So many times, in the last 35 years I have been to the Durham Miners Gala on the second Saturday in July. And so many times it has been beautiful sunny weather. But not this year. And that somehow seemed appropriate.
It was only 9 days since Labour had won a huge majority of 172 at the General Election. This was the second time in over 35 years of me attending the Big Meeting that there had just been a General Election.
The 2024 Gala, displayed a sense of relief rather than great joy at the General Election result. While the steady rain in no way represented tears from anybody at the demise of such an awful Tory government… It did somehow still reflect a mood of cautious optimism at best.
The weather, didn’t stop there being the usual wonderful display of miners’ banners and the excellent brass bands. Both keeping alive very important aspects of our great Northeast heritage.
In the DMA tent
I spent much of the time in the Durham Miners Association tent, where I was helping to run a stall. It was an interesting stall, the kind of which would have seemed at best unlikely just a few years ago. The stall was called Mining Heritage, Green Future and was as the name suggests, about celebrating our mining heritage in the Northeast. It was also saying that we have to move on with a just transition to the new green economy.
There were leaflets handed out at the Durham Miners Gala. Leaflets were about the Ministry of Eco education, a just transition for Teesside from steel to new green jobs and some excellent photos of mining from the Gateshead area
The stall went down very well with people there and there were many people who showed interest in the theme. Many were willing to tell us what their idea of a just transition would be in the parliamentary constituency where they live.
Ideas at the Durham Miners Gala
There were some great ideas at the Durham Miners Gala, including the following:
- More green jobs and apprenticeships and training.
- Community-owned renewable energy
- Energy efficient new housing and retrofitting for older housing.
- Community green projects
- Insulated council housing
- Re-wilding with farmers given support to do this.
- Eco education
- Darlington once had 3 mills – why couldn’t that river support a hydro plant?
- Greening the local economy, support public transport and transition to cycling and greener transport generally.
- Roof car park with solar panels
- Conserve the Green Belt, use brown field sites. All public buildings should have solar panels or wind turbines if appropriate
- Hearing from those who will suffer from transition because this is a barrier to change.
- Tackle inequalities
- Hitachi needs to diversify.
- Active travel
- Passive housing
- Let us all hope that the Labour government enables at least some of these ideas to become reality and they can improve the lives of people in the areas concerned.
The Speeches at Durham Miners Gala
Then there were the speeches. Speakers I heard included Alan Mardhgum, Secretary of Durham Miners Association, who welcomed the election of a Labour government. However, he made demands of the new government including calling for a public inquiry into Orgreave and justice for the WASPI women.
Heather Wood from Women against Pit Closures, spoke of the importance of community in the mining regions and about the role of women in the 1984/5 strike, as this was the 40th anniversary of it beginning. Heather was also joined onstage by some other members of Women’s Support groups from the 1984/5 strike for an impromptu rendition of a song from the strike. It was very well received!
There was also a film about people in 1984-5 strike. Ian Lavery MP also remembered the strike and the solidarity shown in the fighting for future of communities for future generations. Lavery also said that Labour must deliver an Orgreave Inquiry and that with a majority of 172, Labour can change things –
We were privileged to hear an Argentinian speaker. Adriana Pelia spoke about protecting workers’ rights and the challenges facing trade unionists in Argentina, while speaking in perfect English…
Mick Whelan, General Secretary of the rail union ASLEF, spoke of how great the Gala is and how it demonstrates solidarity. He also added that we need move to the left as a country and change.
There were also numerous calls from speakers for a ceasefire in Gaza and other speakers on the platform included Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, Matt Wrack from the Fire Brigades Union and Christina McAnea, the General Secretary of Unison.
Next year
Hopefully next year the sun will shine – and the Labour will have delivered real change, that can be really celebrated at the Big Meeting…
