Handsworth Disturbances
Serious disturbances in Handsworth expose tensions involving policing, unemployment and deprivation.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1981 in Great Britain — Page 3
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
3 of 7Page
35Named events on this page
20Named people on this page
6Places on this page
July
Liverpool Regeneration Response
After the Toxteth riots, becomes closely involved in developing a programme of regeneration for Liverpool.
Toxteth Riots
Her government faces major unrest in Toxteth during inner-city riots.
August
Ken Patten Demo Session
Records a four-song Pulp demo at Studio Electrophonique that later helps secure a BBC session.
Give the People What They Want
The Kinks release Give the People What They Want.
Tattoo You
The Rolling Stones release Tattoo You.
Trident Review
The Government reviews Trident after the United States decides to accelerate development of Trident II D5
September
Paymaster General Tenure
Completes his tenure as Paymaster General as ministerial responsibilities are reorganised during the September 1981 government changes.
Appointment as Lord President and Commons Leader
Appointed Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons, formally taking responsibility for coordinating government business in the Commons.
Cabinet
Lawson, Tebbit & Parkinson join the Cabinet & Prior becomes the Northern Ireland Sec
Resignation of Gilmour, Carlisle & Soames
Gilmour, Carlisle & Soames leave the Government
Secretary
Nigel Lawson is promoted to Secretary of State for Energy on 14 September 1981.
Abacab
Plays on Abacab as Genesis adopts a cleaner and more modern early-1980s sound.
Deputy Leadership Challenge
Healey retains the Labour deputy leadership after defeating Tony Benn in the electoral-college ballot.
Election
Healey defeats Tony Benn with just over 50 percent of the electoral-college vote.
Tony Benn Challenge
Healey defeats Tony Benn by a narrow margin and retains the Labour deputy leadership.
Death of Bill Shankly
Bill Shankly died at the age of 68, prompting tributes from Liverpool supporters and the wider football community for his achievements as a player and manager.
Commonwealth
Arrives in Melbourne for the Commonwealth Conference
Conference of Commonwealth
Arrives in Melbourne for the Commonwealth Conference
European Cup Debut
Villa begins its first European Cup campaign with a decisive victory over Valur.
October
Transfer
Signs for Manchester Utd, for a British record transfer fee of œ1.5 million
Demo Given to John Peel
Gives Pulp's demo tape to John Peel at a Sheffield Polytechnic roadshow.
Privatization
Lawson announces plans to transfer BNOC's oil-producing business to the private sector and to dispose of selected British Gas Corporation oil interests as part of wider energy-market reform.
Duchy Chancellorship
Completes his tenure as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster after combining the office with wider cabinet and parliamentary responsibilities during 1981.
Under Pressure
Releases Under Pressure with Queen, creating a major collaboration built around a memorable bass line.
Economic Policy Criticism
Criticises aspects of monetarist economic policy and the direction of Thatcherism.
November
Mob Rules
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
Congratulates Reagan on his election victory & invites him to Britain for discussions
Election
Congratulates Reagan on his election victory & invites him to Britain for discussions
Public Accounts Committee Service Ends
Ends his recorded membership of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee after serving during the early years of the Conservative government.
International Agreement at London
Agrees with Garret FiitzGerald to establish an Anglo-Irish inter-Governmental Council
Tonight I'm Yours
Releases Tonight I'm Yours as his sound moves toward early-1980s new wave pop.
First John Peel Session
Records Pulp's first John Peel session at BBC Maida Vale studios.
December
Public Expenditure Statement
Announces public-expenditure plans for 1982-83 and links them to the Government's continuing strategy for reducing inflation and borrowing.
Fares Fair
"Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated.
Fares Fair
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
Fares Fair
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
Fares Fair
that the GLC proceed with its policies regardless of their legality
GLC
"Vandals in Ermine" while Livingstone maintained his belief that the judicial decision was politically motivated.
GLC
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
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.