MINERS celebrated a “great day for justice” today as the Scottish government announced that it would formally pardon hundreds of those involved in the miners’ strike of 1984-85.

Former mineworkers and campaigners said that the pressure is now on the British government to follow suit.

Scotland’s Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf announced that the SNP government has accepted recommendations made by an independent review into the impact of policing on communities during the historic strike. 

Unprecedented attacks were launched on miners by the police — on the instructions of the Thatcher government — during the year-long action.

Hundreds of Scottish miners were convicted of offences which today would not attract a criminal record, often on trumped-up charges amounting to miscarriages of justice.  

Many miners lost their jobs as a result, with some blacklisted because of their union activity and convictions.

Mr Yousaf said that those convicted of breaching the peace and similar crimes will have the offences forgiven under a Bill to be presented to the Scottish Parliament. 

The review team, led by John Scott QC, agreed to implement the pardon scheme put forward by Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay, who has campaigned for many years alongside former miners and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

Mr Yousaf said it was clear that the pain was “still very raw to this day” and that the collective pardons — which will also be granted posthumously — represent a “desire for truth and reconciliation, following decades of hurt, anger and misconceptions.”

Former mineworkers gathered outside Holyrood ahead of the announcement alongside Mr Findlay, who thanked Mr Yousaf, former justice secretary Michael Matheson and the review team on a “great day for justice.” 

He added: “Many former miners and their families have waited years for this — they have paid a heavy price for these convictions: losing their jobs, redundancy payments and being blacklisted from employment. 

“Today we have begun the process of righting these historic wrongs. I am delighted to have played my part in this and hope that progress with the necessary legislation can proceed through Parliament before the forthcoming election.”

NUM Scotland president Nicky Wilson said the decision “removes a stigma that has lasted for 36 years.” 

Campaigners from across Britain said the move shows that the mistreatment of miners was politically motivated.

In England and Wales, police violence was widespread during the strikes, including at Orgreave — often branded the worst act of violence by police during the dispute, where armour-clad constables attacked peaceful pickets, arresting 95 and injuring more than 120. 

NUM general secretary Chris Kitchen said: “We’ve always known that the police were used as an arm of the state for political reasons, not just to uphold the rule of law. 

“There can be no doubt as to why the British government has refused to hold an inquiry. It is inconceivable it would come to any different conclusion than the Scottish review. 

“They’ve blighted people’s lives for political purposes and don’t have the decency to own up.

“I’d like to see [Home Secretary] Priti Patel put decency before party politics.” 

In 2016, Amber Rudd’s Home Office announced that it would not seek a full public inquiry into the strikes.

But Mr Yousaf has urged the British government to now carry out its own review.

Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign deputy chairman Joe Rollin told the Star: “We have some sort of justice in Scotland, which makes the Tory government’s refusal to give justice to English and Welsh miners even more bizarre and crazy. 

“We want a full pardon but we’d like to see some of the people held to account for their actions. The police involved at Orgreave were found to have perjured themselves, but were never held accountable.”

The Home Office was asked whether it intended to carry out an inquiry, but did not respond.