Government orders Orgreave inquiry

Good afternoon readers — and welcome to this week’s Monday briefing.

Go there now and it’s just a typical housing estate, but 41 years ago it was the scene of a pitched battle between 8,000 miners and 6,000 police officers. The Battle of Orgreave was one of the defining flashpoints of the miners’ strike, and set much of the agenda for the bitter dispute that followed. But was it everything that it seemed? The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign have long argued that the violence which took place that day were caused by the police rather than the striking miners. Now the government has ordered a new inquiry into the events which led up to the battle and its aftermath. That’s our big story today.

As well as that, we have news of a stay of execution for Liberty Steels, a new art exhibition at West Bar Square, and a house with some interesting interior decor in Nether Edge.

In case you missed it

For our weekend read, regular contributor David Bocking returned with a piece about the tinderbox situation on the moors over Sheffield. Fortunately for the moors, the piece was published just as we got our first significant rainfall of the summer! However, the point made in the piece still stands. Don’t start fires on the moors! You can still read that piece here.

Last week we sent out two stories. In the first piece for members only, Dan delved into the mysteries of quantum mechanics with the people behind Aegiq, a Sheffield-based firm which thinks it may have cracked the code of quantum computing. And in the second, after a four month investigation, Daniel revealed the secret University of Sheffield laboratory which is working on the UK’s next nuclear warheads.

Editor’s note: “Weapons grade investigative journalism”. That was our favourite comment from last week, following The Tribune’s exclusive revelations about the University of Sheffield’s involvement in the programme to develop a new nuclear warhead. With a tip-off from one reader, we spent months pulling together the evidence. Daniel was on Times Radio last week talking about the story, here’s a short clip:

We’ll be sending a bonus shorter piece out tomorrow on why we thought it was such an important story to cover.

If you know something that you think is important for the people of Sheffield to know, please get in touch at editor@sheffieldtribune.co.uk. We always protect our sources, and are willing to put the hard yards in to get to the truth.

The big picture: Let’s dance 💃

On Saturday, the annual Chance to Dance festival returned to the city centre (actually the Winter Garden due to the rain) for its 25th anniversary event. Established in 2000 as part of Sheffield's involvement in the World Health Organisation European Healthy City Movement, inspired by a challenge from Turku, Finland, Chance to Dance is a one-day free community dance event featuring styles ranging from salsa and bhangra to ballroom and modern jive. Pictured are “alternative bellydance troupe” Sisters of Tribellica. Photo by Tim Dennell.

The big story: Government orders Orgreave inquiry 🪧

Top line: The government has ordered a public inquiry into the events which led to the infamous “Battle of Orgreave”, one of the defining moments of the 1984-85 miners’ strike. The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign has been fighting for an inquiry for 13 years. Now they have one.

The case for an inquiry: The strike was just over three months old when 8,000 picketing miners and 6,000 police faced off against each other at the British Steel coking plant on 18 June 1984. The battle started when police charged at the miners on horseback, with others following with truncheons and short shields.

• 95 miners were arrested and charged with either unlawful assembly or riot, which potentially carried a life sentence. However, all were later acquitted after the trial exposed dozens of inconsistencies in the police officers’ accounts of the disorder.
• The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign was set up in 2012 to fight for a public inquiry. They have long alleged that senior police officers deliberately caused the disorder by ordering mounted officers to charge towards the picketers.
• The campaign further alleges that the cover up of Orgreave, with police colluding with the media to blame innocent people and conceal their own wrongdoing, was effectively repeated five years later at Hillsborough, where 97 Liverpool fans died.

The inquiry: The previous Conservative government rejected calls for an inquiry in 2016 on the grounds that no one had died and there had been no miscarriages of justice. But in their 2024 manifesto, Labour promised to set one up, and have come good on their word. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper this morning said those affected by the confrontation had been left with "unanswered questions for over 40 years".

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, who has been backing the OTJC’s fight for an inquiry, welcomed the news this morning. He said: 

The announcement of a Public Inquiry into the events at Orgreave is a landmark moment for justice and accountability. We wouldn’t have got this without the sheer determination of the campaigners and a government and Home Secretary who have listened to the long-held concerns. The Inquiry represents an opportunity to examine not only the actions of South Yorkshire Police and other forces on that day, but also the broader role of government at the time. It’s a step towards setting the historical record straight, ensuring lessons are learned, and restoring public trust.

The panel: The inquiry will be chaired by the Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Rev Dr Pete Wilcox, and will begin its work this autumn, the Home Secretary added.

Why now? The OTJC recently met with the Home Secretary to stress that the public inquiry needed to be held soon. Many of the miners involved in the picket have died and those who are still alive are elderly or ill. Also, there have been worries that many forces involved in the operation could have or be about to destroy key documents.

• Northumbria Police were recently criticised for destroying two boxes of documents relating to the strike and Orgreave, some of which were believed to include a report on an incident in which an officer beat a man over the head with a truncheon.
• South Yorkshire Police currently hold 1,474 files of material, amounting to 82,913 pages, in its archive related to the events which led to Orgreave. Last year the force said it still intended to make the archive public, but they have not yet done so.

