chapter 15 Flashcards
what was the housing act of 1980?
gives council tenants the right to buy their house
recieve a discount up to 50% depending on how long theyve had it
how many people partook in the right to buy?
by 1988 2 million new homeowners took advantage
how did labour react to the right to buy policies?
intially rejected it but changed upon seeing its popularity - particularly in south
why did thatcher believe this would work?
would give more incentive to look after a property if you owned it
what were negative impacts of the right to buy policy
predominantly in better-off areas
councils had to use the profits to reduce debts and not build new housing
number of homes for rent reduced and long waiting lists - many were housed in expensive emergency b&b
what were some economic reforms that caused hostility from trade unions?
public sector & teacher workers had lengthy disputes over working conditions in mid 1980s - dspite never being involved in industrial unrest
what were restrictive trade union policies?
1980 secondary picketing is outlawed
1984 unions put under pressure to hold ballots b4 strike action is called
when did the miners strike take place?
1984-85
what is the NCB?
national coal board
what did the NCB order to do in 1981?
close 23 pits
why did pits need to close?
flow of north sea oil made energy crisis less likely
large stocks of coal
what did the NCB announce in 1984?
close 20 pits
what is NUM?
national union of miners
leader is arthur scargill
how did arthur scargill respond to the 1984 announcement?
revealing his sight of the plans to close 70 more pits over the next 3 years
why was scargill’s leadership not entirely supported?
refused to hold strike ballot which weakened his case
failed to overcome historical regional divisons among miners
how was the police used against the strikes?
new equipment & training of riot control
were politicised
what was the battle of ogreave 1984
5000 miners are faced by 8000 police in south yorkshire plant
50 picketers & 70 police injured
how did scargill contribute to the miners losing?
pushed away moderate support & never secured labour
easy to demonise due to revolutionary tactics
what are statistics demonstrating the decline of the coal industry?
200,000 employed in 1979
60,000 employed in 1990
how was the defeat of the miners recieved?
seen as a defining moment of thatcherism
refused to give in
what were poll taxes?
previously local taxation was only paid by homeowners as it was based on property
thatcher believed would be fairier and more efficient/responsible spending if everyone contributed
simplify poll tax and the issue with
based on how many lived in a house, not want you owned
disproportionate for lower income families who had bigger families
what did thatcher’s inability to change course even facing demonstration prove?
increasing aloofness and failure to connect with ordinary people
what were responses to the unfair poll tax?
anti-poll tax unions set up across country to urge people not to pay
some areas had 30% not paying
police and councils were unable to enforce payment
name the most notable response to poll tax
1990 200,000 people attend trafalgar square demonstration, turns into a riot
5000 injured
300 arrested
compared to battle of orgreave and police are criticised for brutality
when did the greenham women begin their protest?
1981, greenham common base
CND
remained for 19 years. focal point of feminism and pacifism
what is a notable moment of the grenham common protest?
1983, 70,000 protestors form a 14-mile human chain
in 1984 the camp was demolished, women came back at night to rebuild
when was the greenham common camp closed?
2000
when was the chernobyl incident?
1986
