The Thatcher era
1981 was a testing year for Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Government, which was battling to reduce inflation during a global recession.
Industries were folding, unemployment was soaring and Chancellor Geoffrey Howe had just delivered a tough budget in March.
Against this backdrop, there were a series of riots across England, from April to July.
Image: Margaret Thatcher and Denis Thatcher on a visit to Northern Ireland (catalogue reference PREM 19/1547). View in the image library