Orgreave: Inquiry Debate

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Department: Home Office

Orgreave: Inquiry

Viscount Hailsham Excerpts
Wednesday 13th July 2016

(8 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Keen of Elie Portrait Lord Keen of Elie
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My Lords, that will be a matter for the new Home Secretary.

Viscount Hailsham Portrait Viscount Hailsham (Con)
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My Lords, may I reinforce the caution shown by my noble and learned friend? While it may be the case that individual police officers were guilty of misconduct or overreaction, the primary responsibility for what happened rests on the leaders of the mining community, who brought very large numbers of people to the site and were prepared to use force and threats of force in order to implement policies that were as much political as industrial. Had they succeeded, that would have subverted the principles of democratic government.

Lord Keen of Elie Portrait Lord Keen of Elie
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I think the factual circumstances of the incident at Orgreave are well known, and I would not seek to elaborate upon them.