Fishermen in uproar over EU fishing agreement and Spain bans homework

This week in 1984 and the miners’ strike peace talks pulled back from the brink of failure with both sides agreeing to meet yet again. The talks were apparently saved when the National Coal Board tabled new proposals which miners’ leaders were considering overnight.

In other political news and Mr Leon Brittan, the Home Secretary, gave warning to violent pickets that they could expect tough prison sentences on conviction – with even life sentences for some offenders. At the same time Thatcher’s popularity in Scotland, and of the Government, were at their lowest level since the Falklands conflict.

Tensions remained higher than ever between Scottish fishermen and the EU after the Fishing Ministers of the ten European Community countries reached agreement on new North Sea fishing rules which fishermen immediately denounced as a disaster for their industry. The Ministers agreed to give new freedom to Danish ships fishing for Norwegian pout, an inedible species used for animal feed and fertiliser, which is of little interest to the UK. Furious Scottish fishermen’s leaders walked out on the deputy Agriculture Minister, Mr John McGregor, in Brussels after the Government was forced to agree to give away thousands of tonnes more prime white fish on what was described as a “black and disastrous night” for the industry.

In arts new and Tom Keating, the master art faker, finally had the last laugh on the art world when his paintings and sketches fetched up to ten times the estimated prices, bringing in a total of £274,610.

Over in Spain and the country’s six million primary and secondary school children were pleasantly surprised when the government banned homework. Mr Miguel Basanta, secretary of Madrid’s parents’ association said, “A child must study…. But what we are opposed to is that they should be given such a weight of work after school that it keeps them busy until they go to bed. They’ve got to have time to play and meet other children”.