399 politicized group of leaders and 236 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:28,399 activists um who were prepared to fight 237 00:09:26,399 --> 00:09:30,040 uh for their industry for their 238 00:09:28,399 --> 00:09:31,600 communities for their jobs in a way that 239 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,560 other trade unionists weren't but 240 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:38,360 actually they didn't have the option in 241 00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:40,600 1984 1985 of going for a gentle rundown 242 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:43,160 of the industry they were they were 243 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:45,360 basically faced with the alternative of 244 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:47,120 a full-on confrontation and a crushing 245 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:49,680 of their industry and their jobs and 246 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:51,480 their communities or resistance and they 247 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:55,040 took the path of resistance and as I was 248 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:56,800 saying the strike came much closer to 249 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:58,160 success than is understood or that than 250 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:00,120 was understood at the time it's it's 251 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:02,279 available in lots and lots of bits of 252 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:04,839 evidence well nowhere better uh than in 253 00:10:02,279 --> 00:10:07,760 your book The Enemy Within which is not 254 00:10:04,839 --> 00:10:11,360 just the book of the strike but one of 255 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:15,040 the books of the 1980s period which was 256 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:19,240 so profoundly important uh in Britain uh 257 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:21,680 I remember every day uh almost of of the 258 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:24,680 strike but many watching this will not 259 00:10:21,680 --> 00:10:27,399 just say a bit briefly if you will about 260 00:10:24,680 --> 00:10:29,760 what Britain was like during that 12 261 00:10:27,399 --> 00:10:32,079 months well it was a confront PL ation 262 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:34,800 that was played out in the coal field 263 00:10:32,079 --> 00:10:36,600 areas which are not uh in the main 264 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,880 population centers by and large in the 265 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:42,519 country so it was played out in South 266 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:43,639 Wales in Scotland in Yorkshire in 267 00:10:42,519 --> 00:10:46,360 darbishire and of course in 268 00:10:43,639 --> 00:10:48,120 Nottinghamshire and one of the crucial 269 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:50,440 problems of the strike was that a 270 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,639 section of the miners mainly based in 271 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:54,880 Nottinghamshire who thought that their 272 00:10:52,639 --> 00:10:56,600 pits would survive if they continued 273 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,600 working and played ball with the 274 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:01,720 government they continued working and 275 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:04,680 that was the crucial uh Achilles heel of 276 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:06,279 the strike uh so these these were 277 00:11:04,680 --> 00:11:08,800 confrontations that were played out 278 00:11:06,279 --> 00:11:11,120 every day on the picket line between a 279 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,760 very violent and aggressive police force 280 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:15,360 that was trying on behalf of the 281 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:18,079 government to keep pits open in areas 282 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,680 where miners were still working and the 283 00:11:18,079 --> 00:11:23,000 large majority of miners who were on 284 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:25,600 strike more than 150,000 of them who 285 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:27,880 were on strike for more than a year were 286 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:30,120 trying to close those pits and make the 287 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:32,320 strike effective and because the 288 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:34,720 government had decided not mainly to use 289 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:36,639 the law because they feared that was it 290 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,760 was too controversial at the time the 291 00:11:36,639 --> 00:11:40,000 new anti-ra Union laws as they were then 292 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,680 they thought that would inflame the 293 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,519 strike and spread it and all their 294 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:46,240 concentration was trying to restrict the 295 00:11:43,519 --> 00:11:48,279 strike uh they used the police as a 296 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,839 battering ram to try and crush the 297 00:11:48,279 --> 00:11:52,079 miners so there were very violent 298 00:11:49,839 --> 00:11:54,600 confrontations you know 11 people died 299 00:11:52,079 --> 00:11:56,560 in the strike but there were multiple uh 300 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:59,440 Frontline confrontations in places like 301 00:11:56,560 --> 00:12:00,880 ore in Yorkshire uh where day after to 302 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,480 day thousands of pickets fought the 303 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:04,040 police and of course for people in other 304 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,959 parts of the country where nothing like 305 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,680 this was happening this was all quite 306 00:12:05,959 --> 00:12:09,959 bizarre in a way it was a it was kind of 307 00:12:07,680 --> 00:12:12,040 like a civil war taking place somewhere 308 00:12:09,959 --> 00:12:13,560 else but for many many millions of 