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Sorry to burst yer bubbles guys but to say that before Thatcher we had an economic base and she ruined it is way off mark. Our economic base was in trouble way before she took power. And Labour did just as much to ruin it after.
You wouldn't have moved in some of the circles I did.

I was with a certain captain of Industry. he ran a major manufacturing company which is still one of the Uk's top blue chip companies. Based near Cheltenham and responsible for some of our aerospace excellence.
Meeting with a high ranking female Labour member of cabinet. She was questioned about our economy and what was to be done about selling off our heritage so European and continental competitors can take the profits away from our country.

The reply was this.

"Our industry doesn't matter any more. sell it all off. The only industry that matters is the City". (Banks Etc)

"Oh! What about emplyment across the country".

"Oh turn em all over to service industry (ie McDonalds) and Tourism".

Is that enough for you. I have no faith in any politician of whatever persuasion. There isn't one who has an once of common sense and non of them have any grip on reality. Ever!
They all live an airy fairy existence billed at our expense and there is nothing we can do about it

Reading this thread with interest

Just wanted to make one big issue clear. These were the number of coal mines closed in the UK before Thatcher came to power and after.


1964 545
1965 .. 504
1966 .. 442
1967 .. 406
1968 .. 330
1969 .. 304

1974 .. 250
1975 .. 241
1976 .. 239
1977 .. 231
1978 .. 223
1979 .. 219
These are the figures for the Thatcher years:
1979 .. 219
1980 .. 213
1981 .. 200
1982 .. 191
1983 .. 170
1984 .. 169
1985 .. 133
1986 .. 110
1987 .. 94
1988 .. 86
1989 .. 73
1990 .. 65

You know leftie socialism is all very well, but eventually you run out of other peoples money

MidDevon wrote:Reading this thread with interest

Just wanted to make one big issue clear. These were the number of coal mines closed in the UK before Thatcher came to power and after.


1964 545
1965 .. 504
1966 .. 442
1967 .. 406
1968 .. 330
1969 .. 304

1974 .. 250
1975 .. 241
1976 .. 239
1977 .. 231
1978 .. 223
1979 .. 219
These are the figures for the Thatcher years:
1979 .. 219
1980 .. 213
1981 .. 200
1982 .. 191
1983 .. 170
1984 .. 169
1985 .. 133
1986 .. 110
1987 .. 94
1988 .. 86
1989 .. 73
1990 .. 65

You know leftie socialism is all very well, but eventually you run out of other peoples money

these figures do make interesting reading.....

the main reason why there were more pits closing in the mid to late 60's were that there was fuller employment at this time - particularly in wales where the workers avoided working down the pit at all costs. no workers no pits - its not rocket science.

also the numbers fell from 1974-1990 as obviously there were less pits to shut and also the fact that the amount of redundancy being offered -£1000 per yr worked, was a tempting offer.

as i said before, the problem was the price of cheap inported coal. the tory govt planned this and went to the country with the line "our coal is expensive" well it would be if you import coal and give the importing country a "special" deal.......

the issue from 1979 was not the fact the the pits were closing, it was as i said before the way it was carried out. if you look at any pit area anywhere in the country, when a pit was shut, there was at that time no other business growth or employment opportunities offered.
this would not be allowed to happen now.

i did a lot of reasearch into this about 10yrs ago for my degree - so if anyone wants to discuss this specific issue, please get in touch.

Ok, have a question but need a supplementary question answered first. The Government owned and ran the mines, they were public sector and the pits were paid according to the tonnage of coal they provided?

Matt.

ferrarilover wrote:Ok, have a question but need a supplementary question answered first. The Government owned and ran the mines, they were public sector and the pits were paid according to the tonnage of coal they provided?

Matt.

yes matt thats correct.