After being elected Yorkshire President following his success at Saltley, Scargill became NUM President in 1981 and the scene was set for the 1984 dispute when, in defiance of the government's demand that 20 uneconomic mines should be closed with the loss of 20, 000 jobs, the strike went ahead without the endorsement of a pit head ballot.

BBC: Analysis: Arthur Scargill's silence over Thatcher death