309 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,680 people in Britain they understood what 310 00:12:13,560 --> 00:12:18,040 was at stake and it was a very divisive 311 00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:20,279 dispute in public opinion at the time 312 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:22,199 but between 30 and 40% of the British 313 00:12:20,279 --> 00:12:24,600 population always supported the miners 314 00:12:22,199 --> 00:12:27,320 and the strike the system that was 315 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:29,560 imposed after the strike uh the 316 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:31,399 thatcherite economics the ne liberal 317 00:12:29,560 --> 00:12:33,440 model which has caused such Devastation 318 00:12:31,399 --> 00:12:35,560 to communities not only in Britain but 319 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:38,199 of course throughout the world crashed 320 00:12:35,560 --> 00:12:40,440 and burned in 2008 in the crisis that 321 00:12:38,199 --> 00:12:42,480 we're living through still today and was 322 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:44,120 exposed to be a failure and that was 323 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,440 what the the minor strike battle was 324 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:48,920 really about do you think there will be 325 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:50,760 a public inquiry into the strike uh I 326 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,639 don't think so but I think it would be 327 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,800 very worthwhile but I fear that some of 328 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:55,199 the things that we're talking about the 329 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,440 most sensitive things wouldn't even be 330 00:12:55,199 --> 00:12:59,480 released uh for that inquiry but well 331 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:02,560 you'll get them in here they are 332 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:04,639 reissued in March the new edition of the 333 00:13:02,560 --> 00:13:08,120 Enemy Within with new material with new 334 00:13:04,639 --> 00:13:10,680 material updated uh it's a fascinating 335 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:14,560 uh story and you're the very best person 336 00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:14,560 to tell it Sheamus Mill thanks very 337 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:19,519 much now if you're smart you've already 338 00:13:17,399 --> 00:13:21,399 read Sheamus Mill's magnificent article 339 00:13:19,519 --> 00:13:23,959 in the guardian last Thursday about 340 00:13:21,399 --> 00:13:26,399 World War I after the break we'll be 341 00:13:23,959 --> 00:13:29,120 talking to a real live soldier who knows 342 00:13:26,399 --> 00:13:31,600 all about real war unlike the PIP sque 343 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:33,920 weak politicians trying to terrorize our 344 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:37,519 history Masters into a parade ground 345 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:39,639 formation lined up in defense of the war 346 00:13:37,519 --> 00:13:41,959 stay tuned I promise you you won't want 347 00:13:39,639 --> 00:13:41,959 to miss 348 00:13:43,460 --> 00:13:47,680 [Music] 349 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:50,040 it welcome back education secretary 350 00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:52,360 Michael Gove couldn't fight his own way 351 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:54,440 out of a paper bag but he's been lobbing 352 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:57,120 verbal grenades everyone from film 353 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:59,279 directors to Mr Bean from the late Alan 354 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:01,240 Clark author of The donkeys and his 355 00:13:59,279 --> 00:14:03,880 former conservative colleague to just 356 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:05,800 about every historian in the land he 357 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:08,199 thinks questioning the donkeys and the 358 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,600 Mass Slaughter over which they presided 359 00:14:08,199 --> 00:14:11,800 is well 360 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:14,240 unpatriotic Joe glenton on the other 361 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:16,320 hand was a real fighter in Afghanistan 362 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:18,519 until he refused to do it anymore on the 363 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:20,959 grounds that it was an unjust war and 364 00:14:18,519 --> 00:14:23,199 moreover doomed to last longer than the 365 00:14:20,959 --> 00:14:25,360 first and second world wars put together 366 00:14:23,199 --> 00:14:27,560 and for no real purpose he was sent to 367 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:30,279 The Glass House for his trouble spending 368 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:32,880 six months in total behind bars now a 369 00:14:30,279 --> 00:14:34,800 free man he prefers to speak like one 370 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,880 and writing in the guardian this week he 371 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:39,600 talked about the World War I from the 372 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:41,880 point of view of Tommy Atkins the 373 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:44,320 proverbial eponymous British private 374 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:48,320 Soldier and I'm glad to have him here 375 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:50,399 with us Joe you're a an anti-war hero uh 376 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:53,880 you are at pains in your book Soldier 377 00:14:50,399 --> 00:14:56,000 box not to claim you were a war hero uh 378 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:58,160 but you have become a hero for those of 379 00:14:56,000 --> 00:15:00,480 us in the anti-war movement because you 380 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:02,880 had the courage to to stand up think for 381 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:04,720 yourself and speak for yourself of 382 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:07,160 course in the first world war where 383 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:09,600 