FORMER miner Bob Young says he is "unsurprised" to hear the Home Office has ruled out the possibility of a UK-wide inquiry into the miners’ strike.

The former councillor, who was was one of 500 Scottish miners to be convicted of offences during the 1984-85 dispute, said he will continue to fight for justice after Home Secretary Priti Patel told Scottish Justice Secretary Keith Brown that a public inquiry would not be held.

Mr Brown had asked for the probe after MSPs backed legislation pardoning those arrested during the 1984-85 industrial action unanimously . 

While there was agreement in Holyrood on the new law, there was disagreement over compensation for the workers who lost redundancy payments and pension rights. 

Labour had called on the Scottish Government to pay the men, but Mr Brown insisted it was the responsibility of ministers in Westminster.

After the Pardons Bill passed, he wrote to the Home Secretary asking for a public inquiry which would ultimately have led to compensation.

However, in a letter to Mr Brown, Ms Patel has ruled that out. 

Mr Young said the response was not unexpected.

"It doesn't surprise me one bit," he said. "The government tied up their reports on the miner's strike for 100 years so nothing is going to come out until we are all dead and they will not need to pay compensation to anybody for any wrongs committed during the strike.

"We now know there were many wrongs committed. I am not a bit surprised that the Government have said there will be no enquiry.

"It will not stop me one bit. We cannot give up. We will not do that. The next thing is to have a meeting and decide what the best way forward is.

"We have now got these blue brigades in the mining areas in England. If they are not going to get this done, if these MPs are not going to support us in the mining areas, they know what will happen at the next election."

Cowdenbeath MSP Annabelle Ewing this week expressed her anger and disappointment at the refusal to agree to calls for a public inquiry.

"I did not expect Priti Patel to show herself to be a friend of former miners, but I am, nevertheless, disappointed and angry at the UK Government’ continued refusal to acknowledge the scale of injustice felt in the communities I represent," she said.

“The Scottish Government has done what it can within the confines of the devolution settlement but matters relating to employment, trade and industrial relations remain reserved to Westminster.

“It is also the case that only the UK Government can own responsibility for the decisions taken at the time by the National Coal Board or political interference during the strike by a previous UK Government.

“Crucially, it is the UK Government that could, should, and must be compensating miners who were dismissed for their part in seeking to save their jobs, their industry and their communities."