Simon Heffer

The coal mining conundrum: why did the NUM fight so hard for its members’ right to suffer underground?

Jeremy Paxman emphasises the terrible ordeals suffered by miners, but fails to address the key paradox in the recent history of the industry

Arthur Scargill, leader of the NUM. [Alamy]
  • Comments

  • Black Gold: The History of HowCoal Made Britain

    Jeremy Paxman

    William Collins, pp. 320, £25

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Trending

Ross Clark

Why didn’t the Tories nationalise the railways?

Ross Clark
The Conservatives can crow all they like about the benefits of privatisation – and make whatever claims they like about tickets being more expensive, and services worse, were the railways to be brought back under public ownership. But there is little getting away from the fact that Labour’s policy of progressive renationalisation of train services by

Also in Book Reviews

Also by Simon Heffer

Latest

Comments

A blooming good offer

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting the next 3 months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in