Kellingley miners set for new redundancy deal after government steps in

The Government will ensure that they get a deal in line with the payout given to miners at Thoresby, after complaints Kellingley staff were to only receive statutory redundancy pay.

The mine at Thoresby was Nottinghamshire's last working pit and closed in July after 90 years.

Mr Cameron said: "As part of the closure process the Government has put nearly £18m to ensure that the workers receive the same package as miners at recently closed Thoresby."

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The Prime Minister also said he thanked the people who 'worked so hard' at the mine after being asked to pay tribute to the workers by Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty, Nigel Adams during this lunchtime's Prime Minister's Questions.

Mr Adams said: "This Friday sadly sees the closure of Britain's last deep coal mine at Kellingley in my constituency

"Will my Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister join me in thanking the hundreds of workers who will be working their last shift this Friday, and also praise the thousands of workers whose bravery and hard graft over the past 50 years has helped warm our homes, power our factory and keep our lights on."

David Cameron replied: "I think my honourable friend speaks very strongly for his constituents and I'm very happy to join him in thanking people who worked so hard at that mine and elsewhere."

He added: "Obviously it's a difficult time."

However after considerable heckling from the Labour party while giving his remarks on the deal for the redundant miners, Mr Cameron broke off from his comments on how the Government had helped keep the mine open for longer.

He asked people to listen to the 'official policy of the Labour Party', and read out a line from one of their policy documents.

He said: "We must take action to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Right, that is their policy. They've also got a policy of re-opening coal mines. Presumably what they're going to do is dig a big hole in the ground and then sit there and do nothing.

"What a metaphor for the leadership of his party."