[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

It was the miners that caused the problems with Heaths government, that held the country to ransom, forced power cuts and a 3 day week. It was directly because of that, that Thatcher set out to destroy their capability to do that ever again.

Labour were responsible for the rubbish in the streets, its just not correct to try and blame others. The Callaghan government was absolutely awful. It was labours abysmal record during that period that prompted the voters to elect Thatcher. Of all the governments from the 60's through to the present day, the Callaghan government was the worst by a country mile.

We didn't have Labour govt between 1977 and 1979,that is my point, there was a lib Lab pact in 1977/78 with agreed policies of both parties.

It is hardly fair to blame the miners for the chaos for the 1973/4 while not blaming the Unions for the 1978/9.

Again selective as to the 2 parties, Heaths govt by 1971 had the first 1,000,000 unemployed figure since before the war.
They created bad feeling and chaos over their only 3 and a half years in govt too.

The Callaghan govt never had a majority in parliament unlike that heath govt.

Personally I see no difference as to the 2 winters of chaos, both had Union unrest, both had govts refusing to give in and both govts fell because of it.
The only difference is, one was a govt with a 20+ working majority, the other was a minority govt,fully reliant on all other parties in the Commons.

Nothing party political just a fact.