Ex-miner 'extremely worried' about further pensions boost delay

FRUSTRATION AS CAMPAIGNERS STILL WAIT FOR ACTION

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

A FORMER miner who has spent years campaigning for pensions justice is “extremely worried” about further delays to handing billions back to ex-miners.

The veteran campaigner has written to all East Midlands MPs urging them to “step up” to make sure that the Government's November Budget delivers justice for ex-colliery workers.

Mick Newton, who worked at Thoresby Colliery, says he and other campaigners are “totally frustrated” that elements of pensions injustice remain one year on from Labour pledging to end it.

Ministers have hinted for months that the Government's Budget on November 26 could be the end of the saga, but Mr Newton said: “We've only got eight weeks to go and, at this stage, discussions and negotiations with the two pensions schemes need to be sped up so we are included in the Budget.