The miners strike

The main disagreement at the origin of the miners strike in 1985 was the will of Thatcher's government to introduce new policies regarding colliery closures in Great Britain. Indeed, in line with her project of turning Britain into a “dependent to a self-reliant society”, the former prime-minister wanted to close no less than 20 puits (judged non-profitable), leading therefore to the loss of 20.000 jobs. The NUM fiercely rejected this plan and declared a strike. The miners strike of 1985 was, however, a failure given the fact that no agreement in favor of the NUM was settled with the government. Some would say that the main reason behind this defeat was the government’s preparations to counter the strike, however some argue that a number of other factors such as the bad leadership, contributed as well. DUFN dhfudhnfdehnfnde

Margaret Thatcher’s government anticipated the miner strike and prepared her strategy long before entering the fray with NUM.

The miner’s strike of 1984-5 was by no means an event that took the conservative government by surprise. If we analyse what the prime minister of that time had undertaken we notice that material as well as legal preparations had been developed in order to counter the force of the NUM. Regarding material preparations; the government had already stockpiled six months worth of coal, anticipating that a strike might be coming. Indeed the ministers came to the conclusion that they should keep a permanent stockpile of at least six months' supply of coal, increase coal imports and build more oil-burn, nuclear and gas-fired power stations. All of the above would allow the conservative government to not have to depend on the miners and therefore not to compromise. In parallel to those material preparations the law was altered so that protesting and going on strike would make life harder for the miners. For instance a law regarding the state help with mortgage payments was passed which made striking for miners that owned homes difficult. Moreover, laws concerning striking policies were also passed.

Behind those preparations that proved themselves to be very efficient are key figures composing the conservative government.

The intelligent appointing of key figures in positions of power contributed to Thatcher’s win against the miners.

Indeed the main figure that stood next to the (former) prime minister’s side was Ian McGregor, who was named new chairman for the national coal board. His past experiences were very valuable when it came to fighting against the miners as he had already successfully fought the trade unions in the United States. Ian McGregor had also previously given the steel industry the same faith he wanted to give to the coal industry : cutting jobs to cut the industry’s annual losses and make it profitable. Margaret Thatcher surrounded herself with people who had the same convictions as her regarding the economy: liberals. Her peers, believing in the power of market forces, wanted therefore to see the miners defeat as much as she did. For instance the stock-pilling of coal in advance of the strike was also possible due to a tactically brilliant choice : Nicholas Ridley, a liberal, as secretary of State for Transport. He oversaw the whole operation which, as said previously, allowed the government to not have to rely on the miners and therefore to compromise.

Nicholas Ridley is also at the origins of another factor that contributed to the success of Thatcher’s government when it came to handling the miner’s strike: the police.

The conservative government had set themselves in a strong position by reinforcing the power of the police.

Indeed Nicholas Ridley advised Thatcher to concentrate on reinforcing the police which would prove itself to be beneficial later on. The National Recording Centre assisted the government in preparing for the organisation of police units moving to areas of protests and calculating how to handle the flying pickets. For instance the 1980 Employment act made striking harder by banning secondary-picketing which allowed the police to construct barriers and deviate those who they suspected of going picking illegally. As a matter of fact, from March to September of 1984 the police were able to stop about 290 000 picketers thanks to this law. Police from all around Britain got mobilised. At the “battle of Orgreave”, the picketers faced about 6,000 police officers from across the United-Kingdom. The role of the police was more the one of intimidating the strikers rather than protecting. It was the most violent confrontation that occurred during the miners' strike

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