Cos I am a saddo, one of the perks of this time of year, is reading documentation relating to documents released under the 30 year rule.

The last 2-3 releases are particularly interesting due to the political unrest during the previous tory government.

Here is the BBC take on it with links to other organisations such as the National Archives www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25549596

Just goes to prove it always was Thatcher against the Miners, and really how much of a lying Tory **** she was. If only FOI existed back then it would have wrecked her credibility and I believe significantly shortened her term in office. Instead, we've just got anti-union laws en-mass, because of those big bad miners, and employers can do what they want without fear of wildcat strikes.

(03 Jan 2014, 7:17 pm)aureolin wrote Just goes to prove it always was Thatcher against the Miners, and really how much of a lying Tory **** she was. If only FOI existed back then it would have wrecked her credibility and I believe significantly shortened her term in office. Instead, we've just got anti-union laws en-mass, because of those big bad miners, and employers can do what they want without fear of wildcat strikes.

As much as I wished FOI could have been implemented back then, there was no way in this world she would have allowed it.

Everyone had an opinion of her, the facts seem to backing up the ideas and suggestions the left were making back then.

Just thinking how different the country would have been if she had been forced into calling a general election back in the 80's.

2019 should be interesting when all the Hillsborough files are released

(03 Jan 2014, 10:17 pm)Adam wrote 2019 should be interesting when all the Hillsborough files are released

Might be earlier if the 20year rule kicks in, or a full inquiry is launched!

Her quest for power may come back to haunt her supporters.

(03 Jan 2014, 8:43 pm)andreos1 wrote As much as I wished FOI could have been implemented back then, there was no way in this world she would have allowed it.

Everyone had an opinion of her, the facts seem to backing up the ideas and suggestions the left were making back then.

Just thinking how different the country would have been if she had been forced into calling a general election back in the 80's.

Yep, she was far too much of a control freak to allow anything close to that.

Whilst I agree that the country would have been a different place if she was forced to call a general election in the mid-80's, I also worry to think in what way different it would have been. The potential backlash something like this would have caused, not to mention the turn in public opinion, would have surely lead to a Labour majority - a majority lead by Neil Kinnock.

I find people seem to forget that Kinnock was openly critical to the tactics (not the dispute) imposed by Arthur Scargill and the NUM at the time. I'm in no way condoning strike action without a membership ballot, but the far left were rife in the Labour party at the time. I really think this would have ended in complete division and despair for the Labour party if they were in power at the time of the 1984 strike.

(03 Jan 2014, 11:16 pm)aureolin wrote Yep, she was far too much of a control freak to allow anything close to that.

Whilst I agree that the country would have been a different place if she was forced to call a general election in the mid-80's, I also worry to think in what way different it would have been. The potential backlash something like this would have caused, not to mention the turn in public opinion, would have surely lead to a Labour majority - a majority lead by Neil Kinnock.

I find people seem to forget that Kinnock was openly critical to the tactics (not the dispute) imposed by Arthur Scargill and the NUM at the time. I'm in no way condoning strike action without a membership ballot, but the far left were rife in the Labour party at the time. I really think this would have ended in complete division and despair for the Labour party if they were in power at the time of the 1984 strike.

Good points.
Politics was in turmoil at the time, with the infighting within Labour, the defection of the gang of four and David Steel leading the liberals - anyone winning that election would have had to step up a level.
Kinnock may have even had a bigger battle on his hands to stay in charge of Labour.

Saying that, anything had to be better than Thatcher.

Economically, I wonder how different the country would be.
A lower reliance on the financial/service sector and bigger manufacturing levels than now or back to the dark days of the 70's?
Suppose we will never know, but I doubt anyone else would have thought up the poll tax!

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scot...s-30610043

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30625941

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30599952

That time of year again.

Here we go folks.

The BBC haven't mentioned the 84/85 strike at all.
May have to do some digging later.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35192265
Broadwater Farm riots and an 'abducted' milk float.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35189921
Thatcher AIDS campaign fears.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35196156
UK moon dust trials and tribulations.

There has been more news recently, with the National Archives sharing information relating to the Poll Tax

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/pol...82736.html

(23 Feb 2016, 7:18 pm)Andreos1 wrote There has been more news recently, with the National Archives sharing information relating to the Poll Tax

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/pol...82736.html

You couldn't make it up. Sounds like a conversation Alan B'stard would have had.

Incidentally, the Independent will be closing, soon.

(23 Feb 2016, 8:32 pm)BusLoverMum wrote You couldn't make it up. Sounds like a conversation Alan B'stard would have had.

Incidentally, the Independent will be closing, soon.

'Charge the homeless' he said, taking a deep breath on his cigar and sipping a glass of Port.

Whilst IDS is sitting in the corner, making notes and looking deep in thought about plans he could implement in years to come.

Poll tax was a disgusting attack on the working class, poor and the vulnerable. A system setup to appease the 1%, and save their wealth for a rainy day. Sound familiar?

Although I wasn't old enough to be active at the time of the anti-poll tax campaigns, I wish I was! The days that the militant tendency finally brought down Thatcher. A good job really, because Kinnock didn't have the backbone.

(23 Feb 2016, 10:19 pm)Adrian wrote Poll tax was a disgusting attack on the working class, poor and the vulnerable. A system setup to appease the 1%, and save their wealth for a rainy day. Sound familiar?

Although I wasn't old enough to be active at the time of the anti-poll tax campaigns, I wish I was! The days that the militant tendency finally brought down Thatcher. A good job really, because Kinnock didn't have the backbone.

I was a student, at the time. Not uncommon to be doing a bit of shopping and see someone at Grey's Monument burning posters or effigies of Thatcher.

Nowhere near as many police there as there was last Saturday, mind!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38382416

More information released by National Archives

Another week. Another devious plot of Maggie's outed. This time being the then CPSA union.



Full article here - https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-5a...McBuvnyjIU

(13 Mar 2017, 8:42 pm)Adrian wrote Another week. Another devious plot of Maggie's outed. This time being the then CPSA union.



Full article here - https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-5a...McBuvnyjIU

No surprise there.

It's no different to the current lot's agenda to run publicly funded services into the ground then point out how crap they've become.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42508809

It's that time of year again.

Archives released - unless they've been held back or 'mislaid'.

Amongst the gems this year, is the revelation Thatcher refused to share a plane with a Panda!