Exclusive video: How Downing Street handled miners' strike

Sir Bernard Ingham, who is also a columnist for The Yorkshire Post, described the inner workings of Downing Street during the strike for a video interview for this newspaper.

It was revealed today that Mrs Thatcher’s government feared a “witch hunt” would ensue if a public inquiry was held into South Yorkshire Police during the miners’ strike.

Sir Bernard said Mr Scargill had done his members “a complete disservice” by splitting their loyalties as the strike progressed.

He said: “Arthur Scargill was in the business of taming governments, of either colour.” But he said that although Mrs Thatcher was prepared for a strike, she wanted one “like a hole in the head”.

Click the screen to watch the clip, which is an extract from a longer interview with Sir Bernard.

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