Leadfingers said it perfectly.

Regarding the 70-pits controversy, I don't understand the fuss, and didn't at the time. The plan (as now confirmed) was to close 70 pits over a three-year span at a time when (as a matter of fact) pits were already being closed at a rate of 20 a year.

Living three miles from a large and working deep mine, I should just correct McG to say that there IS a coal industry in Britain; it's just rather small.