A West Fife Councillor has criticised their local MSP for opposing compensation for former Miners convicted of certain criminal offences relating to the 1984-85 Miners Strike.
Cllr. Graeme Downie, Scottish Labour Councillor for West Fife & Coastal Villages, said it was a disgrace that Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP had let down former mine workers in her constituency, which was once one of the most important coalfields in Scotland and with a coal industry that lasted right up until 2016 with the closing of the Longannet Power Station.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, the SNP MSP for Dunfermline, along with other SNP MSPs, Scottish Greens and Scottish Conservatives opposed amendments proposed by Scottish Labour MSPs to the Miners Strike (Pardons) Bill at Holyrood last week.
While welcoming the passing of the Miners Strike (Pardons) Bill, which will provide a pardon to miners wrongly convicted of criminal offences during the strike, Cllr. Downie, said an opportunity had been missed to provide financial compensation that could still help former miners and their families.
Commenting, Cllr. Downie said:
“West Fife had some of the most important coalfields in Scotland and a story of coal lasting right up to the closing of the Longannet Power Station in 2016. While the pardons for miners wrongly convicted during the 1984-85 strike is welcome, it is a disgrace our local MSP chose not to support measures which would have given those same miners and their families financial compensation.”
“We must look to the future and build on the skills, ingenuity, hard work and community spirit demonstrated by the mining industry. I hope Shirley-Anne Somerville reflects on her vote last week and seeks to make amends by doing more to help the communities in West Fife.”