ABSTRACT
The well-being of the mineworkers was seen as conditional on the survival of a Labour Government. Between 1964 and 1970 the miners’ relationship with the Labour Government was dominated by the National Union of Mineworker’s (NUM) desire for a fuel policy as the only guarantee for job security, as well as by incomes policy. The Yorkshire miners were to learn the lesson that loyalty counts for little in politics. The devaluation crisis, which helped the NUM to secure the deferment of the closure policy, was used by the NUM as an excuse to rally to the Government and avoid open conflict. The Address of the Area President delivered in March 1963 devoted more space than usual to politics reflecting the optimism of the Labour Movement as the Conservative Government foundered and as a General Election approached. The Yorkshire Area was expecting immediate succour from the Government, whilst hinting that the alternative to a fuel policy was wages militancy.
