5 January 1981CabinetMargaret Hilda Thatcher
Pym becomes leader of the Commons, Nott Defence Secretary & Britain Chief Sec
Historical records for Great Britain in 1981, rendered directly from the World History Database and ordered by month, day and event.
Pym becomes leader of the Commons, Nott Defence Secretary & Britain Chief Sec
Appointed Leader of the House of Commons
St John Stevas & Maude leave the Government
Completes his term as President of the European Commission.
Ends four years as President of the European Commission.
Answers a parliamentary question concerning a ministerial visit to Liverpool.
One of the "Gang of Four", former Labour Minister's who found the SDP
Helps found the SDP with Jenkins, Shirley Williams and Bill Rodgers.
Helps form the SDP as one of the Gang of Four.
Joins Jenkins, David Owen and Bill Rodgers in the SDP breakaway.
Signs the Limehouse Declaration with other Labour defectors launching the SDP project.
One of the Gang of Four, former Labour ministers who found the SDP.
One of the "Gang of Four", former Labour Minister's who found the SDP
One of the "Gang of Four", former Labour Minister's who found the SDP
Answers a parliamentary question concerning the planning appeals system.
Appointed President of the Social Democratic Alliance
Addresses Commons questions on policy and expenditure for the new towns.
Addresses Commons questions on inner-city partnership committees.
Thatchers Conservative Government withdraws plans to close 23 pits in its first major u-turn since coming to power 2 years ago
Miners vote in favour of a 9.3 per cent pay rise
John Lennon and Yoko Onos Double Fantasy wins Album of the Year for 1981 at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards
John Lennon and Yoko Onos Double Fantasy wins Album of the Year for 1981 at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards
Release You Better You Bet.
Release Face Dances with Kenney Jones on drums.
Addresses the Commons concerning the Canvey Island planning inquiry.
Helps launch the Social Democratic Party with other Labour defectors.
Helps launch the Social Democratic Party as a centrist alternative to Labour.
Takes part in Commons proceedings on transfer of Greater London Council housing.
Paisley establishes another paramilitary group, 3rd Force
Establishe the paramilitary group Ulster Resistance
!st day of a weekend of riots in Brixton. Lord Scarman is later appointed to review the causes of the riots
Visits Brixton & expresses "extreme distress & horror"
Clashes worsen as Sands hunger strike reaches its 52st day
Joe Gormley resigned as President of the NUM to be replaced by leftwinger Arthur Scargill
Death of Bobby Sands, on 66th day of hunger strike
Answers a parliamentary question concerning vacant and under-used land.
Livingstone calls a caucus of his supporters; announcing his intent to challenge McIntoshs leadership, he invited those assembled to stand for other GLC posts, the meeting ends having agreed on a full slate of candidates then McIntosh holds a GLC Labour meeting; the attendees called an immediate leadership election, in which Livingstone defeated him by 30 votes to 20 & the entire left caucus slate is then elected
Mc Intosh proclaims the GLC coup illegitimate, asserting that Labour was in danger from a leftist take-over.
This record states: Livingstone calls a caucus of his supporters. announcing his intent to challenge Mc Intoshs leadership, he invited those assembled to stand for other GLC posts.
This record states: Livingstone defeated him by 30 votes to 20 & the entire left caucus slate is then elected.
This record states: the meeting ends having agreed on a full slate of candidates then Mc Intosh holds a GLC Labour meeting. the attendees called an immediate leadership election, in which.
Deputy leader Illtyd Harrington said the administration was challenging the absurd cosmetic approach to Armageddon.
The GLC published the names of 3,000 politicians and administrators designated to survive a nuclear attack on London in underground bunkers.
The Livingstone administration declared London a nuclear-free zone and stopped the GLC's annual £1 million spending on nuclear-war defence plans.
Deputy leader Illtyd Harrington said the administration was challenging the absurd cosmetic approach to Armageddon.
The GLC published the names of 3,000 politicians and administrators designated to survive a nuclear attack on London in underground bunkers.
The Livingstone administration declared London a nuclear-free zone and stopped the GLC's annual £1 million spending on nuclear-war defence plans.
Leads Liverpool to European Cup victory over Real Madrid.