Millions were militarized and millions 384 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:12,000 were killed uh there were also 385 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:14,720 conscientious objectors just like you 386 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:16,199 tell us about them uh well there were 387 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,639 you know there were all kinds of reasons 388 00:15:16,199 --> 00:15:19,160 that people refused in the in the first 389 00:15:17,639 --> 00:15:20,639 world war some of them did so on 390 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:23,000 religious grounds some on political 391 00:15:20,639 --> 00:15:24,839 grounds but um they were you know 392 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,199 treated routinely very very badly they 393 00:15:24,839 --> 00:15:27,399 were executed at the some of them were 394 00:15:26,199 --> 00:15:29,000 executed they were some of them were 395 00:15:27,399 --> 00:15:30,600 were imprisoned and they were tried and 396 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,519 they were made a mockery of and pillared 397 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:34,759 in public um and even when today when 398 00:15:33,519 --> 00:15:36,440 particularly people in government talk 399 00:15:34,759 --> 00:15:38,680 about conscientious objection they still 400 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,199 th see it through that prism of World 401 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,680 War I and that's something I try to 402 00:15:40,199 --> 00:15:43,360 address but we have to understand 403 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:44,839 conscientious objection is not a 404 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,319 shouldn't be seen as that radical a 405 00:15:44,839 --> 00:15:47,759 thing it's a right it's a legal and 406 00:15:46,319 --> 00:15:50,199 contractual right in fact the army of 407 00:15:47,759 --> 00:15:52,519 the three services is unique in that it 408 00:15:50,199 --> 00:15:55,000 has in Queen's regulations the governing 409 00:15:52,519 --> 00:15:56,600 body of laws the uh it says that you're 410 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:59,000 allowed to be a conscientious objector 411 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:00,959 it's something you you're allowed to do 412 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:03,440 and yet the vast majority in the first 413 00:16:00,959 --> 00:16:06,639 world war marched off straw hats 414 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:08,480 trumpets beating of drums uh it was to 415 00:16:06,639 --> 00:16:10,720 be a glorious Affair and it was all to 416 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,720 be over by Christmas but it didn't work 417 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,639 out like that no it didn't work out that 418 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,279 and it's very interesting when we look 419 00:16:13,639 --> 00:16:17,440 at the actual reasons it's it's 420 00:16:15,279 --> 00:16:18,720 obviously a heavily kind of mystified 421 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,240 period of history but when we look at 422 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,880 the actual reasons and you can find 423 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:24,319 Tommy Atkins voice if you look hard 424 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:26,600 enough in Memoirs of of um of 425 00:16:24,319 --> 00:16:28,440 non-commission soldiers um it at the 426 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:30,160 start it was still a mix as it is today 427 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:32,480 of of E economic reasons and also the 428 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:34,839 ideological stuff the idea that war is 429 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:36,519 somehow heroic and military service is 430 00:16:34,839 --> 00:16:39,440 heroic and it was about King and Country 431 00:16:36,519 --> 00:16:40,959 and we see that stuff now being reprised 432 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:43,279 effectively we see that with the whole 433 00:16:40,959 --> 00:16:45,240 kind of hero industry which is emerging 434 00:16:43,279 --> 00:16:47,319 and the lionization of soldiers which 435 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:49,279 distracts completely from the fact that 436 00:16:47,319 --> 00:16:51,240 these are normal people who've been 437 00:16:49,279 --> 00:16:52,920 who've been uh tricked in many cases 438 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:55,240 normal young people often they want to 439 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:57,720 go and help other people you know there 440 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:59,880 there's a kind of germ of a noble um 441 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:03,120 noble cause in there these people are 442 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:06,280 tricked into serving amazingly uh many 443 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:08,360 of the soldiers who enlisted in droves 444 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:10,240 in the first world war were doing so 445 00:17:08,360 --> 00:17:11,640 because it gave them clothes uh when 446 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:13,919 they didn't have any gave them three 447 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,760 meals a day when they certainly didn't 448 00:17:13,919 --> 00:17:17,760 have any gave them a roof over their 449 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:20,240 head that didn't leak and not many of 450 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:22,640 them had that hither to And yet when I 451 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:26,160 read your book these were amongst the 452 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:28,960 reasons why you and your fellow soldiers 453 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:30,480 uh were happy to join the Army exactly 454 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:32,160 yeah very much the case nearly across 455 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:34,440 the board most of the guys I served with 456 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:36,440 we're talking about guys from uh what 457 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:38,240 former industrial towns in Scotland and 458 