On October 30, 2024, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a significant decision to fully transfer the £1.5 billion mineworkers’ pension fund to former miners and their families.

This announcement brought joy to former miners, many of whom had suffered in poverty due to a longstanding pension scandal.

As a result of this transfer, the pensions of 112,000 former coal miners will see a 32% increase, averaging an additional £29 per week starting in November 2024.

The roots of this issue trace back to 1994, when the Conservative government took half of the pension surplus without adequate input from the miners.

Criticism has been directed at former Prime Minister Boris Johnson for failing to fulfill his 2019 promise to resolve the pension deal.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband acknowledged the debt owed to mining communities, calling the fund transfer a rightful victory for miners and their advocates.

Miliband expressed gratitude to the current government for addressing this issue, contrasting their actions with previous administrations that neglected it.

Charles Chiverton, a spokesperson for the National Mineworkers Pension Campaign, emphasized the historical injustices faced by miners over the past 30 years.

Chiverton also highlighted the severe hardships endured by over 300,000 miners and their families, including struggles with basic needs and funeral costs.