Livingstone turns his attention to achieving a GLC Labour victory, exchanging his safe-seat in Hackney North for the marginal Inner London seat at Paddington; wins the seat by 2,397 votes. A Labour GLC election victory, with McIntosh installed as Head of the GLC; within 24 hours he would be deposed by members of his own party, replaced by Livingstone
A Labour GLC election victory, with McIntosh installed as Head of the GLC; within 24 hours he would be deposed by members of his own party, replaced by Livingstone
A Labour GLC election victory, with McIntosh installed as Head of the GLC; within 24 hours he would be deposed by members of his own party, replaced by Livingstone
Cutler and the Conservatives learn of Livingstones plans, proclaiming that a GLC Labour victory would lead to a Marxist takeover of London and then Britain; the rightist press pick up the story, with the Daily Express using the headline of "Why We Must Stop These
Livingstone turns his attention to achieving a GLC Labour victory, exchanging his safe-seat in Hackney North for the marginal Inner London seat at Paddington; wins the seat by 2,397 votes.
Red Wreckers".
A Labour GLC election victory, with McIntosh installed as Head of the GLC; within 24 hours he would be deposed by members of his own party, replaced by Livingstone
Nick Mason releases his solo album, "Fictitious Sports" with help from Carla Bley and Robert Wyatt
Pink Floyd play Earls Court, the performance is filmed for inclusion in the film of "The Wall"
Pink Floyd play Earls Court, the performance is filmed for inclusion in the film of "The Wall"
Takes part in a substantial Commons debate on local-authority expenditure.
Releases Album, "Somewhere in England"
Addresses Commons questions on increasing private-enterprise involvement in inner-city areas.
Addresses the Commons on the Merseyside Development Corporation.
Addresses the Commons on review of the domestic rating system.
First spell as Thatchers full-time economic adviser between 1981 and 1983, expands the frontiers of influence for public servants, and maintaines the first Thatcher Governments adherence to monetarism
Diannas engagement to Charles becomes official
Moss Side in Manchester experiences its first of 2 days disorder
Visits Liverpool and drives through the scene of the riots in Toxteth
Finishes a close second at the Warrington by-election for the new SDP.
Humbar Estuary Bridge, worlds longest span, 1.4 km, opens
Serious disturbances in Handsworth expose tensions involving policing, unemployment and deprivation.
After the Toxteth riots, becomes closely involved in developing a programme of regeneration for Liverpool.
Her government faces major unrest in Toxteth during inner-city riots.
Records a four-song Pulp demo at Studio Electrophonique that later helps secure a BBC session.
The Kinks release Give the People What They Want.
The Rolling Stones release Tattoo You.
The Government reviews Trident after the United States decides to accelerate development of Trident II D5
Lawson, Tebbit & Parkinson join the Cabinet & Prior becomes the Northern Ireland Sec
Gilmour, Carlisle & Soames leave the Government
Plays on Abacab as Genesis adopts a cleaner and more modern early-1980s sound.
Healey retains the Labour deputy leadership after defeating Tony Benn in the electoral-college ballot.
Healey defeats Tony Benn with just over 50 percent of the electoral-college vote.
Healey defeats Tony Benn by a narrow margin and retains the Labour deputy leadership.
Arrives in Melbourne for the Commonwealth Conference
Arrives in Melbourne for the Commonwealth Conference
Villa begins its first European Cup campaign with a decisive victory over Valur.
Signs for Manchester Utd, for a British record transfer fee of œ1.5 million
Gives Pulp's demo tape to John Peel at a Sheffield Polytechnic roadshow.
Announces proposals in the House of Commons to privatize British Gas. Announces proposals in the House of Commons to privatize BNOC
Releases Under Pressure with Queen, creating a major collaboration built around a memorable bass line.
Criticises aspects of monetarist economic policy and the direction of Thatcherism.
Sings on Mob Rules, the second studio album of the Dio-fronted Black Sabbath line-up.
Congratulates Reagan on his election victory & invites him to Britain for discussions
Congratulates Reagan on his election victory & invites him to Britain for discussions
Agrees with Garret FiitzGerald to establish an Anglo-Irish inter-Governmental Council
Releases Tonight I'm Yours as his sound moves toward early-1980s new wave pop.
