Union leader’s Gala attack on Labour

Jul 14 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

A UNION leader used the platform of the 124th Durham Miners’ Gala to attack New Labour for preventing two potential candidates from leading the North East’s biggest local authority.

David Hopper, general secretary of the Durham Miners’ Association, publicly blasted the North East Labour party for its decision to suspend members from Easington over their failure to support its all-women shortlist policies.

The suspensions prevented both ex-leader Albert Nugent and Easington district leader Alan Napier from putting themselves forward as candidates to lead the new County Durham unitary authority.

Both men had been tipped as potential leaders of the new authority, but instead the position went to Simon Henig, a former agent of North Durham MP Kevan Jones who has criticised the Miners’ Association over its policy of deducting a percentage of compensation awarded to miners following successful health claims.

On Saturday Mr Hopper said: “I share the disgust of many party members in the unprincipled way that New Labour manoeuvred to suspend Albert Nugent, Alan Napier and others to exclude them from holding office in the new authority.

“This is just symptomatic of a general degeneration. Democracy has been destroyed within the Labour party. It is time the party repaid the loyalty shown by people like Albert Nugent and Alan Napier.

“Anybody who dares to criticise the Labour Party is condemned for wanting a Tory government back. But who is responsible for creating the conditions for a return to the Tories?”

Other speakers included Durham’s Liberal Democrat mayor Grenville Holland, Dave Prentis, general secretary of the public services union Unison, and David Hamilton, MP for Midlothian.

The gala was judged yet another success after an estimated 40,000 people turned up on Saturday.

The city centre was sealed off as 41 bands and 85 banners marched to the Racecourse watched by thousands of onlookers. Although the North’s deep mines are long gone brand new banners were paraded from former coalfield communities including Eppleton, Crook Hall, High Handenhold and Thornley, as well as one from Durham Aged Miners’ Homes.

An additional banner on parade was from Hamsteels Primary School, near Esh Winning, Co Durham, which is to close this summer following an unpopular decision by Durham County councillors, who cited falling pupil roles and costly repair bills as the reason for voting it to close.

Last years’ gala was marred by a mass brawl among rival gangs of youths on the Racecourse after the speeches had finished.

This year’s event was relatively trouble-free, with only six arrests.

A colourful seaside festival

HUNDREDS of families descended on the seaside over the weekend for the most colourful Mouth of Tyne festival yet.

Musicians and performers filled both South Shields and Tynemouth for the annual two-day event, with singer Beverley Knight topping the line-up on Saturday night, as a procession of dragons arrived on the south bank.

Those walking through Tynemouth were greeted by a mechanical fire-breathing horse, giant characters playing music, a selection of street theatricals and slapstick acrobatics.

In South Shields entertainment included silver dinosaurs, the Poles Apart stilt company, and a spectacular show from Alchemy Fireworks. In Hexham, the annual Selefest went off with a bang with sporty youngsters trying out a special climbing wall and seeing demonstrations of BMX skills, while those who wanted to stay on the ground had hula hoops for company. Alongside the extreme sports was a programme of live bands, trapeze artists and a graffiti wall.