I thought Faith, the BBC drama about the miners’ strike, was OK. It managed to convey something of the dignity of the miners returning to work while acknowledging that they were defeated. David Hamilton, the MP for Midlothian, was a miner then and may have had a good war. But adopting the political rhetoric of our times and asking for an apology just seems a bit lame really.
David Hamilton (Midlothian) (Lab): "Earlier today, one of my hon. Friends mentioned that it is the 20th anniversary of the miners' decision to return to work. I was unfortunate enough not to return to work, because I was sacked along with just fewer than 1,000 people. On Monday, the BBC showed a good and fair programme about the miners in the face of great opposition from Conservative Members. At the end of that programme, the Iron Maiden—[Hon. Members: "Hear, hear"]—the then Prime Minister, referred to "the enemy within" when she was talking about miners and their families. Do you, Minister, think that she should apologise to those miners and their families?"Mr. Hain: "I certainly do—I represent a mining community. [Interruption.] Well, I am not astonished by the growl of approval from the Conservative Members about bringing back Thatcher."
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