Roger Windsor
Encyclopedia
Roger Windsor was chief executive of the NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) between 1983 and 1989, including during the 1984 Miner's Strike. He later moved to France.
Windsor was accused of damaging the image of the union by visiting Libya
during the strike and meeting Colonel Gaddafi
, at the time an enemy of the United Kingdom
. Windsor was despatched to Libya by Arthur Scargill & Peter Heathfield (NUM General Secretary) in order make a direct appeal for funds from President Gaddafi. The Sunday Times
report on his visit was credited by some with substantially undermining public and parliamentary support for the miners. Both Scargill & Heathfield maintained contact with the Libyans subsequent to Roger Windsor's visit even after the Miners' Strike has ended in 1985. One significant such meeting took place in France in 1985 between Heathfield and Alain Simon (International Miners Organisation Secretary) with high level representatives from Libya.
In 1990 Windsor was involved in a media circus surrounding Arthur Scargill
's misuse of union funds and receipt of funds from Libya
, allegations which were substantially based on Windsor's evidence. The story was initially reported on the front page of the Daily Mirror and in the Central TV
programme The Cook Report
, with Windsor paid £80,000 for his support in the investigation. Gavin Lightman QC was requested to undertake an enquiry into the manner in which NUM funds and the £1 million donation by Russian miners were used during and after the Miners' Strike and found that Scargill had failed to properly account for substantial amounts of money including bank accounts opened in the name of Scargill's mother and Nell Myers (Scargill's PA). When Lightman decided to publish his findings in a Penguin paperback, Scargill obtained a Court Order to have it withdrawn from circulation. Then Mirror editor Roy Greenslade
later wrote an article apologising to Scargill, saying he was now sure the allegations had been untrue. Windsor himself was later found by the French courts to have signed documents he claimed were forged by Scargill, and ordered to repay funds to the NUM.http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4070967,00.html
Some of his actions during and after the strike led to false accusations that he was an agent of MI5
. The allegations were raised in Parliament, but could not be challenged outside it due to parliamentary privilege
. After the allegation was repeated in a 21 May 2000 newspaper article in the Sunday Express by Rupert Allason
, Windsor in 2003 won a libel action against the Express and its then editor, Rosie Boycott
. The head of the MI5 branch responsible for 'monitoring' unions and strike activity at the time of the strike, Dame Stella Rimington
, gave a clear denial in 2001, saying that Windsor was "never an agent in any sense of the word that you can possibly imagine", and, in breach of normal Government protocol, John Major MP the Prime Minister made an official statement that Roger Windsor was never involved with the government.
Windsor was accused of damaging the image of the union by visiting Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
during the strike and meeting Colonel Gaddafi
Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
, at the time an enemy of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Windsor was despatched to Libya by Arthur Scargill & Peter Heathfield (NUM General Secretary) in order make a direct appeal for funds from President Gaddafi. The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
report on his visit was credited by some with substantially undermining public and parliamentary support for the miners. Both Scargill & Heathfield maintained contact with the Libyans subsequent to Roger Windsor's visit even after the Miners' Strike has ended in 1985. One significant such meeting took place in France in 1985 between Heathfield and Alain Simon (International Miners Organisation Secretary) with high level representatives from Libya.
In 1990 Windsor was involved in a media circus surrounding Arthur Scargill
Arthur Scargill
Arthur Scargill is a British politician who was President of the National Union of Mineworkers from 1982 to 2002, leading the union through the 1984–85 miners' strike, a key event in British labour and political history...
's misuse of union funds and receipt of funds from Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, allegations which were substantially based on Windsor's evidence. The story was initially reported on the front page of the Daily Mirror and in the Central TV
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
programme The Cook Report
The Cook Report
The Cook Report was a British current affairs television programme shown on ITV, produced for the network by Central Television from 1987 to 1998.-History:...
, with Windsor paid £80,000 for his support in the investigation. Gavin Lightman QC was requested to undertake an enquiry into the manner in which NUM funds and the £1 million donation by Russian miners were used during and after the Miners' Strike and found that Scargill had failed to properly account for substantial amounts of money including bank accounts opened in the name of Scargill's mother and Nell Myers (Scargill's PA). When Lightman decided to publish his findings in a Penguin paperback, Scargill obtained a Court Order to have it withdrawn from circulation. Then Mirror editor Roy Greenslade
Roy Greenslade
Roy Greenslade is Professor of Journalism at City University London and has been a media commentator since 1992, most notably for The Guardian....
later wrote an article apologising to Scargill, saying he was now sure the allegations had been untrue. Windsor himself was later found by the French courts to have signed documents he claimed were forged by Scargill, and ordered to repay funds to the NUM.http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4070967,00.html
Some of his actions during and after the strike led to false accusations that he was an agent of MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
. The allegations were raised in Parliament, but could not be challenged outside it due to parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
. After the allegation was repeated in a 21 May 2000 newspaper article in the Sunday Express by Rupert Allason
Rupert Allason
Rupert William Simon Allason is a military historian and former Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was the Member of Parliament for Torbay in Devon, from 1987 to 1997...
, Windsor in 2003 won a libel action against the Express and its then editor, Rosie Boycott
Rosie Boycott
Rosel Marie Boycott , better known as Rosie Boycott, is a British journalist and feminist.-Journalism career:Daughter of Major Charles Boycott and Betty Boycott née Le Sueur, Rosel Boycott was born in St Helier, Jersey and was educated at the independent Cheltenham Ladies' College and read...
. The head of the MI5 branch responsible for 'monitoring' unions and strike activity at the time of the strike, Dame Stella Rimington
Stella Rimington
Dame Stella Rimington, DCB is a British author, who was the Director General of MI5 from 1992 to 1996. She was the first female DG of MI5, and the first DG whose name was publicised on appointment...
, gave a clear denial in 2001, saying that Windsor was "never an agent in any sense of the word that you can possibly imagine", and, in breach of normal Government protocol, John Major MP the Prime Minister made an official statement that Roger Windsor was never involved with the government.
External links
- Victory for Former NUM Chief Over Miners' Strike "Spy" Libel
- Roy GreensladeRoy GreensladeRoy Greenslade is Professor of Journalism at City University London and has been a media commentator since 1992, most notably for The Guardian....
, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, May 27, 2002, "Sorry, Arthur"