Records Pulp's first John Peel session at BBC Maida Vale studios.
Unerwriting for the privatization of BNOC & British Gas is completed
"Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated.
Livingstone got on board with a campaign known as "Keep Fares Fair" in order to bring about a change in the law that would make the Fares Fair policy legal; an alternate movement, "Cant Pay, Wont Pay", accused Livingstone of being a sell-out and insisted
The GLC appeal the "Fares Fair" court verdict, taking the case to the House of Lords but five Law Lords unanimously rule in favour of Bromley Borough Council, putting a permanent end to the Fares Fair policy, GLC transport chairman Dave Wetzel labelled the judges
that the GLC proceed with its policies regardless of their legality
"Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated.
Livingstone got on board with a campaign known as "Keep Fares Fair" in order to bring about a change in the law that would make the Fares Fair policy legal; an alternate movement, "Cant Pay, Wont Pay", accused Livingstone of being a sell-out and insisted
The GLC appeal the "Fares Fair" court verdict, taking the case to the House of Lords but five Law Lords unanimously rule in favour of Bromley Borough Council, putting a permanent end to the Fares Fair policy, GLC transport chairman Dave Wetzel labelled the judges
that the GLC proceed with its policies regardless of their legality
The GLC appeal the "Fares Fair" court verdict, taking the case to the House of Lords but five Law Lords unanimously rule in favour of Bromley Borough Council, putting a permanent end to the Fares Fair policy, GLC transport chairman Dave Wetzel labelled the judges "Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated
The Bill to privatize British Gas & BNOC is published
Uses streamlined keyboard textures on Abacab as Genesis moves away from dense progressive arrangements.
Appears in "Annie"
Autobiography, "Before I Forget"
Healey survives Tony Benn's challenge for the deputy leadership by a narrow margin.
Appointed Member of Blizzard of Oz
Ozzy releases Diary Of A Madman with the hits "Flying High Again," "Over the Mountain," and "You Cant Kill Rock & Roll. Blizzard of Ozz tours after the release of "Diary of a Madman.", during a performance, a bat is thrown onto the stage by a fan and Osbourne bites its head off while supposedly thinking its fake
Appointed Member of Blizzard of Oz
Appointed Member of Blizzard of Oz
Sees Yes disband temporarily after the Drama line-up ends.
Mortimer is credited with the adaptation of Evelyn Waughs Brideshead Revisited for Granada Television
British Nationality Act 1981 restructures British citizenship and nationality categories
Geoffrey Howe presents the 1981 Budget to the House of Commons as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The 1981 Budget under Geoffrey Howe sets out the Government's taxation, expenditure and borrowing plans.
Victory over Manchester City by 3-2 completes an FA Cup-winning campaign for Burkinshaw and Tottenham Hotspur.
Supports a new approach at the deeply troubled Cantril Farm estate involving private financial institutions, new management and mixed-tenure housing.
Appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The band come out with a single, "This Is Radio Clash", that further demonstrates their ability to mix diverse influences such as dub and hip hop
The band come out with a single, "This Is Radio Clash", that further demonstrates their ability to mix diverse influences such as dub and hip hop
The Human League release the Album, "Dare"
Visits Brixton Police Station
Leaves Yes after the Drama tour and later joins Asia.
Blizzard of Ozz release the Album, "Diary of a Madman"
Duran Durans 1st album, "Duran Duran", is released
Sets the course for the later privatizations of the gas and electricity industries and on his return to the Treasury he worked closely with the Department of Trade and Industry in privatizing British Airways, British Telecom, and British Gas
Alan Arthur Walters plays a major part in discussions that almost causes Geoffrey Howes monetary targets for sterling M3, the government's chosen measure, to be replaced by a purer variant, known as monetary base control.
Alan Arthur Walters was the first spell as Thatchers full-time economic adviser between 1981 and 1983, expands the frontiers of influence for public servants, and maintains the first Thatcher government's adherence to monetarism.
Through a sleight of hand, the extra revenue Walters wished to raise was secured by freezing income tax thresholds.
Secures 40% Union votes & 30% for the Party & Constituencies for leadership elections
Healey narrowly defeats Tony Benn for the Deputy Leadership.
