All the evidence shows voters want Labour to shift to the left — but initial signs from Andy Burnham are worrying on that front, cautions DIANE ABBOTT
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The National Union of Mineworkers will never stop fighting
‘Legalised theft’ from miners’ pension funds is just one of the issues on which the NUM is campaigning, says general secretary CHRIS KITCHEN
Police violence during the miners' strike
ANDY McDONALD MP says Labour must show it is capable of delivering real improvements in people’s lives — bold action is required
ANGUS REID and ANDREW JOHNSTONE report on an initiative that we must take this summer
ALLISON FEWTRELL on what Plaid Cymru's historic election victory means for the communities being failed by Wales’s housing crisis, and four things the new government can do right now
France Insoumise MP JEROME LEGAVRE speaks to Christophe Domec on building the Europe-wide peace movement that came together in the International Conference Against War last weekend
At last weekend’s International Conference Against War, LINDA PENTZ GUNTER talks to the Palestinian physician and politician about the struggles ahead to achieve a truly free Palestine
SINCE the coal industry was privatised in 1994, successive governments have creamed off £7 billion in surpluses accrued by the two pension schemes covering workers in the industry.
When the remains of the coal industry were privatised, an agreement was struck with the government under which it would underwrite any future losses. In return the pension funds had to share any surpluses the funds accrued 50-50 with the government.
At the time that this arrangement was entered into by the pension fund trustees it was thought by the government of the day that this would be a good deal as it could expect to receive £2bn from the pension schemes over the first 25 years.
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