Al, NUM funds were not sequestrated because of Th*tcher, as much as history revisionists will ensure the folklore says she did.

No, I went to the strike meeting at Manton. We voted not to strike. Our delegate went to the delegates meeting later that day and recorded that we voted to strike. Two of our lads took exception to this and took steps to ensure nobody, least of all Scargill was above the law. This took a lot of hard work, courage by individuals who were being threatened and oppressed by their union and its thugs. Please, please don't start giving Th*tcher credit for the accomplishments of brave people who took exception to being treated as pawns by those who were supposed to be representing their interests. I wrote in the local newspaper at the time how I admired their courage and got a letter popped through my letter box by a union committee member who was also a local councillor, saying he knows what time my wife took our baby to the nursery each day.

Not much point in having a union when they make Stalin look like a social democrat.