Jimmy Hood, who has died aged 69 after suffering from a long-term heart condition, was an ebullient and effective Labour MP from a radical mining background who developed a parliamentary specialism in the scrutiny of European Union legislation. The defining experience of his political life was as leader of the striking Nottinghamshire miners during the bitter conflict of 1984-85. In his maiden speech to the House of Commons in 1987, Hood paid tribute to “the gallant striking miners of Nottinghamshire” and called for the reinstatement of victimised miners. Hood was a highly regarded constituency MP, at ease among his own people. In 2013 Hood was invited back to speak at a church service in Ollerton for the rededication of the NUM banner.

Source: The Guardian December 05, 2017 16:38 UTC