Thread 3 Burnham: Receso para reorganizarse

[BIossomtoes]

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New PM, new thread title, the discussion continues from https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5557787-thread-2-burnham-coragem-e-esperanca?page=1

Within the industries there are jobs that lean towards the practical and those that lean towards the academic. Just as people do. So a local industry can be a good fit for both.
The American woman who asked her question no doubt thought she was saying something clever about not restricting the opportunities of WC children to practical work within that industry, that they could aim higher than being a miner like their dad.
Which fails to take account of the fact that some of those children would have found it a good fit in the way those professions would not have been; and perpetuates the idea that the aspiration for WC people should be to 'better thenselves' out of WC jobs.

Time moves on and what do those children brought up in poverty and benefits, despite having working parents, do now to improve their life? Obviously not computing, obviously not mining, obviously not small businesses.

Hospitality, Social Care, emergency service care, call centres, all require good references.

I was young at the time of the strikes in ‘83. Knew enough from my parents about what was happening, there were many pits in the area. I found both Scargill and Thatcher scary in the way that they addressed the public or on picket lines or at for Thatcher in parliament.

It was awful, Consett steel works already closed without support.

Meanwhile, can we kidnap this man ?

Better yet clone him.

It wasn’t a great question really. That sons would be able to go down the mine as their fathers had doesn’t mean it would be compulsory. They could still be anything they wanted if the educational opportunities were good enough. I think preserving the possibility of manual jobs in industrial areas was a fair aim.

You are missing the point that in traditional mining areas that tended to be the dominant, sometimes only industry. It provided a range of levels of skilled employment and opportunity and (thanks to the mining unions) a fair wage with which to support yourself and family. Getting rid of the mines wouldn’t mean that suddenly loads of miners’ chikdren would become all manner of other things It meant that many of them either left the area for employment or became long term unemployed.
There’s a case that investment could have brought in other industry, but it didn’t happen, as we know now and strongly suspected then. I wouldn’t want to go down a mine and my father’s parents moved heaven and earth to prevent him from having to, but it’s not automatically a bad and regressive thing to preserve blue collar opportunities.

Well the lady in question has likely retired now (and who could blame her).

I am well aware that then wasn't now. And that now isn't then. I thought I was showing that the issue of dealing with Britains industrial challenges was more complex than a simple "Thatcher Out !" of "Up the miners" that some - who may not have been there - imagined.

One of my best friends at sixth form had a father who worked for the NCB. (Had a real Davy lamp in the porch from his beginnings). His last job with the NCB was to overfly power stations to inspect coal stocks. When I was round and asked why the news was worried about power cuts, he just said he couldn't say.

There were no power cuts during the miners strike in the 80s.

I'm not sure of your point? The government stocked up on coal in advance to avoid power cuts...?
I don't think anyone commenting here thinks it was as simple as up the miners. But not sure why the American woman's comment was a 'teaching moment' either?

That is true. I live in West Yorkshire and there has been long-term unemployment as a result of the mines being closed. Not nearly enough thought was put into what employment would be available as an alternative to going down the mines for blue collar workers. The then Tory government turned their backs on them.

I agree that it wasn’t a ‘teaching moment’ on the part of the American woman, but Scargill’s response might have been.

'Suing' the police and threatening journalists - such lovely types

Richard Tice accused of ‘nasty tactics’ over legal threat to the Guardian

Reform deputy leader condemned for seeking disclosure of documents that could reveal reporter’s sources

Cobra meeting about the response to extreme heat, today.

UK weather: Burnham to chair Cobra meeting on extreme heat as temperatures surge again - BBC Weather https://share.google/usHRI6Hd3C0pCi9hB

I'm going into central London (by train) for work tomorrow. Looking at the heat map I think I may have made a tactical error.

Ugh. That would be hell. Sending you lots of icy thoughts 🍦 🍨 ❄️ 🧊

May your train and office be air conditioned.

Good luck with that @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats

My cousin left London a couple of days ago to spend some time with her family in the west of Ireland (big birthday celebration) and is enjoying the cool temperatures and the lush green fields.

You poor thing @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats - maybe get one of those handheld fans tho' hopefully there will be air-con

Really hope the train is air conditioned or any chance you could rearrange Grumpy if the forecast is correct will be extremely hot tomorrow.

Thanks all - the daft thing is that this is a problem of my own making - I usually WFH but I arranged to meet up with a colleague in the office a few weeks ago - he's travelling in from much further afield than I am - I just don't want to let him down.

Worth checking with him. He may be worried too.

He may also be thinking that he doesn't want to let you down Grumpy.

I will double check today.

Good idea he is probably thinking the same.

Can I add to this, frozen gel packs? The sort you can use hot or cold for injury. Deep freeze and take in an insulated bag. Then put between your thighs. Cools the femoral vein and is like internal air con. Refreeze at work for journey home. They've been a game changer and I've sat on trains, in the office and an airless theatre with them under my skirt in relative comfort.

Not long to the Clacton by-election now - it's tomorrow!