Government accused of shunting Orgreave inquiry "into the long grass"

Andy Burnham has accused the Government of trying to shunt a proposed inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave "into the long grass" and demanded it is launched "today".

But newly appointed Home Secretary Amber Rudd said she is not going to "rush it" and will consider the evidence over the summer.

The comments come after the House of Lords was last week told the Home Office will not launch an inquiry into police actions in the clash with miners until all Hillsborough investigations are concluded.

Around 10,000 strikers and 5,000 police officers clashed at the coking plant in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, in June 1984.

Mr Burnham, the shadow home secretary, has long called for a public inquiry into allegations of police misconduct during the clash, which left more than 120 officers and pickets injured.

Home Office spokesman Lord Keen of Elie told peers the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is working with the Crown Prosecution Service to assess if evidence related to Orgreave is relevant to the Hillsborough criminal investigations.

The Government will not decide on an inquiry until after a decision on criminal proceedings, he added.

Police remove a picket line member from outside the Orgreave Coking Plant Credit: Press Association

But the IPCC has since stated that it will not express any views on whetherthere should be a public inquiry, insisting this decision is a matter for theHome Secretary.

Mr Burnham said this "somewhat unexpected" announcement meant the inquiry would be "substantially delayed" and demanded it is launched immediately.

He said he welcomed the Home Secretary's offer to meet, but added: "Might it not help build the right climate if she today corrects the misleading impression given to Parliament that the IPCC had advised against the establishment of an inquiry at this time?

Andy Burnham has accused the Government of trying to avoid an inquiry into Orgreave Credit: Press Association

"Does she accept that there is no reason why ongoing investigations shoulddelay an inquiry, and that in similar situations it is commonplace forprotections to be put in place to manage any risks?

"Can she see why the Government's actions look like a Home Office manoeuvre to shunt a controversial issue into the long grass?

"This, one of the final decisions of the former Home Secretary, was announced as she stood on the steps of Downing Street promising to fight injustice."

Amber Rudd says she won't rush into any inquiry Credit: Press Association

Ms Rudd said the issue of whether to order a public inquiry into Orgreave is"one of the most important issues in my in-tray" as she undertakes her newrole and added that she will be considering the facts "very carefully" overthe summer.

She offered to meet campaigners and Mr Burnham to discuss the issue andindicated she hoped to come to a decision either in September or soon after.

She said: "You will know that this Government has not been slow in looking at historical cases. There have been Labour governments and there have been Conservative governments since 1984, but it is this Government that is taking the campaign very seriously.

"It is because I take it so seriously that I am not going to rush it. It wouldbe a mistake to do it today.

"What I am going to do is look at it over the summer and meet with thecampaign group in September, and reach a decision after that.

She also stressed that the Government takes all allegations of policemisconduct "very seriously".

Massive police presence greets pickets as they arrive on the hill heading to the Orgreave Coking Plant near Rotherham during the miners disputes. Credit: Press Association

Campaigners have long called for a Hillsborough-style inquiry into the incident and South Yorkshire Police - heavily criticised for their role in theHillsborough disaster - have faced claims that officers used "excessive force" against picketing miners at Orgreave and manipulated statements.

Barbara Jackson, from the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, said "we're one step further to getting transparency, accountability and justice. And over the years a number of people who were arrested at Orgreave have died or they're physically now to ill to be involved in the campaign , so it's another step on the road to getting that justice for them".

Police lead away an injured picketer, who was pulled out of the crowd with a head wound after trouble erupted on the picket line outside Orgreave Coking Plant Credit: Press Association

Former miner Dennis Skinner, Labour MP for Bolsover, said the Hillsborough inquiry had "exposed the fact that the police were writing similar things about similar incidents" and that South Yorkshire "did exactly the same at Orgreave".

He said: "I went there and I saw it for myself and it was one-way traffic bythe police and then the same statements over and over again, written for each of these different miners.

"I hope you are not going to be hanging about very long with this."

Mr Skinner called for "truth and justice for Orgreave".

Ms Rudd said: "I assure you I am not hanging around on this. It is one of themost important items in my in-tray."

Alec Shelbrooke, Tory MP for Elmet and Rothwell, said the South YorkshirePolice name "now does a disservice to the honest, hard-working officers who put themselves in the front line".

He asked Ms Rudd to consider that the "time has come to reorganise Yorkshire policing and remove the name South Yorkshire Police".

Ms Rudd replied: "I can tell you that there has been new leadership which has made clear commitment to address issues within South Yorkshire."