A speaker at the Durham Miners’ Gala has launched a furious tirade against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, supporting the decision to exclude the party’s local members from its 139th annual event.
The association previously categorically refused to invite leading Reform UK figures – despite the party’s landslide victory in the county’s council election, where they secured 65 of 98 seats in May. The decision prompted heated exchanges during Saturday’s gathering in Durham City, which organisers estimate attracted more than 200,000 attendees.
Andrew Husband and his deputy Darren Grimes are among the 65 Reform councillors on the local authority, but DMA General Secretary Alan Mardghum has taken a firm stance against their participation.
The DMA said the failure to invite the councillors was because of a range of political differences, adding that those associated with Reform “do not share our beliefs in community in the labour movement and in social justice. In response, Reform UK called the DMA “political dinosaurs.
During Alan Mardghum’s speech at the event, the secretary of the DMA called out council leader Darren Grimes directly, resulting in boos from the crowd. “Why would we invite [Reform]? They stand against every principle we stand for,” Mardghum declared from the platform.
He continued his attack on Reform, describing “racist bile” directed at the Palestinian ambassador and explaining that international speakers have been invited to the event since 1876. “Reform UK councillors pulled down the pride flag from County Hall. The Durham miners will raise it higher than it’s ever been,” he added to cheers.
Grimes, a former GB News star, posted a video of the speech with the caption: “These Hard Left Cranks running the show are clearly desperate. They threatened me, Darren Grimes, your straight-talking Deputy Leader of Durham County Council, from the main stage – no less!
The Gala, which dates back to 1871, has been described as the “biggest working-class demonstration and event in the world”. The annual event marks the second Saturday in July and commemorates the mining heritage of the Durham Coalfield.
Jeremy Corbyn and Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot were among the speakers warmly welcomed by the flag-waving crowd. The event saw numerous Palestine and LGBT flags alongside the traditional trade union banners during the parade through Durham City.
During his speech, Corbyn voiced his concern about potential changes to Personal Independence Payments, “which never should have come up”, and also Israel’s war with Hamas. The former Labour leader later hinted at his much-anticipated new hard-left party, vowing: “Change is coming.
Corbyn said: “We’ve learned from the victories and defeats of the past, but we’ve also learned that principle: [of] communities coming together in solidarity, stand up for change, make that change, end that poverty and that disillusionment. That’s what the DMA is leading on. Well done to the DMA, and thank you so much for what you do.”
Later in the speech, he criticised those who blame “desperate” people for problems in society. He added: “There are some people in our communities who are ignorant, short-sighted and frankly nasty. They will go into a community, go onto a picket line, go to people who are desperate and poor and hungry and somehow or other blame all that on a convenient minority they can blame.”
The event saw the annual parade of trade union banners, with Palestine and LGBT flags also noticeable throughout the procession from various assembly points to the Racecourse field where the main rally took place.
Meanwhile, Zomlot spoke of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East during his speech. He said: “By the end of my speech, a Palestinian child will have been killed or maimed. Every sixteen minutes, a Palestinian child is killed or maimed … I cannot believe how morally bereft one would have to be to justify Israel’s genocide.
The DMA had announced in June that Zomlot would join the platform speakers, stating: “We will use the occasion to voice our solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of genocide.” Eight members of Zomlot’s family, including his wife’s seven-year-old cousin, were killed in an Israeli air strike last year.
Unite union leader Sharon Graham also addressed the crowd, saying: “What is happening in Gaza is genocide, pure and simple.” She pledged support for any Unite member who refuses to handle goods destined for Israel.
Other speakers included Eddie Dempsey of RMT, Matt Wrack of NASUWT, and Chris Peace of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign. The platform was chaired by DMA Chairman Stephen Guy.
Durham Mayor Gary Hutchinson added: “Words cannot fully express the emotion I feel today. I am greatly honoured to have this opportunity to play an active part in this historic event. I am truly moved to see so many people once again here today.”
“As mayor of this wonderful city I welcome you one and all. Whether you live in or around the city or if you have travelled from much further afield – welcome to the land of the black gold: coal.
The controversy over Reform’s exclusion began in May when Mardghum told LBC that Farage would “never, ever, ever be invited” to the Gala. The former miner, who worked at Wearmouth Colliery for 16 years until its closure in 1993, said he would boycott the event if the DMA “ever contemplated” inviting Reform.
Darren Grimes, whose mother Jackie Teasdale is also a Reform councillor, claimed that “miners and their families” had been “told to get stuffed for voting for Reform” by the DMA. “My grandad was a Durham miner. And now his grandson, elected by his own community, that my grandfather went down underground to serve, is being told that he’s not welcome at the gala that’s meant to honour men like him,” he said.
Reform UK won control of Durham County Council in the May elections, taking 65 seats and ending Labour’s historic dominance. Labour was reduced to just four seats, down 38, whilst the Liberal Democrats hold 14 seats, independents 12, Greens two and Conservatives one.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer was not invited to this year’s Gala, with Mardghum citing “diary issues” when Labour leaders have previously been unable to attend. Past Labour leaders including Harold Wilson, Michael Foot, Neil Kinnock, Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn all attended as party leader, though Tony Blair and Gordon Brown never appeared.
The DMA has a history of political exclusions. In 2020, Mardghum said newly elected Conservative MPs had “categorically no chance” of receiving an official invite, stating he would “rather die in a ditch” than see ‘red wall’ Conservative MPs attend.
This year marked the 40th anniversary of the end of the 1984-85 miners’ strike, with the DMA celebrating under the theme “We Are Still Here. Despite the closure of the last pit more than a generation ago, 77 communities continue to march with their banners at the annual gathering.
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