Quote:
Originally Posted by cashman
To be honest in my view those that supported the action Thatcher took, I have wiped better off the sole of my shoe.  |
You have such a picturesque way with words!
Let's put aside the emotion and remember a few facts.
Arthur Scargill. Started life as a Communist, like his father. Although of course he ended up Labour, presumably knowing Communism wouldn't give him the power he wanted in the UK.
Spent some happy times in the USSR and Czechoslovakia.
Brought down one democratically elected Government in 1974.
Decided it would be good to bring down another in the interests of 'political militancy'.
Good at stirring speeches, I always expected him to shout 'Sieg Heil' at the end.
Made four mistakes- a megalomaniac can't afford that many-
1- Lost three pro strike ballots (one by a 60% no strike majority) so decided to bring the minors out without a ballot. That divided the miners and weakened his support.
2- Gave the government plenty of warning of his plans to shut down the whole country, not just the pits. The Government had time to take precautionary action.
3-Called the strike in Summer, worst time for a coal strike.
4- Miscalculated his opponent, Thatcher was as bloody minded as him.
The Miners strike wasn't just a strike, it was a class war to bring down a democratically elected Government. Both sides knew whoever lost was finished so both sides fought hard and dirty- that's war.
He lost and was finished, Thatcher got re-elected and stayed on until she also became a megalomaniac.
It was good to see how well he survived the disaster he caused though, kept his free cars(didn't he like Jags?) and his free £34,000 a year rented
second home in London.
Also nice to know he didn't disagree with everything Thatcher did. He tried to buy his free flat, at a discount, using her Right to Buy scheme. Missed a million or two there. Sad.
Now there's someone I wouldn't like on the sole of my shoe.