LGBT woes in the early 1980s
LGBT people faced discrimination, the AIDS virus and homophobic legislation from the Thatcher government in the 1980s as Tony McMahon reports
1981
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The economic Recession of 1979 to 1981
Between 1979 and 1981, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher presided over an unprecedented economic recession that devastated manufacturing industry
Tony Benn, Dennis Healey battle for Labour
In 1981, the left and right in the Labour Party clashed when Tony Benn and Dennis Healey ran against eachother to be Deputy Leader
Iran and the Left – reaction to Khomeini
In 1979, the Left in Iran and the UK condemned the seizure of power by Khomeini and the clergy but since then, attitudes seem to have regrettably shifted
1981 UK riots – front page news
The 1981 riots presented the news media of the time with a huge challenge covering live events around the country that sprang up at a moment’s notice
How to survive a nuclear war
Back in 1980, the UK government gave advice on how to survive a nuclear war that was rubbished at the time as Tony McMahon discovers
When Thatcher caved in to the miners
In 1981, Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher caved into the miners but was simply biding her time for a future showdown
1981 Moss Side riot – police station mobbed
The 1981 Moss Side riot followed on from similar violence in Toxteth, Brixton and Southall but was largely over in 48 hours
NME in Liverpool after the 1981 riots
The NME (New Musical Express) visited the Toxteth district of Liverpool after the 1981 riots and got a very frosty welcome from local youth
Jobs Express in 1981 – unemployed protest
Youth unemployment skyrocketed between 1979 and 1983 and hundreds of youth travelled the country on the Jobs Express to highlight their plight