Stars in Escape to Victory
Publishes Evolution from Space with Chandra Wickramasinghe, extending their panspermia arguments.
Spurs win the FA Cup for the sixth time, defeating Manchester City in a memorable replay.
The Who release Face Dances.
Saunders leads Villa to its first league championship for seventy-one years.
Faces the Labour split after leading moderates leave to create the Social Democratic Party.
Forms the SDP with Shirley Williams, David Owen and Bill Rodgers.
Publication of "Hello America"
Through a sleight of hand, the extra revenue Walters wished to raise was secured by freezing income tax thresholds
Releases La Folie, the album that includes Golden Brown.
Mortimer captains Aston Villa to the First Division championship.
Passes the Energy Act which introduces competition into the electricity industry
Advances the London Docklands Development Corporation, giving a dedicated development body substantial planning and land powers to accelerate regeneration.
Releases the album Love Is Only Feeling
Simons replacement, Ben Mandelson, is on hand for Magazines final original album, Magic, Murder and the Weather. Devoto leaves the band, more or less ending the band since it was so closely identified with him
Simons replacement, Ben Mandelson, is on hand for Magazines final original album, Magic, Murder and the Weather
Records The Gospel According to the Meninblack, using keyboards and concept themes more heavily.
As Environment Secretary, advances the creation of the Merseyside Development Corporation to regenerate extensive redundant dockland through land reclamation and private investment.
After the Toxteth disturbances, develops a sustained ministerial focus on Merseyside and argues for stronger coordination of government action in major urban areas.
Appointed Minister of State for the Dept of Trade & Industry
Records "Morning Train", reaches no 1 in the UK
Prepares for a national coal strike over the closure of pits
Appointed President of the NUM
Derek Del-Boy Trotter in the BBC situation comedy Only Fools and Horses (created by John Sullivan)
Appears in Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003)
Appointed Party Leader of the Social Democratic Party
Changes the emphasis of inner-city policy toward strengthening local economies, improving the environment and attracting private investment alongside public programmes.
Sets the course for the later privatizations of the gas and electricity industries and on his return to the Treasury he worked closely with the Department of Trade and Industry in privatizing British Airways, British Telecom, and British Gas
Cable & Wireless is sold for œ224 million
Appointed Member of Privy Council
Secures 40% Union votes & 30% for the Party & Constituencies for leadership elections
Passes the Energy Act which introduces competition into the electricity industry
Rock Against Unemployment benefit concert, part of the Peoples March For Jobs campaign
Joins a "supergroup", Rocket 88, a project led by Ian Stewart based around boogie-woogie keyboard players, which featured a rhythm section comprising Jack Bruce and Charlie Watts
28 MPs defect to the Social Democratic Party
Helps establish electoral cooperation between the SDP and the Liberal Party.
Appointed Trade Secretary
Lawson is promoted to the position of Secretary of State for Energy
Appointed Minister of Employment
The song "Spasticus Autisticus," intended to mark the International Year of the Disabled, is banned by the BBC
Prepares for a national coal strike over the closure of pits
Opens Sullom Voe, the largest oil terminal of its kind in Europe costing 1200M
Supreme Court Act 1981 consolidates law on the Supreme Court of Judicature
Publication of "The Chariot of Israel"
John Cleese & Michael Palin appear in "Time Bandits", directed by Terry Gillam
John Cleese & Michael Palin appear in "Time Bandits", directed by Terry Gillam
John Cleese & Michael Palin appear in "Time Bandits", directed by Terry Gillam
Releases solo album Too Late the Hero
Sold to Manchester City for 1.2 million
Thatcher considers replacing the earlier Trident C4 plan with the more capable Trident II D5 system
Withe scores twenty league goals during Villa's championship-winning season.
Starmer begins studying law at the University of Leeds.
Sets out increased inner-city regeneration provision, including major funding for the urban programme and the new development corporations.
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 strengthens nature conservation and countryside protections
Bolder joins Wishbone Ash
Breaks the 800m World record. Breaks the 1000m World record
Releases Young Turks, one of his defining early MTV-era singles.
This page is generated from stored World History Database records matching the exact country and year shown above. Exact duplicate display records are collapsed. Records without a month are listed after the monthly sections. Source provenance varies by record; formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.