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,000 the north of England which were smashed 459 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,520 by Thatcher and these are guys who who 460 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,720 who want to kind of make something of 461 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,480 themselves and if you're a working-class 462 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:46,480 guy like I was one of the only routs 463 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:49,200 available to do that is is the military 464 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:51,280 it's always been the case um and also I 465 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,760 mean it we're still experiencing much as 466 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:54,320 the veterans in the first world war did 467 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:56,200 when you leave the military then you're 468 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:58,320 not a hero anymore no one's interested 469 00:17:56,200 --> 00:18:00,080 anymore uh we see the amount of veterans 470 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,840 who are homeless in London the amount of 471 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:04,000 veterans in prison so you're you're 472 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,039 useful that the wounds and the hardships 473 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:07,120 of the soldier have always been 474 00:18:05,039 --> 00:18:09,080 politically useful for a short time and 475 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:11,039 then you forgotten well see Joe this 476 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:13,559 it's one thing for a soldier to start 477 00:18:11,039 --> 00:18:16,000 think for himself and it's another to 478 00:18:13,559 --> 00:18:18,799 actually act upon it and like you leave 479 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:21,120 the whole Army in war were there many 480 00:18:18,799 --> 00:18:23,679 fellow soldiers that thought the one 481 00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:25,679 thing but weren't strong enough to get 482 00:18:23,679 --> 00:18:27,559 to the second push I think so I think a 483 00:18:25,679 --> 00:18:30,520 lot of guys I mean the reality of 484 00:18:27,559 --> 00:18:32,440 warfare in Afghan or in Iraq would 485 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:34,120 strips away the kind of rationale you're 486 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,600 given as a soldier within a very short 487 00:18:34,120 --> 00:18:37,679 period of time of being in Afghanistan 488 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:39,640 it's very clear that we weren't there to 489 00:18:37,679 --> 00:18:41,760 help little brown girls go to school and 490 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:43,880 we weren't there to build infrastructure 491 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:47,400 um and that reality check affects 492 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:48,760 everyone um some guys um you know go 493 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,240 completely the other way to me and that 494 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,799 they start to kind of really believe it 495 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,880 and they become True Believers and buy 496 00:18:51,799 --> 00:18:55,480 into this stuff yeah for sure you'll see 497 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:58,159 you know there are military guys on the 498 00:18:55,480 --> 00:19:00,280 far right nowadays and and it kind of 499 00:18:58,159 --> 00:19:02,200 experiened war will tear you apart and 500 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:04,280 you will go one way or another when that 501 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:06,159 happens some people end up buying into 502 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:07,520 it and it ends up that their politics 503 00:19:06,159 --> 00:19:08,760 are completely based around the fact 504 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:10,480 that they were a soldier and they see 505 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:12,600 the world through that prism other guys 506 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:14,080 and this is increasingly the case with 507 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,880 Veterans for peace which is an 508 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,440 organization I'm involved in people go 509 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:20,400 the other way and we've got we're now 510 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:22,240 100 plus in our ranks if you like uh and 511 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,840 we're absolutely committed to to 512 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:25,240 speaking truth to the issue of war and 513 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,880 we go into schools and we do all kinds 514 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:29,559 of activism and campaigns to uh to bust 515 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:31,400 the myths around War war and do you get 516 00:19:29,559 --> 00:19:33,679 a good reception from that in schools 517 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:35,880 well yeah I mean the best thing we find 518 00:19:33,679 --> 00:19:37,120 is just tell stories um kids get it when 519 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:38,840 you tell stories you don't have to go 520 00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:40,240 into the the kind of politics and 521 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:42,080 theoretical stuff you just tell your 522 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:43,679 experience of what it's actually like 523 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:46,240 and that helps to strip away a lot of 524 00:19:43,679 --> 00:19:48,720 the kind of jingoistic myths which 525 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:50,039 surround War today that they read in 526 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,400 their history books of course for sure 527 00:19:50,039 --> 00:19:53,760 yeah I mean increasingly that's going to 528 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,760 be the case with Go's project well go 529 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:58,880 wants to rewrite