Ex-miner hails end of 'long fight' for pensions

Mick Newton was a miner at Thoresby Colliery in Nottinghamshire for 15 years

A former miner has hailed the end of a “long, long fight” after it was announced thousands of ex-pit workers are set to receive a pension scheme pay-out.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in her first Budget that 112,000 former miners will receive a total of £1.5bn, about 32% of each member’s guaranteed pension.

The amount has been kept from their pensions since the privatisation of British Coal in 1994.

Mick Newton worked at Thoresby Colliery, near Mansfield, for 15 years and has been campaigning for a fairer deal for the past decade, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Mr Newton, one of more than 8,000 former mineworkers in Nottinghamshire who will benefit from the move, said the announcement "gives him closure".

'Toll on my health'

“It is brilliant news," he told the LDRS. “I spent three years, twice a week, behind a stall with a paper petition, and ended up with more than 100,000 signatures.

“We presented it to 10 Downing Street in 2019. The petition boosted the prospect of an inquiry, which we did get in 2021 and which ruled in our favour, but never got implemented.

“It has been a long, long fight that has taken its toll on my health. I probably spent more than £20,000 over the last decade on travel costs, accommodation, and resources like banners."

In 1994, when British Coal was privatised, it was agreed the government would get half of any surplus from the pot in return for guaranteeing the value of the pensions would not decrease, the LDRS said.

Successive governments have made £4.8bn from the deal over the last 30 years, and despite repeated calls for a fairer deal, no changes were made to the scheme.

However, on Wednesday the government announced the entirety of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme would be handed over to members.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the fund will now be handed over to members, ensuring former pit workers will “finally get the just rewards from their labour.”

Across Nottinghamshire, a total of 3,950 members in Mansfield, 2,415 in Bassetlaw, 738 in Gedling, 596 in Broxtowe, 514 in Rushcliffe, 227 in Nottingham East & Kimberley, 14 in Nottingham South and 10 in Nottingham North will benefit from the move, said the LDRS.