Tory MPs vow to attend Durham Miners Gala despite organiser’s ‘idiocy’ over safety warning
CONSERVATIVE MPs vowed to attend the Durham Miners Gala this year even after its organiser claimed he would “rather be found dead in a ditch” than invite them.
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Alan Mardghum, general secretary of Durham Miners’ Association, was accused of “idiocy” by a minister after he said Tories were not welcome at the event and would need security to attend. He warned they “might need to speak to the police to ensure they’re safe on the day”. Despite his threats, four of the seven constituencies are now represented by Conservatives after the party made significant gains in last month’s election.
Mr Mardghum told the BBC: “To paraphrase Boris Johnson, I would rather be found dead in a ditch than invite them, or Johnson, to the gala.
“Why would we invite Tories to the Durham Miners’ Gala?
“They did their best to absolutely destroy the Durham miners and the miners of Great Britain.”
He claimed he could not stop MPs coming to the gala as “it’s a free country”.
However, his warnings were not enough to scare away some Conservative MPs who claimed they would be attending the event.
Dehenna Davison became the first Conservative to be elected as an MP for Bishop Aukland.
She wrote to Mr Mardghum on Twitter: “See you there, Alan.”
Ms Davison was backed up by new Conservative MP for Ashfield Lee Anderson.
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He replied to her tweet: “As an ex-miner and a Conservative MP I would be glad to join you my friend.”
Simon Clarke, Tory MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland tweeted: “What too many Labour outriders - and MPs, and former MPs - seem to misunderstand is just how unpleasant this kind of idiocy looks to the wider public.”
The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury added: “The North East is now exactly 50/50 in terms of Conservative/Labour representation.
“I represent more working miners than anyone.”
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Former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson said: “Fun Fact: There are 7 seats in County Durham.
“Tories took 4 of them in last month’s election. 123,112 people voted Conservatives vs. 122,547 Labour voters.
“We’re the majority. ‘Othering’ Conservative representatives and voters only means we stay that way.”
New Conservative MP Richard Holden, who won his North West Durham seat, previously said he would be “more than happy” to go the the gala.
He told the Chronicle newspaper: “On the doorstep of every colliery village I’ve been knocking on, I’ve had ex-miners, their children and widows tell me that they had never voted Conservative, but would now.
“Actual working-class people in the North East have basically rejected the class war politics.”
The gala is a gathering of trade unionists and miners.
It has long been strongly pro-Labour, with Jeremy Corbyn and other senior party figures giving speeches in recent years.
Beginning in 1871, the gala is the biggest trade union event in Europe and is part of an annual celebration of socialism.
Last year’s event marked the 150th anniversary of the Durham Miners Association, with around 200,000 people attending to see traditional colliery brass bands march through the city.