Bottom line: The OTJC have long maintained that the Battle of Orgreave represents one of the most serious miscarriages of justice in this country’s history. Now is a chance to get to the truth.

Your Tribune briefing 🗞️

🗳️ A Sheffield councillor had been forced to apologise after she was caught posting anonymously in a Facebook group. Ruth Milsom, Labour councillor for Crookes and Crosspool, posted in the Save Chapeltown, Ecclesfield and Grenoside’s Green Belt Facebook group under a different name. After the group’s organisers posted that they were aware a sitting Sheffield councillor was posting what they said was “factually inaccurate information”, Councillor Milsom identified herself as the councillor in question. A Labour spokesperson said Councillor Milsom had apologised and that the party would look into the issue.

🏭 A court case which could see the South Yorkshire-based steel company Speciality Steels UK wound up has been adjourned — again. On Wednesday, a court heard that the firm, which is a subsidiary of Sanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Steel, had now settled one outstanding debt to the creditor who brought the case. However, SSUK was immediately hit by another claim from administrators for Greensill Capital who are seeking repayment of around £5 million. There have been suggestions that if SSUK were to go into administration, it could be rescued by the government. Our piece from May about Sanjeev Gupta and Liberty Steel is here.

💐 Visitors to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Show at Wentworth Woodhouse last week say the organisation of travel to the event was diabolical, with some reporting that fights broke out between coach passengers. Attendees said they had been forced to wait at a park and ride set up at Meadowhall Interchange for up to two hours, and when one coach did arrive, two queues of people tried to get on it at the same time. That’s when "it all kicked off", said one frustrated passenger. Organisers promised to learn the lessons of this year’s event for its planned return in 2028.

🚨 We’ve written a lot about the struggles of higher education in Sheffield, but this piece from our sister title the Manchester Mill shows how things could be a whole lot worse. Last week, police raided seven properties linked to serious allegations of fraud and bribery at the University of Greater Manchester (formerly the University of Bolton). The Mill’s story is just the latest in a series of investigative pieces which have revealed turmoil at the university.

This week’s weather 🌥️

Our weather forecast comes from dedicated Sheffield weather service Steel City Skies, who say there will be an unsettled start to the week with some lively downpours; gradually settling down after midweek.

Monday 🌦 Scattered showers, some heavy and thundery, becoming widespread by late morning. Highs of 22C.

Tuesday 🌦 Becoming cloudy and damp as light rain moves east, clearing to bright spells and showers later. Rather cool with limited sunshine and highs of 20C.

Wednesday 🌦 A further risk of showers, though some may stay dry. Bright spells in between and quite breezy from the west with highs of 21C.

Thursday ⛅ Fewer showers generally, with bright spells more prevalent and a better chance of staying dry more widely. Breezy from the NW with highs of 23C.

Friday ⛅ Light to moderate westerly breezes with many areas staying dry and fine as high pressure attempts to ridge in. Highs of 23C.

Outlook: High pressure likely to retain decent influence for the weekend with good spells of dry and bright weather expected 😎 Temperatures not far from average.

To see the full forecast and keep up to date with any changes to the outlook, follow Steel City Skies on Facebook.

The weekly Whitworth ✍️

Cartoonist James Whitworth with his take on our investigation from last week which revealed the existence of a secret nuclear weapons lab at the University of Sheffield’s AMRC.

Home of the week 🏡

Unless you’ve always dreamt of having rooms in your house which resembles the Red Room from Twin Peaks, this three bedroom Nether Edge end terrace requires some modernisation. However, despite the Lynchian stylings, the estate agent says it “offers tremendous potential to self-create a truly stunning home”. It is on the market for £350,000.

Things to do 📆

Debate 💬 On Monday, join Sheffield Skeptics in the Pub and their speaker, cancer cell biologist Dr Alice Howarth, for a debate about the hidden cost of wellness. The wellness industry is worth an estimated $4.5 trillion, stretching out into the worlds of fitness, health, beauty, sleep, stress and nutrition. But what does wellness actually mean and does it work? The session starts at 7.30pm at Farm Road Sports and Social Club. Suggested donation £3.

Art 🖼️ On now at Soho Yard near Kelham Island (the new red brick flats on West Bar Square), is We Love What You've Done With the Place, a night dedicated to celebrating Sheffield's alternative art scene. Artists featured include street artists Marcus Method, Ethan Lemon, Enso and Kid Acne. Also exhibiting work are sculptor Kate Burden and collagist Graham Hutchinson. The show continues until 26th July and is open 11am–5pm each day.

Music 🎷 On Wednesday, Jazz at The Lescar welcomes the Ali Watson Quartet to the Sharrow Vale Road venue. With a beautiful album Terrarium released in 2024, their music is full of lyrical folk melodies, colourful harmony, intimate instrumental textures and subtly propellant grooves, played by some of the most celebrated and in-demand young voices in Scottish jazz. Tickets are £10 (£7 students), doors open at 8pm. For a preview click here.