Where is the share of miner's pension fund?

He stated he will be guaranteeing that “no Mansfield miner would be out of pocket and we will make sure that all their cash is fully protected and returned, I have looked into this and will ensure that’s done”.

Regardless of what Boris said in Mansfield and across the country, nothing has changed in respect of the Government’s view, as proven by letters sent from one of his ministers Kwasi Kwarteng MP.

Rachel Reeves MP in her capacity of chairman of the business, energy and industrial strategy committee wrote to Kwasi Kwarteng MP the Minister of State on October 1, 2019 in regards to the surplus sharing arrangement in which more than £4.5billion has been taken from the mine workers’ pension scheme by governments.

In reply, the minister stated the current arrangements have worked well for both parties, the mine workers and the Government. Following Mr Johnson’s comment in Mansfield, the National Union of Mineworkers wrote to Mr Johnson on December 19, seeking clarification in respect of his comments to the general public and to the Chad reporter.

The minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, replied on behalf of the Prime Minister giving the same reply as he gave to Rachel Reeves prior to Boris Johnson’s visit to Mansfield.

This goes to prove that we must question what Mr Johnson said on his visit to Mansfield, both to residents of Mansfield and to the Chad in his comments to return the cash.

Members of Parliament might have parliamentary privilege at the dispatch box but they certainly do not while making statements to the public, the people of Mansfield and to this paper, and they need taking to task for this.

This injustice needs to end where more than £4.5b has been removed from the pension scheme without the Government putting one penny in.

Alan Spencer

General secretary, NUM