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"Coal miners thought they were different to the rest of us and should not have pay constraints."

Bit like investment bankers and fund managers then. Did Thatcher take on that "enemy within" or did I miss that bit of her history as Prime Minister?

"If the economy had been left to some of the old labour spend spend spend and lets cow tow to the unions I hate to think what state we would have ben in"

Like rising debt, rising long term unemployment, rising deficit, credit rate downgrading, flatlining growth and years and years of austerity that isn't helping the economy at all? Is that what you mean?

They were not striking over pay. The NUM was quite happy with miners salaries. They were striking purely to save their jobs. It was about pit closures not money.

I wonder if there is anyone in livng memory who commands such polarised opinions as the late great Mrs T. Probably not. Those who supported her thought she was awesome. Those who hated her did so with a passion. There seems to be no middle ground. If only we could get as worked up about the blandness that currently sits in Westminster. Lol.

"They were not striking over pay. The NUM was quite happy with miners salaries. They were striking purely to save their jobs. It was about pit closures not money."

This is true. However Thatcher was well aware of the union power that the NUM had wielded in the 70's pay demands made during the Ted Heath government.

It was in reaction to this that she devised a plan to close down the coal industry and this sparked the 84-85 miners strike.

Thatcher stockpiled a massive amount of coal prior to launching her war on the NUM as they were blame for the Tories under Heath getting the boot from number 10.

Why Should I pay for you not to work?

I'm not that much altruistic. LOL.

Late great ? Your avin a giraffe !