This episode focuses on the recently revealed connection between NUM leader Arthur Scargill and Libya, the ongoing coal mining dispute and a significant decision NACODS has made, explaining and understanding the purpose of the Star Cabinet and furthermore the new Shadow Cabinets elections. The episode starts with the introductory slideshow consisting of images of various politician's including Margaret Thatcher, as well as an image of Westminster Abbey with the show's title in...

This episode focuses on the recently revealed connection between NUM leader Arthur Scargill and Libya, the ongoing coal mining dispute and a significant decision NACODS has made, explaining and understanding the purpose of the Star Cabinet and furthermore the new Shadow Cabinets elections. The episode starts with the introductory slideshow consisting of images of various politician's including Margaret Thatcher, as well as an image of Westminster Abbey with the show's title in front of it as the theme tune plays in the background. Co-host Richard Whiteley introduces the show and mentions the topics that will come up throughout the episode, these consist of Neil Kinnocks new shadow cabinet and elections amongst the Labour MPs. The show then turns to Geoff Druett who introduces further issues that will be bought up in this episode, these consists of the 38-week-old miners' dispute and the current domination of Libya and NACODS in the miners' dispute. Druett notes that the NACODS (National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers) have called of their strike as they have stated they have achieved what Arthur Scargill wanted but he argues that if that is the case why is the main dispute still ongoing. Richard Whiteley then notes more will be said about Lord Whitelaw's Star Chamber through a political editor of the Financial Times later in the episode. SHADOW CABINET: The first segment of the episode zones in on the current state of the Labour party, Geoff Druett comments that last week MPs voted for the 15th member of their number who will form Neil Kinnocks Shadow Cabinet. Druett remarks that the result would've been an undoubted relief to the leader as it distanced them from the hard left and left them more firmly in the centre. He states that the left party suffered two serious reverses in the form of two MPs failing to be elected (Tony Ben, Chesterfield MP and Eric Heffer). Co-host Geoff Druett then introduces the first interview segment of this episode, it is conducted in the studio with Martin Flannery (Labour MP from Sheffield Hillsborough) who attempted to join the Shadow Cabinet but was unable to due to him being too left for the Parliamentary Labour party. Martin Flannery then gives his personal definition of being politically left. The episode then pans back to Richard Whiteley who moves back on to discussing the coal dispute, Whiteley notes that the two sides (NUM and NCB) are currently waiting to meet at Acas in the following week. This follows a ten-hour long session in the previous week that left the board asking for time for consideration without indication that they were prepared to move. NACODS FAILURE TO STRIKE: Whiteley also notes other developments in the week before this episode was filmed, such as the appointment of Michael Eaton to the North Yorkshire area director of the NCB to present the boards case, the refusal of the NUM to pay a £200,000 fine for contempt of court, and the decision of NACODS. NACODS, the pit deputy's union, called of its threatened strike. They emerged from peace talks proclaiming they had achieved what Arthur Scargill had been asking for, this referred to the plans for an independent review body to assess disputed pit closures and the reprieve of the five name pits (including Cortonwood which is where the dispute started). Richard Whiteley then introduces Jack Taylor (president of the Yorkshire miners) and Peter McNestry (the general secretary of NACODS) for an interview in the studio to spread light on the situation. They discuss the situation with Libya as well as the reasoning for the NACODs strike being called off (McNestry states it was called off because they were given changes to the review procedures for threatened collieries). The show then returns to Geoff Druett who is conducting an interview between Spencer Batiste (the Conservative MP for Elmet) and Martin Flannery (the Labour MP for Sheffield Hillsborough). Batiste remarks that Arthur Scargill is a desperate man for searching for support from the paymaster of international terrorism in his union dispute. Martin Flannery is then asked if this has damaged Scargill's prospects- he argues yes but that it doesn't alter the correctness of the argument of the miners. STAR CHAMBER: It pans back to Richard Whiteley to discuss Lord Whitehall's Star Chamber (showing an image of Lord Whitehall whilst doing so), Whiteley reports that Whitehall has been arbitrating between cabinet ministers who want to increase their spending and the treasury which wants to cut them back. Peter Riddel, political editor of the Financial Times, is then introduced in the Leeds studio for an interview over video call. Richard Whiteley asks him to define the Star Chamber and discuss if he believes that Lord Whitehall is the man for the job. Riddel defines the Star Chamber as part of the annual process of reviewing public spending plans, the results are very important because they can affect for example what happens to housing improvement grants, housing benefits, and prescription charges. At the end of the show Richard has a short solitary segment where he speaks on the lack of individuals from the north of the UK in political jobs which differs from the previous Labour Government, he observes the north south divide is also applicable in the political field. He then concludes the episode. The Credits roll whilst a picture of Westminster is shown and the theme tune plays. Presenters RICHARD WHITELEY & GEOFF DRUETT Featuring SPENCER BATISTE, MARTIN FLANNERY, PETER MCNESTRY, JACK TAYLOR, PETER RIDDELL Editorial Assistant ALI RASHID Director PADDY RUSSELL Executive Producer GRAHAM IRONSIDE YORKSHIRE TELEVISION LTD 1984 YORKSHIRE TELEVISION PRODUCTION