Demonstrations
Visits Brixton & expresses "extreme distress & horror"
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1981 in Great Britain — Page 2
Explore 261 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1981.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1981
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 261 unique records.
261Unique records
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21Named events on this page
17Named people on this page
8Places on this page
April
Strike
Clashes worsen as Sands hunger strike reaches its 52st day
Revised Commons Business
Makes a revised business statement scheduling a timetable motion on the British Nationality Bill and further government legislation for 29 April.
Resignation of Joe Gormley
Joe Gormley resigned as President of the NUM to be replaced by leftwinger Arthur Scargill
May
Death of Bobby Sands
Death of Bobby Sands, on 66th day of hunger strike
Vacant and Under-used Land
Answers a parliamentary question concerning vacant and under-used land.
GLC
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
GLC
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.
GLC
Livingstone defeated him by 30 votes to 20 & the entire left caucus slate is then elected.
GLC
Mc Intosh proclaims the GLC coup illegitimate, asserting that Labour was in danger from a leftist take-over.
GLC
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.
GLC
Deputy leader Illtyd Harrington said the administration was challenging the absurd cosmetic approach to Armageddon.
GLC
The GLC published the names of 3,000 politicians and administrators designated to survive a nuclear attack on London in underground bunkers.
GLC
The Livingstone administration declared London a nuclear-free zone and stopped the GLC's annual £1 million spending on nuclear-war defence plans.
GLC
Deputy leader Illtyd Harrington said the administration was challenging the absurd cosmetic approach to Armageddon.
GLC
The GLC published the names of 3,000 politicians and administrators designated to survive a nuclear attack on London in underground bunkers.
GLC
The Livingstone administration declared London a nuclear-free zone and stopped the GLC's annual £1 million spending on nuclear-war defence plans.
European Cup
Leads Liverpool to European Cup victory over Real Madrid.
Election
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
Election
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
GLC
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
GLC
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
GLC
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.
GLC
Red Wreckers".
GLC
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
Pink Floyd
Nick Mason releases his solo album, "Fictitious Sports" with help from Carla Bley and Robert Wyatt
The Wall
Pink Floyd play Earls Court, the performance is filmed for inclusion in the film of "The Wall"
The Wall
Pink Floyd play Earls Court, the performance is filmed for inclusion in the film of "The Wall"
June
Local Authority Expenditure
Takes part in a substantial Commons debate on local-authority expenditure.
Somewhere in England
Releases Album, "Somewhere in England"
Inner City Private Enterprise
Addresses Commons questions on increasing private-enterprise involvement in inner-city areas.
Merseyside Development Corporation
Addresses the Commons on the Merseyside Development Corporation.
Rating Review
Addresses the Commons on review of the domestic rating system.
Economy of Great Britain
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
July
Marriage
Diannas engagement to Charles becomes official
Parliamentary Recess Arrangements
Answers questions about parliamentary sitting periods and summer recess dates, noting that numerous practical factors had to be considered when arranging the Commons calendar.
Demonstrations
Moss Side in Manchester experiences its first of 2 days disorder
Demonstrations
Visits Liverpool and drives through the scene of the riots in Toxteth
Warrington By-election
Finishes a close second at the Warrington by-election for the new SDP.
Humber Bridge
Humbar Estuary Bridge, worlds longest span, 1.4 km, opens
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.