Boris Johnson recognises the “huge impact and pain” caused by coal mines shutting, Downing Street said as aides attempted to limit the damage caused by his comments about Thatcher-era pit closures.

The Prime Minister was condemned by leaders in Scotland and Wales after joking that Margaret Thatcher had given the UK an early start in the shift away from coal power by closing so many collieries.

Number 10 declined to apologise for the comments but said Mr Johnson understands the suffering of former mining communities.

The PM’s official spokesman told reporters: “The Prime Minister recognises the huge impact and pain closing coal mines had in communities across the UK.

“This Government has an ambitious plan to tackle the critical issue of climate change, which includes reducing reliance on coal and other non-renewable energy sources.

“During the visit the Prime Minister pointed to the huge progress already made in the UK transitioning away from coal and towards cleaner forms of energy, and our commitment to supporting people and industries on that transition.”

Asked if Mr Johnson will apologise, the spokesman said: “You’ve got my words there, the Prime Minister recognises the huge impact and pain closing coal mines had in communities across the UK.”

Labour demanded an immediate apology, with party leader Sir Keir Starmer saying the comments were “a slap in the face” for communities still suffering from the legacy of Mrs Thatcher’s actions.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said the Prime Minister’s comments were “crass and offensive”, with the collapse of the coal industry causing “incalculable” damage to Welsh communities.

Mr Johnson’s comments, made during a visit to Scotland on Thursday, had already been strongly criticised by Sir Keir and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Mr Drakeford added his rebuke to the Prime Minister, highlighting the economic scarring suffered across swathes of Wales by the decline of coal.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I’m afraid that those remarks are both crass and offensive.

“The damage done to Welsh coal mining areas 30 years ago was incalculable and here we are, 30 years later, the Tories are still celebrating what they did.”

Mr Johnson made the off-the-cuff remarks as he was pressed on whether he would set a deadline for ending fossil fuel extraction.

The Prime Minister hailed existing action to move to greener forms of power, stating that when he was a child 70%-80% of all electricity had been coal-generated.

“Since then, it’s gone right down to 1%, or sometimes less,” he said.

“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 across the country, we had a big early start and we’re now moving rapidly away from coal altogether.”

The Thatcher administration saw the bitter 1984-85 miners’ strike which affected pit communities across the country.

Sir Keir said: “The Prime Minister has shown his true colours yet again.

“For Boris Johnson to laugh when talking about the closure of the coal mines is a slap in the face for communities still suffering from the devastating effects of Margaret Thatcher’s callous actions.

“I’m proud to have always stood with our coalfield communities. I represented the miners in court as the Tories tried to close the pits.

“These communities contributed so much to the success of our country, and then were abandoned.

“The Tories didn’t care then, and they don’t care now.

“For Boris Johnson to treat the pain and suffering caused to our coalfield communities as a punchline shows just how out of touch with working people he is.

“The Prime Minister must apologise immediately.”

Ms Sturgeon said lives and communities across Scotland were “utterly devastated by Thatcher’s destruction of the coal industry”, adding that it had “zero to do with any concern she had for the planet”.