Margaret Thatcher

[accyman]

it wasnt that long ago that government was looking into reopening coal mines although from what i remember thatcher did a bloody good job on caving them in

most of thatchers attitude towards mining was sheer spite and a personal battle that she wanted to win at any cost

[MargaretR]

This controversy would not have arisen if the people who seemingly adored her had let her depart gracefully without pomp, ceremony and public expense.

In their arrogance, they seriously misjudged the situation.

Her supporters should have let her 'die gracefully' and quietly, having a family funeral only.


PS Since there have been accusations that parties are in bad taste, I consider that a Faulkland war theme for the funeral is in far worse taste.

[DtheP47]

Originally Posted by accyman

most of thatchers attitude towards mining was sheer spite and a personal battle that she wanted to win at any cost

The demise of the pits rolled over from the Grunwick dispute of 1976 -78, yes violence and wrongdoing on both sides but the inescapable truth was the coal industry was terminal. The Tories learned from the lessons of Grunwick, Scargill never did.
Labour’s James Callaghan was so concerned that Scargill would try to escalate the dispute using thousands of flying pickets that he even asked the cabinet secretary to draw up a note reminding him of the lessons of the so-called battle of Saltley Gates in Birmingham, when flying mass pickets won a decisive victory during the 1972 miners' strike and helped to bring down Edward Heath's Conservative government.
The Tories learned from the lessons of Grunwick, Scargill never did.
Q: Where do you think the coal industry would be today without the intervention of the Thatcher years?

[Gordon Booth]

Originally Posted by Eric

As pits (that's "pits" as in coal mines, not "pits" as in Thatcherism was the pits) and coal mining seem to be cropping up a lot in this thread, I don't think it's too much of a wander to question why Britain now imports coal Can some informed right-wing economist explain this? "Carrying coals to Newcastle" comes to mind. Seems like 40% of Uk's energy came from coal last winter. (I could post a link; but if anyone is interested, there's an article in the "Guardian"; I'm sure you are all capable of finding it.) Now, let me think about this I don't read of Saudi Arabia importing oil ... or Saskatchewan, wheat ... or Canada, uranium. So, why are you guys importing coal? Did you run out or something? Don't you have the expertise to mine the stuff? Is there nobody over there who wants to work in the mines?

About 40% of our coal is UK mined. Coal from abroad( mainly Russia) is cheaper. Many of our mines(MOG can probably say more) were 'deep mines' which produced high quality but expensive coal. Power stations didn't need the high quality anyway.
We have 300 years of reserves, based on the high usage of the 70's and 80's so heaven knows how long it would last at present rates of usage.
Why spend a fortune re-opening or starting new mines- the EU won't let us burn coal. Two coal fired power stations closed a couple of weeks ago, they'll all be gone soon. We have no means to replace their output so we could be facing power shortages in the next few years.
What a wicked waste.

Is it sensible?
No, it's politics.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by accyman

it wasnt that long ago that government was looking into reopening coal mines although from what i remember thatcher did a bloody good job on caving them in

most of thatchers attitude towards mining was sheer spite and a personal battle that she wanted to win at any cost

She actually destroyed the mines! I didn't know that. What a spiteful, petty-minded bitch. Talk about visiting the "sins" of the fathers upon the innocent children ... and grand children.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

About 40% of our coal is UK mined. Coal from abroad( mainly Russia) is cheaper. Many of our mines(MOG can probably say more) were 'deep mines' which produced high quality but expensive coal. Power stations didn't need the high quality anyway.
We have 300 years of reserves, based on the high usage of the 70's and 80's so heaven knows how long it would last at present rates of usage.
Why spend a fortune re-opening or starting new mines- the EU won't let us burn coal. Two coal fired power stations closed a couple of weeks ago, they'll all be gone soon. We have no means to replace their output so we could be facing power shortages in the next few years.
What a wicked waste.

Is it sensible?
No, it's politics.

If you think about it, importing stuff that you have in abundance is never "cheaper" ...

[Gordon Booth]

Originally Posted by accyman

it wasnt that long ago that government was looking into reopening coal mines although from what i remember thatcher did a bloody good job on caving them in

Your memory is faulty.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by yerself

No. 1 on jaysay's ipod

tick tock the clocks ticking

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by accyman

glenda jackson MP spoke in the house of commons and gave a brutal but honest speech about thatcher and thatcherism

Labours leader however has saluted her showing that he has less balls than glenda jackson

ps:

she cant be with elvis because shes dead and elvis is a taxi driver in las vegas

nah only kidding he died taking a poop

I don't know so much and American yellow cab was seen trolling for fares round about the time her death was announced, Elvis songs could be heard on the stereo system

[DtheP47]

Originally Posted by Eric

If you think about it, importing stuff that you have in abundance is never "cheaper" ...

We are not talking about turnips here Eric, we are talking about a fossil fuel that presents many technological challenges in bringing it to the surface.

[DtheP47]

Originally Posted by jaysay

I don't know so much and American yellow cab was seen trolling for fares round about the time her death was announced, Elvis songs could be heard on the stereo system

Kirsty MacColl knew where he was

[davebtelford]

Q

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by DtheP47

The demise of the pits rolled over from the Grunwick dispute of 1976 -78, yes violence and wrongdoing on both sides but the inescapable truth was the coal industry was terminal. The Tories learned from the lessons of Grunwick, Scargill never did.
Labour’s James Callaghan was so concerned that Scargill would try to escalate the dispute using thousands of flying pickets that he even asked the cabinet secretary to draw up a note reminding him of the lessons of the so-called battle of Saltley Gates in Birmingham, when flying mass pickets won a decisive victory during the 1972 miners' strike and helped to bring down Edward Heath's Conservative government.
The Tories learned from the lessons of Grunwick, Scargill never did.
Q: Where do you think the coal industry would be today without the intervention of the Thatcher years?

Probably in exactly the same position it is today MR D

[Eric]

Originally Posted by DtheP47

We are not talking about turnips here Eric, we are talking about a fossil fuel that presents many technological challenges in bringing it to the surface.

We are? Silly me. I forgot that you guys are not up to the technological challenges of mining coal ... what a silly bunt I am. Guess you'll have to grow turnips then.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

Your memory is faulty.

No he was just too young to remember Gordon