Quote Originally Posted by Croesy Blue View Post
Isn’t it likely that the mines closing down had to happened and someone who worked down one wanted their kids not to have to do the same. But also at the same time we can say they were closed down too fast to point score over the unions, and the close down wasn’t managed leading to excess poverty and lack of opportunities in the valleys?

I’m not sure the anecdotal evidence of one man working down big pit is the silver bullet to this and it’s more nuanced than both sides are letting.
yes, absolutely this.
it wasn't just that the industry was wound down, it was that nothing was put in its place.
former mining areas in many countries have often been economically depressed, but some countries managed that transition much better than others.
the Tory government at the time were at the extreme end of the prevailant economic ideology of neoliberalism.

the 'plans' for the valleys and other areas was basically that if the jobs were no longer there then people would leave and move to places like London where there were jobs. it was a big surprise to them that it didn't happen.
It is on record that they came very close to applying this policy to the city of Liverpool as well.

on paper it makes sense. no jobs in the valleys, employees needed in London to sustain the boom, just let nature take its course. anyone who has spent any time in the valleys would know that that wouldn't happen.