Margaret Thatcher was a controversial figure in British politics during her time as Prime Minister. Her policies and decisions divided opinions and sparked debate, with many praising her for her strong leadership and others criticizing her for her perceived disregard for the working class. Ten years after her death, her legacy in Wales is still up for debate. In this article, we will explore the impact of Thatcher’s policies on Wales and examine whether her legacy is as simple as many assume. We will also take a closer look at Mark Paul, a prominent figure in Welsh politics who has been vocal about the effects of Thatcher’s policies in Wales.
Y Dic Penderyn pub in Merthyr Tydfil, southeast Wales, is bustling with patrons on a mid-afternoon Thursday, heralding the start of the bank holiday weekend. The coal-mining stronghold in the Welsh valleys never fully recovered from the industrial policies of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, particularly her handling of the bitter coal miners’ strikes of 1984-85. The area’s economic inactivity is around 25%, among the highest in Britain, and shuttered shops suggest strained local trade. Yet the Conservative party proved relatively electorally resilient under Thatcher, and is credited with introducing policies that boosted the Welsh language. It was virtually wiped out by Labour and the Welsh nationalist party, Plaid Cymru, in the late 1990s, but saw something of a comeback under Boris Johnson in 2019. However, recent local polling suggests the Welsh Conservatives face a near-wipeout in next year’s Westminster election. While Tomos Dafydd Davies, vice-chairman of the Welsh Conservatives, sees hope in the proposed building of two new low-regulation ports in Wales, social deprivation and economic scarring from the strikes persist in the wake of coal mining’s decline.
