Kmflett's Blog

Could Peterloo happen again? The case of Orgreave

On the 40th anniversary of Orgreave I’ve looked at the question of whether Peterloo on 16^th August 1819 could ever happen again

On that Manchester Monday soldiers on horseback cut down protesters for the vote leading to deaths and injuries.

The reaction meant that the State’s tactic was not repeated.

However during the Miners Strike of 1984/5 at Orgreave on 18^th June 1984 there was a similar episode, although fortunately there were injuries rather than fatalities.

Again men on horseback, this time police officers, charged working people- miners- determined to protect their jobs,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Orgreave

While it was an industrial dispute there was a linked political issue about opposing the industrial policies of the Thatcher Government.

BBC coverage notoriously showed miners charging police- it was run back to front.

The use of such tactics as at Peterloo is always one that can backfire on the State.

Interestingly The Times carried details of a report that their late political editor Julian Haviland had filed after Orgreave. He had been present when the Queen saw footage of the police charge at Orgreave and reported that she said ‘that’s awful, we shouldn’t do that’. The report was not printed at the time because of the possibility of the Queen being identified as the person who made the comment (The Times says).

Even so it reflects an understanding amongst the ruling class that while Peterloo could happen again there would be consequences if it did.