Arthur Scargill

British trade unionist · United Kingdom · On the map · Politicians · Born 1938 · age 88

Arthur Scargill is a British trade unionist who was President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) from 1982 to 2002. He is best known for leading the 1984-1985 UK miners' strike, a major event in the history of the British labour movement.

Arthur Scargill is read about 359 times a day, in 18 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 104 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

1988“I did not join this Party to have a yuppy-land approach, to run capitalism better than the Tories. I joined this party to change this society and create a socialist alternative.”In their words3 October 1988The TimesRead the whole statement

1983“I am opposed to Solidarity because I believe that it is an anti-socialist organisation which desires the overthrow of a socialist state.”In their words7 September 1983Glasgow HeraldRead the whole statement

“A fight back against this Government's policies will inevitably take place outside rather than inside Parliament.”In their words4 July 1983The TimesRead the whole statement

“My attitude would be the same as the attitude of the working class in Germany when the Nazis came to power.”In their words12 May 1983The TimesRead the whole statement

1980“Parliament itself would not exist in its present form had people not defied the law.”In their words2 April 1980Evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee on EmploymentRead the whole statement

1977“I believe this judgment should firmly convince any trade unionist that it is useless hoping for justice in the courts of this land.”In their words21 December 1977The TimesRead the whole statement

1938Born11 January 1938

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Arthur Scargill

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Former spouse Anne Harper

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Coal mining employment in the UK, 1880-2012 (DECC data)

In their own words 4

Arthur Scargill

4 statements, newest first

Mr Murray would be well advised to direct his attacks towards the Tory Government, who have been devastating our industry and smashing down British industry as a whole.
1 July 1983 · The Times, Own words
I read Jack London and The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists. Those were the books that formed my political opinions.
1983 · Interview with John Mortimer, quoted in John Mortimer, In Character (1983), p. 63, Own words
My father still reads the dictionary every day. He says your life depends on your power to master words.
10 January 1982 · The Sunday Times, Own words