This episode focuses on the issues arising with Margaret Thatcher's Government, the perks and the pay that comes with being a member of Parliament, as well as the Dock and Miners' Strike. This episode begins with the Calendar Commentary theme tune playing whilst an image of Westminster Abbey is shown with the show's title in front of it. Co-host Richard Whiteley in the studio introduces the show by mentioning the governmental crisis occurring, it then pans to Geoff Druett who...

This episode focuses on the issues arising with Margaret Thatcher's Government, the perks and the pay that comes with being a member of Parliament, as well as the Dock and Miners' Strike. This episode begins with the Calendar Commentary theme tune playing whilst an image of Westminster Abbey is shown with the show's title in front of it. Co-host Richard Whiteley in the studio introduces the show by mentioning the governmental crisis occurring, it then pans to Geoff Druett who speaks on the miner strike talks resuming on Wednesday to assess the prospect for peace. The three intertitles are then shown with relevant imagery behind the writing. 'THATCHER . . . WHAT CRISIS?': Richard Whiteley begins with talking about what he describes as a shaking economy. He uses an image from the magazine the Economist that illustrates Margaret Thatcher slipping on a banana peel (imagery for the slipping and failing economy). Whiteley furthermore speaks on the ineptness of Margaret Thatcher's Government and showcases two piece of source material in the form of newspapers, a piece from the Daily Mail and a piece from the Daily Telegraph (both speak negatively on Thatcher). DOCK STRIKES: Richard Whiteley speaks on the National Dock Strikes that were occurring during the filming of this episode, they had commenced only a week before this was recorded and, in Richards opinion, a direct repercussion of the Miners' Strike. Whiteley then introduced John Prescott (Labour MP) and John Townsend (Conservative MP) in the form of a debate style interview about the dock strike, why it occurred, the repercussions of it, and if it can be defined as a political strike. 'MINERS . . . DIGGING FOR PEACE': Geoff Druett speaks on the Miners' Strike as a central unresolved issue of Britain at this time, he notes the talks between the NUM and the NCB that will be resuming in the coming days after this recording as well as the fact that they plan to discuss pit closures and closure programs (as both the NUM and the NCB have differing opinions on this matter). The show also pans to an image of NUM president Arthur Scargill when referring to the upcoming talks as he will be a key member of these discussions. Druett then introduces Giles Shaw (Conservative MP for Pudsey and Energy Minister) over a video call conducted in the Leeds studio, they speak on the upcoming talks about the Miners' Strike, negotiations about the workings of the pits, coal stocks, oil, and nuclear energy. 'MP'S. . . PERKS & PAY': Richard Whiteley introduces this segment and proceeds to list of individuals, who as of recently, no longer have their seats in the House of Commons. For example, Stan Cohen (previously the Labour MP for Leeds central), Michael Brotherton (he failed to find a seat when his constituency was redrawn), and Fred Mulley (former defence secretary and a chairman of the Labour party, he was deselected at Sheffield)- a picture of each was shown when their names and current situation was announced. Whiteley then goes on to speak about the perks and pay of the MPs, he refers to the financial compensations they receive when losing their jobs as well as the severance allowance they are also rewarded when they lose their seats. The show then pans to a shot of a blue screen with the MP logo on it that notes the specific amount of severance allowance they receive (£9,250-£18,500), then the wage rise that was voted for in 1983 that has led to a MP pay rise of over 27% over five years. The same blue backdrop also shows the current wages of the MPs (£16,106 a year as of 1984) and the prediction for the future wages (£18,500 by 1987). Whiteley then introduces Michael Brotherton and Ben Ford who are in the studio for an interview segment, both failed to get a seat in Parliament in the last election. Whiteley asks them about the fairness of the raising MP wages and the chances of their returns to politics (they believe MPs are underpaid; Ben Ford doesn't wish to return but Michael Brotherton would happily). The final segment of the show is a video call interview between co-host Geoff Druett and Michael White of the Guardian newspaper, Druett notes that it is a high season of rumours about members of Parliament. Michael sets out fact from fiction and goes on to share his personal opinions about MPs. It pans back to Richard Whiteley to end the show, the credits are then shown over image of Westminster Abbey whilst the theme song plays. Presenters RICHARD WHITELEY & GEOFF DRUETT Featuring GILES SHAW, JOHN PRESCOTT, JOHN TOWNEND, MICHAEL BROTHERTON, BEN FORD, MICHAEL WHITE Editorial Assistant ALI RASHID Director DEREK GOODALL Executive Producer GRAHAM IRONSIDE YORKSHIRE TELEVISION LTD. 1984 YORKSHIRE TELEVISION PRODUCTION