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Join Dr Steven Daniels in this fascinating experience, which delves into one of the most infamous political clashes in modern history: the Miners Strike. In episode one, you will explore why coal was so central to Britain’s economy, society, and politics, and how this gave miners and their union extraordinary influence. You’ll see how mining communities depended on the industry, how the National Union of Mineworkers became so powerful, and how trade unions more broadly shaped national life. You will also trace the rise of union power to its peak, setting the stage for the dramatic clash to come in the following decade. In the second episode, you will see how Thatcher prepared for a showdown with the miners, laying both legal and strategic traps to limit union power. You’ll follow how pit closures triggered the strike, how Scargill’s tactics reignited fierce confrontations, and how divisions within the NUM weakened their cause, culminating in an exploration of one of the strike’s most brutal moments: The Battle of Orgreave. In episode three, you will see how the Miners’ Strike slowly collapsed under financial strain, government pressure, and deep divisions within mining communities. We follow the NUM’s desperate attempts to hold out, the steady trickle of men returning to work, and the eventual breaking of solidarity. In the final episode, you’ll learn about the impact that the Miners Strike has in the UK today. You’ll also uncover some of its international impacts, and its cultural impacts, before undertaking an activity that has you exploring some of the pros and cons of the Miners Strike from the perspective of those directly involved.
Dr Steven DanielsEdge Hill UniversityPolitics
All episodes
1. King coal
2. Strike beginnings
3. Strike end
4. Activity: understanding the impacts of the Miners Strike
About the university
Edge Hill University
At Edge Hill University, we’ve been inspiring minds and changing futures since 1885. Whatever you study, we invest in your future and provide you with the tools you need to succeed. Located in Lancashire, close to Liverpool and Manchester, we’ve created a diverse environment where our students can live, learn, and belong. Lecture halls are equipped with everything you need, and our high-quality teaching brings subjects to life. If you're moving away for the first time, our on-campus accommodation provides a home away from home within easy reach of study and social spaces - ranked 1st in the UK by students (Uni Compare, 2025).
Meet the academic
Dr Steven Daniels
Dr. Steven Daniels is Lecturer in Politics at Edge Hill University, joining in September 2022, and having previously served as Lecturer in British Politics at the University of Liverpool. He completed his PhD at the University of Liverpool in November 2020, passing with no corrections. His research interests focus on the decline of the British trade union movement since the 1980s, with a broader interest in the Conservative Governments and Party from 1979-present. Steven has lectured and taught on a wide variety of subjects and modules, in areas such as British Politics, Political Institutions and Systems, US Politics, Comparative Politics, British Party Politics, Political Theory, International Relations, Political Economy, Racism and Civilisation, and Public Law. He has previously worked or studied at a variety of institutions in the UK and abroad, including Edge Hill, the University of Liverpool, the London School of Economics, King’s College London, Liverpool John Moores University, the Open University, IMT Lucca (Italy), and the Hague University (Netherlands).
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