UK PRIME MINISTER LAUGHS AT THATCHER'S ASSAULT ON SCOTTISH COMMUNITIES

Boris Johnson has been condemned after laughing about the closure of coal mines across the UK.

The Tory Prime Minister said it was “thanks” to Margaret Thatcher the mines closed and chuckled as he said it.

Ex Labour MSP Neil Findlay said: “Boris Johnson finding the plight of the industrial communities that were decimated by Thatcher’s assault amusing tells you everything you need to know about his mentality."

Johnson is in Scotland this week to talk up the UK's work on climate change on the eve of Glasgow hosting COP26.

At a media briefing, he was asked about setting a timetable for ending oil and gas exploration.

He responded: “Look at what we’ve done already. We've transitioned away from coal in my lifetime. Thanks to Margaret Thatcher who closed so many coal mines [the Prime Minister then laughs] across the country where we had had a big early start and we’re now moving rapidly away from coal altogether.”

He then laughed: “Thought that would get you going.”

He added: “We're now down to less than 2%, 1%, I think of our energy comes from coal.”

The 1980s were marked by a bitter strike involving a coal mining union and the Thatcher government.

Mines were closed and miners lost their jobs as a result of the industrial dispute.

The actions of the police were the subject of a Scottish Government ordered inquiry.