The two sides were however unhappily almost evenly matched. Things would have turned out a whole lot worse if that poisonous noisome Scargill had carried the day and imposed government by Trade Union diktat, with himself [a prime opportunist if ever such was, interested in his own career to the complete exclusion of his supposed members' interests] as virtual dictator. I don't think anyone else would have had the singleness of purpose to carry that particular battle, and a great retrospective debt is owing. Unhappily, power corrupts. I have nothing to say in favour of the later Thatcher, the loony bureaucratiser of our education system to the point of near-irreparability; the obsessive unjust Council Taxer ~~ that was when she had to go; and Howe had the sense to rally the support to make her do so. But a bit of credit where due wouldn't come amiss from some who don't want to remember all the dangers we faced in the early 80s.

~M~