the history books of 530 00:19:55,760 --> 00:20:02,559 course and any questioning of the first 531 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:04,000 world war he deems uh unpatriotic but as 532 00:20:02,559 --> 00:20:07,440 you pointed out in your brilliant 533 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:11,400 Guardian article this week this uh 534 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:14,720 parade of politicians uh is akin to 535 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:17,880 looting the bodies of the Fallen uh on 536 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:21,039 the battlefield they're seeking to in 537 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:24,120 the most grubby way possible to Garner 538 00:20:21,039 --> 00:20:26,880 votes for themselves and for their party 539 00:20:24,120 --> 00:20:28,039 off the suffering uh of the soldiers for 540 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,559 sure yeah and I think that there's a 541 00:20:28,039 --> 00:20:31,400 whole history of this as I said the 542 00:20:29,559 --> 00:20:33,559 soldier is useful for a while he's 543 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,600 useful and every lots of people in power 544 00:20:33,559 --> 00:20:37,960 whether in the media or in politics seek 545 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:40,520 to be seen as the solder's friend that's 546 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:42,880 always um you know very that's a passing 547 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:44,640 fad while they can milk it for for votes 548 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:46,480 they will but it doesn't last and if you 549 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,520 can look at if you look at history other 550 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,280 than goian history you'll find that 551 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:52,400 that's the case that the soldier is used 552 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:54,640 and abused when I entered Parliament 553 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:56,919 more than a quarter of a century ago 554 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:59,720 there were lots of old Soldiers uh on 555 00:20:56,919 --> 00:21:02,320 the benches I remember so VI L Dennis 556 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:05,159 Healey former labor leader a major in 557 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:10,360 the landing at anzio warning against the 558 00:21:05,159 --> 00:21:13,120 first Iraq War uh in 1991 warning that 559 00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:16,080 Murphy's Law would apply that anything 560 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:18,559 that could go wrong would go wrong uh 561 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:20,840 and you could almost smell the cordite 562 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:24,880 uh on his clothes as he described the 563 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:28,000 hell of War I'm just wondering you as a 564 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:30,480 former Soldier working at this sharp end 565 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:33,120 what soldiers think about the 566 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:35,240 politicians most of whom nowadays are 567 00:21:33,120 --> 00:21:36,799 these pipsqueaks that I talked about 568 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:38,720 they wouldn't know how to fight their 569 00:21:36,799 --> 00:21:40,600 way out of a paper bag I know that cuz I 570 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,480 regularly challenge them to a fight they 571 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:44,320 always run away but none of them have 572 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:47,640 served in action none of them have heard 573 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:51,120 the boom of the guns the Monstrous uh 574 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:53,840 rattle uh o of the guns I'm wondering if 575 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:55,840 soldiers feel contempt for the 576 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:59,279 politicians that make the decisions that 577 00:21:55,840 --> 00:22:02,120 send them into Harm's Way or what 578 00:21:59,279 --> 00:22:03,240 there's a a kind of reverence to them 579 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:04,600 well I think there's a there's a very 580 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:06,480 broad range of opinion within the 581 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:08,400 military on that um you know there are 582 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:11,039 some guys who who kind of uh who kind of 583 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:13,000 accept that and and you're trained to uh 584 00:22:11,039 --> 00:22:14,360 to you're told to you're not political 585 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,960 your job isn't political which for me 586 00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:17,640 now looking back is ridiculous there's 587 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,440 nothing more political than War 588 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:21,159 obviously um and other guys are are 589 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:23,480 openly contemptuous but I think what 590 00:22:21,159 --> 00:22:25,080 happens often is that guys kind of they 591 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,880 they kind of internalize this idea that 592 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:28,559 you're just a soldier you don't question 593 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:30,279 orders even though they they do have 594 00:22:28,559 --> 00:22:31,679 these questions building up inside them 595 00:22:30,279 --> 00:22:33,039 and often what happens is when they come 596 00:22:31,679 --> 00:22:34,600 back and leave the military they have 597 00:22:33,039 --> 00:22:36,159 these these contradictions have become 598 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:38,200 very apparent to them because of the 599 00:22:36,159 --> 00:22:40,159 reality of War but they don't act on 600 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:41,799 them and so very often these guys will 601 00:22:40,159 --> 00:22:43,679 be kind of churning internally for many 602 