1. Aims for today’s lessons After these lessons you should be able to: Explain why there was a strike in Britain in 1984- 1985 Explain why this issue was important in ’Billy Elliot’ Explain the term ’community’ in relation to Billy Elliot Write a review of ’Billy Elliot’.

2. The UK miners’ strike (1984-1985) Many mines were unprofitable and the government wanted to close them or to make them more efficient. Margaret Thatcher, the PM, appointed Ian MacGregor to become head of the National Coal Board. He soon announced that he wanted to start closing down mines Many Unions were opposed to this and encouraged their workers to protest.

4. The UK miners’ strike (1984-1985) The National Coal Board announced that they wanted to close down 20 coal mines. This meant that as many as 20,000 jobs could be lost. As a result of this the NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) decided to strike.

5. The UK miners’ strike (1984-1985) Violence erupted between pickets and the police, but also between pickets and strikebreakers The miners who decided not to strike were viewed as traitors by the pickets. This resulted in a strong division between people in the small communities of British mining towns. Police were transported to the mining towns from all over the country.