Mineworkers and widows from across Nottinghamshire are set to descend on Westminster in a bid to urge the government to share out a pension scheme surplus.

Mineworkers Pension Lobby of Westminster will take place on Wednesday June 17 12.30pm to 2pm, followed by a Rally of Campaigners on College Green at 2.30 pm.

Mick Newton worked at Thoresby Colliery for 15 years and has been campaigning for a fairer deal for the past decade said: "We will be expressing our thanks to MPs and the Government for their recognition of the injustice and for giving back our Investment Reserve Fund, but the root cause of our Injustice was and still is the Government Surplus Share Arrangements that allow the Government to take 50 per cent of our Investment returns annually.

“Since 1994 the Government has taken Billions from our Scheme without putting a single penny back into the Scheme.

Mick Newton (centre) has been campaigning to bring justice to mineworkers and their widows regarding pension payments for over a decade. Photo: Submitted

placeholder image — Mick Newton (centre) has been campaigning to bring justice to mineworkers and their widows regarding pension payments for over a decade. Photo: Submitted

“The so called Government Guarantee was and as always been a fallacy, a con that as Punished Mineworkers "All the Way to the Grave"

“The Government has the ability this year to right this historic wrong and we will once again travel to Westminster to represent our case and call for justice.”

Trustees are pushing to amend the 50/50 surplus-sharing agreement, ensuring members receive the full benefit of surpluses.

Mansfield MP Steve Yemm has been campaigning for a fair deal for miners.

He said: “While progress has been made, I will continue to press the Government to resolved the outstanding injustices, including ending surplus sharing, protecting bonus pensions and releasing the unallocated surplus to boost pensions further.

“As part of this campaign, I have organised an East Midlands lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 17 June, giving Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme members and campaigners the opportunity to come to Westminster and make their voices heard directly with MPs.

“If you are a Mansfield MPS member and would be interested in attending, please get in touch via [email protected] for more information.”

In 1994, when British Coal was privatised, it was agreed the Government would get half of any surplus from the pot in return for guaranteeing the value of the pensions would not decrease.

Successive Governments have made £4.8bn from the deal over the last 30 years.

When both the MPS and BCSS schemes were set up, the government was keen that some money should be held in reserve to ensure there was enough cash to pay out to members.

However, far more reserve money was built up in both funds than ever needed and following years of campaigning government changes so far have led to more than £1 billion being transferred back to the MPS and more than £2 billion transferred back to the BCSSS.

The move comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in October last year that the entirety of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme (MPS) investment reserve would be handed over to ex-coal miners and their families.