National Coal mining Museum for England refuses to cancel hosting Annual Tory Party Bash

“Statement from The National Coal Mining Museum for England

The National Coal Mining Museum for England would like to make the following response to recent comments from individuals and the media regarding a function booking at the Museum on 10 March 2018, by the Dewsbury County Conservative Association:

As a publicly and grant-funded national Museum, the remit of the National Coal Mining Museum for England is to curate the heritage of this remarkable industry and its communities in an impartial manner. The Museum’s mission is to keep stories of coal mining alive by collecting and preserving the industry’s rich heritage and it is open to everyone in the community to access and use the galleries, collections, underground tour and wider facilities, as well as taking part in activities and events.

The Museum is also a registered charity and, as such, it is required by the Charity Commission’s rules to maintain political independence.

In light of the above requirements of its funding and its charity status, the Museum is not in a position to be able to refuse or to revoke the function booking in question.

Nick Dodd, Museum Director”

“THIS BOOKING IS A BLATANT ACT OF HARD HEARTED DISRESPECT FOR MINERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. WE HOPE THAT THE NCMM WILL RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE MANY REQUESTS TO CANCEL THIS BOOKING AND MAKE A PRINCIPLED DECISION TO NOT ALLOW THIS TORY DINNER TO GO AHEAD AT THIS VENUE” – OTJC CHAIR, JOE ROLLIN

“OTJC Condemns Conservative Party plan for annual dinner
at the National Coal Mining Museum

The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) were devastated to find out that the Dewsbury, Mirfield, Denby Dale and Kirkburton Conservative Association have booked the National Coal Mining Museum (NCMM) for their annual dinner on 10th March 2018 with the Tory Deputy Whip, Esther McVey, as Guest Speaker.

We are encouraging supporters, organisations and politicians to contact the NCMM to urge them not allow this booking to go ahead and have had a magnificent response to this request so far. March 10th is only days after the anniversary of the proud return to work for the miners, families and communities after the 12 month strike of 1984-85. We feel this choice of venue is provocative and insensitive. It is insulting that that the Conservative party plan to hold a celebratory meal in a museum dedicated to an industry that the Conservative party systematically destroyed. The NCMM is an amazing and valuable asset. It is important that the NCMM acknowledges the proud heritage and social history of our mining past and in doing so does not risk its reputation by allowing this Conservative dinner to go ahead.

Craig Mansell, ex miner “I initially thought this was some kind of cruel spoof until the dawning reality of this hit me. The Conservative Association have shown absolute disdain for the Miners, our industry and our social history”

The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, National Union of Mineworkers and the Durham Miners Association have already contacted the NCMM. The NCMM have now issued a statement to say that this dinner will go ahead. If the NCMM do not change their position on this booking and the dinner goes ahead we will have no option but to organise a picket / demonstration at the event to show our opposition.

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