Why the Miners Strike failed 1984 to 1985

Why the Miners’ Strike failed 1984 to 1985

Arthur Scargill • Militant, couldn’t gain the favour of moderates E. g Kinnock • Poor negotiator with other miners, could not gain total support • Tended to dismiss people who disagreed with him • He was scary • Easy to demonize as a revolutionary

Government Preparation • Prepared more carefully than Scargill • Early disputes with the NUM settled quickly, ‘battlefield not yet ready’ • For 2 years the National Coal Boardhad been working with Lawson (energy secretary) to pile up supplies of coal at power stations • Stock had steadily grown while consumption and production both fell

Thatcher’s ideology • Thatcher determined not to lose again • Resentment over 1972 and 1974 strikes • Appointed Ian Mac. Gregor to run the NCB • He had a fierce reputation as a ‘Union Buster’ and unconciliatory • Also employed John King

The Police • After Toxeth and Brixton riots, the police had been retrained and equipped with full riot gear • (Without which they would not have been able to confront the miners) • Also trained in new tactics especially for riots

Lack of support for strike amongst miners • 72% of Nottingham’s 32, 000 miners voted against striking • South Wales; half of the NUM lodges failed to vote for stike • Small coalfields in South Derbyshire and Leicestershire failed to vote for strike • Overall, 70, 000 miners who were balloted in the run-up to the dispute, 50, 000 voted to keep working • Nottinghamshire miners kept working • By Feb 1985 over half the NUM had returned to work

Other • Strike occurred in Spring; low demand for coal and energy • No oil crisis this time, introduction of nuclear power • Miners lost media and public support by disrupting the peace • E. g the concrete block on the taxi, death threats