00:22:41,799 --> 00:22:45,279 many years and and part of what we do 603 00:22:43,679 --> 00:22:47,240 with Veterans for peace is try to reach 604 00:22:45,279 --> 00:22:50,240 out to these guys and talk to these 605 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:51,919 people um and uh and kind of engage them 606 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:54,840 because those are the most critical 607 00:22:51,919 --> 00:22:56,799 voices there are and obviously Tommy 608 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:58,960 Atkins his voice completely undercuts 609 00:22:56,799 --> 00:23:00,679 the voices of uh the very few veterans 610 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:03,279 that there are I think in in uh in 611 00:23:00,679 --> 00:23:05,799 Parliament fantastic Veterans for peace 612 00:23:03,279 --> 00:23:08,720 Joe glenton author of soldier boxs 613 00:23:05,799 --> 00:23:12,039 published by Verso available uh as an 614 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:14,320 ebook also as well as in the best book 615 00:23:12,039 --> 00:23:16,750 shops thanks very much for joining us on 616 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:18,520 board the Sputnik thank 617 00:23:16,750 --> 00:23:21,960 [Music] 618 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:24,480 you well now it's your turn we deal with 619 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:27,799 the social media review coming in 620 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:30,400 through our portal rtor Sputnik gri 621 00:23:27,799 --> 00:23:33,480 what's rattling a lot on the war for 622 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:35,799 example Andy gilchris says that the 623 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:38,480 ruling class had Millions die in their 624 00:23:35,799 --> 00:23:39,919 Imperial carve up row indeed and they 625 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:42,480 were all cousins with the same 626 00:23:39,919 --> 00:23:46,200 grandmother yes indeed on the minor 627 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:49,679 strike Ty St says the TC Fat Cats since 628 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:51,880 1926 were inside the tent the N were 629 00:23:49,679 --> 00:23:54,720 outside the tent and were on The Hit 630 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:56,080 List well don't get me started on the TU 631 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:59,159 I think I've probably said enough about 632 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:01,320 them at least in public Scot C4 says is 633 00:23:59,159 --> 00:24:03,640 it a coincidence that South Yorkshire 634 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:06,840 are at the heart of both Hillsboro and 635 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:09,799 Min strike cover up well the police and 636 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:12,520 the chiefs of police uh at both 637 00:24:09,799 --> 00:24:14,520 Hillsboro and at orrie which was the 638 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:16,760 great Yorkshire battle between the 639 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:20,120 pickets and the police which was 640 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:22,400 falsified even by the BBC with reverse 641 00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:24,760 footage showing the miners attacking the 642 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:27,360 police when in fact it was the police on 643 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:29,399 Horseback who attacked the miners uh 644 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:32,120 there's a lot of overlap and we've had a 645 00:24:29,399 --> 00:24:34,440 public inquiry into Hillsboro now we 646 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:36,520 need one over or grief and indeed The 647 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:39,039 Wider issues of the strike but will we 648 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:42,080 get it that's the question no as the Vox 649 00:24:39,039 --> 00:24:43,919 pop uh uh subject said because uh the 650 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:46,360 right-wing press would probably tear 651 00:24:43,919 --> 00:24:48,880 millerand to Pieces over it on the other 652 00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:51,520 hand it would be a big Energizer of the 653 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:54,080 core labor vote if Miland were to 654 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:56,840 promise one Ross McDonald then says 655 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:58,919 Michael go wri three words that should 656 00:24:56,840 --> 00:25:01,520 never be used in the same sentence at 657 00:24:58,919 --> 00:25:03,559 least not without extreme and Wing well 658 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:05,880 he's very funny Michael go he was 659 00:25:03,559 --> 00:25:08,520 himself once a striker he spent a whole 660 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:11,440 year himself on strike as a journalist 661 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:13,760 at the uh Aberdine newspaper he was a 662 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:16,279 militant in the National Union of 663 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:20,320 journalists spent a whole year locked 664 00:25:16,279 --> 00:25:22,200 out uh but uh he's uh conservative to 665 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:23,640 the marrow of his bones and an 666 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:26,200 increasingly rightwing one and 667 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:28,760 belligerent one that's all the tweets we 668 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:30,520 got for this week which alas means 669 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:32,559 that's all the time we've got do keep in 670 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:35,640 touch with us though on on Twitter at 671 00:25:32,559 --> 00:25:38,200 rtor Sputnik and now also on Facebook so 672 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:40,520 find us at Sputnik on Russia Today 673 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:42,800 that's it for me gri and from me George 674 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:50,799 galloth it's been marvelous 675 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:50,799 [Music] 676 00:25:54,120 --> 00:25:57,180 [Music]