ABSTRACT
The Labour Party has, traditionally, had close links with the trade unions. Indeed, any assessment of Labour Party history focuses heavily upon its ties with the trade unions. These bonds have come under increasing scrutiny throughout the late 1980s and the 1990s. An examination of the notion of politicisation is obviously of central importance to this investigation. Accepting the preliminary definition of the concept of politicisation, an attempt can be made to assess the extent to which politicisation has occurred in Hemsworth both during and after, but definitely as a direct consequence of, the 1984/1985 Miners’ Strike. Many of the interviewees did profess to having experienced a great surge of political interest during the Strike. A variety of commentators discussed the existence of politicisation during the 1984/1985 Miners’ Strike40 but an examination of the extent to which it occurred, specifically in Hemsworth, and also its lasting impact and manifestations.
