Debate Politics Forums - View Single Post - Survey: Thatcher Ranks as Top Post-WW II British PM

donsutherland1 · 04-22-08, 10:38 AM

MC.no.spin,

I believe some of the hostility toward former PM Thatcher comes from her decisive victory over the radical National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) led by avowed Marxist Arthur Scargill. I do not believe some of Ms. Thatcher's more contemporary criticis fully understand the extent of Mr. Scargill's extremism nor the nature of the labor union he headed. The NUM was no ordinary labor union in the sense that most people think of such organizations e.g., seeking better wages or working conditions. It long pursued a radical agenda tied to its leader's Marxist philosophy. It had demonstrated little concern for the plight of the British people who were harmed by its actions, it resorted to violence to push its agenda, and it even cavorted with hostile states such as Libya.

Britain lost much economic growth and opportunity during the 1970s into the early 1980s on account of militant labor actions, particularly strikes led by Mr. Scargill. Indeed, at the height of the 1973-74 energy crisis brought on by the Arab oil embargo, Mr. Scargill launched a coalworkers strike that held the British people "hostage" at a time when the nation was most vulnerable. In response to an acute energy shortage, the British government mandated a three-day work week, among other steps. Such measures cost Britain economic production and its workers reduced wages. That strike culminated in the fall of the British government headed by Edward Heath.

With Britain facing up to the need to close 20 coal pits that had become uneconomical, Mr. Scargill's NUM seized the opportunity to launch yet another strike in 1984. Rather than seeking worker assistance aimed at helping ease the transition, he again pursued a hardline position aimed at forcing the British government to change course.

By early November 1984, the NUM had rejected the 10th settlement offer it had received, in a bid aimed at breaking the Thatcher government as winter 1984-85 approached. By that time, the labor strike had already cost the Brkitish economy some $1.2 billion in lost production and nearly 8,000 miners had been arrested for violence. Furthermore, Mr. Scargill admitted that the NUM had sent a senior official, Roger Windsor, to talk with the Libyans about financial assistance to the union. Less than two weeks after that revelation, the NUM noted that it expected to be receiving funds from Libya. The NUM's reaching out to Libya was condemned by Labor and Conservative political leaders alike, ranging from Labor leader Neil Kinnock to British PM Margaret Thatcher, especially as Britain had previously broken diplomatic relations with Libya after a British policewoman was killed from gunfire originating from Libya's Embassy in London.

Following an unusually severe winter in which the NUM remained intransigent, the union had lost its last vestiges of credibility. British public opinion was running strongly against the union.

In the end, British parliamentary government held and the NUM's strike collapsed. What few knew then, the NUM's defeat marked a turning point in which the era of British labor militancy had come to an end.

Freed from the recurrent disruptions brought about by labor militancy, the British economy revived. According to statistics published by the UN Development Program, growth in British per capita GDP, which averaged an anemic 1.8% per year in the 1975-85 period, rose to 3.0% in the immediate post-NUM period of 1985-90. From 1985-2005, British per capita GDP rose by an average of 3.9%.

Overall, the British people are far better for PM Thatcher's defeating the radical NUM. That current polling recalls the "Iron Lady" quite fondly, is no accident.

04-22-08, 10:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
donsutherland1 Moderator Mod team member Join Date: Oct 2007 Last Online: Today 07:20 AM Location: New York Posts: 2,271 Thanks: 718 Thanked 1,356 Times in 787 Posts Lean: Centrist Gender: Awards:	Re: Survey: Thatcher Ranks as Top Post-WW II British PM MC.no.spin, I believe some of the hostility toward former PM Thatcher comes from her decisive victory over the radical National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) led by avowed Marxist Arthur Scargill. I do not believe some of Ms. Thatcher's more contemporary criticis fully understand the extent of Mr. Scargill's extremism nor the nature of the labor union he headed. The NUM was no ordinary labor union in the sense that most people think of such organizations e.g., seeking better wages or working conditions. It long pursued a radical agenda tied to its leader's Marxist philosophy. It had demonstrated little concern for the plight of the British people who were harmed by its actions, it resorted to violence to push its agenda, and it even cavorted with hostile states such as Libya. Britain lost much economic growth and opportunity during the 1970s into the early 1980s on account of militant labor actions, particularly strikes led by Mr. Scargill. Indeed, at the height of the 1973-74 energy crisis brought on by the Arab oil embargo, Mr. Scargill launched a coalworkers strike that held the British people "hostage" at a time when the nation was most vulnerable. In response to an acute energy shortage, the British government mandated a three-day work week, among other steps. Such measures cost Britain economic production and its workers reduced wages. That strike culminated in the fall of the British government headed by Edward Heath. With Britain facing up to the need to close 20 coal pits that had become uneconomical, Mr. Scargill's NUM seized the opportunity to launch yet another strike in 1984. Rather than seeking worker assistance aimed at helping ease the transition, he again pursued a hardline position aimed at forcing the British government to change course. By early November 1984, the NUM had rejected the 10th settlement offer it had received, in a bid aimed at breaking the Thatcher government as winter 1984-85 approached. By that time, the labor strike had already cost the Brkitish economy some $1.2 billion in lost production and nearly 8,000 miners had been arrested for violence. Furthermore, Mr. Scargill admitted that the NUM had sent a senior official, Roger Windsor, to talk with the Libyans about financial assistance to the union. Less than two weeks after that revelation, the NUM noted that it expected to be receiving funds from Libya. The NUM's reaching out to Libya was condemned by Labor and Conservative political leaders alike, ranging from Labor leader Neil Kinnock to British PM Margaret Thatcher, especially as Britain had previously broken diplomatic relations with Libya after a British policewoman was killed from gunfire originating from Libya's Embassy in London. Following an unusually severe winter in which the NUM remained intransigent, the union had lost its last vestiges of credibility. British public opinion was running strongly against the union. In the end, British parliamentary government held and the NUM's strike collapsed. What few knew then, the NUM's defeat marked a turning point in which the era of British labor militancy had come to an end. Freed from the recurrent disruptions brought about by labor militancy, the British economy revived. According to statistics published by the UN Development Program, growth in British per capita GDP, which averaged an anemic 1.8% per year in the 1975-85 period, rose to 3.0% in the immediate post-NUM period of 1985-90. From 1985-2005, British per capita GDP rose by an average of 3.9%. Overall, the British people are far better for PM Thatcher's defeating the radical NUM. That current polling recalls the "Iron Lady" quite fondly, is no accident.