PANEL 151    The Miners’ Strike

The Miners’ Strike of 1984–85 seemed like the end of an era. In the 1970s, the National Union of Mineworkers had humbled a Conservative government but Margaret Thatcher was determined that history would not repeat itself. After stockpiling fuel and deploying police forces all over the country, she succeeded in forcing the miners back to work and pushing through a programme of closure. Secret papers recently released show that she was willing to involve the army in an industrial dispute. Thatcher was fortunate to face Arthur Scargill, a miners’ leader who polarised opinion but whose predictions of the demise of deep mining turned out to be accurate. In Scotland, many famous collieries, such as Monktonhall, Bilston Glen, Polmaise, Seafield and Longannet, shut down in the year following the unsuccessful strike. There are no working deep mines left in Scotland and heavy industry has also been drastically reduced. The strike not only changed the face of Scottish industry, it also altered the course of Scottish politics and some would argue not for the better.

 

Panel stitched by:

Agnes Greig

Pauline O’Brien

Libby O’Brien

Stitched in:

Tranent, Prestonpans