Trade unionist and communist Mick McGahey

he became chairman of local branch of union when eighteen , thereafter progressed through echelons, though never quite reaching national presidency. elected scottish executive of num in 1958, becoming president of scottish area in 1967. regarded highly competent operator militant line opposed others in union. defeated in 1971 elections national president joe gormley.

mcgahey was, however, elected national vice-president of num in 1972. made similar progress in communist party of great britain (cpgb), being elected executive in 1971. remained member until cpgb dissolved in 1991 , joined successor in scotland, communist party of scotland. reportedly subject of phone tapping uk security service mi5 transcribers found him difficult understand because of accent , effects of alcohol consumption.

he came attention of public during miners strikes of 1972 , 1974. later claimed these purely industrial disputes, made political prime minister, edward heath. nevertheless, took characteristically militant line, opposing of tactics of gormley, accusing him of ballotisis , swearing not constitutionalised out of national strike. gormley, later claimed, postponed own retirement until 1981, time mcgahey on 55, old union rules stand president.

he played smaller role (mostly on scottish affairs) during 1984–1985 miners strike, nearing retirement. opposed holding of national ballot , favoured letting regions make own decisions on whether strike. saw appointment of ian macgregor chair of national coal board declaration of war . james cowan, deputy chairman of ncb, claims mcgahey warned him retire in 1983 , protect health, feared bloody strike inevitable appointment of ian macgregor , there conflict between different regions in num.

surveillance mi5 on mcgahey during 1984–85 strike found extremely angry , embarrassed scargill s links libyan regime, happy take part, scargill , other num leaders, in contacts soviet representatives .

after strike, mcgahey became more critical of arthur scargill , argued against growing concentration of power within num in national leadership @ expense of regional areas. expressed regret on use of violent picketing in nottinghamshire , divisions caused amongst mineworkers, saying:

i not sure handled correctly. mass intrusion of pickets notts, not yorkshiremen; accept responsibility that, , left have to. think if executive had approached notts without pickets, might have been different. because reject, have made clear since strike, 25 or 30,000 notts miners, wives , families , communities scabs , blacklegs. refuse accept this. did alienate them during strike.

mcgahey continuously insisted num find way reconcile union of democratic mineworkers (a midlands-based breakaway num). scargill referred insistence tragedy people far north should pontificate should doing win members num.

comments after death of ian macgregor

on death of ian macgregor (chair of national coal board during 1984-5 strike), mcgahey said, s no loss people of ilk. macgregor vicious, anti-trades unionist, anti-working class person, recruited tory government quite deliberately purpose of destroying trade unionism in mining industry. not suffer grief, not in way cry on loss of ian macgregor.