Portrait of the week
he ASLEF rail strike started with both I sides sounding confident, Mr Buckton that the response had been as good as he could have hoped after a hostile press cam- paign; British Rail that some 200 strike breakers would soon be joined by others. Earlier, British Rail had repeated threats to close down the railways and sack strikers, and announced its determination to employ strike breakers. Mr Scargill reaffirmed his support for this and many other strikes, in the interests of class solidarity. The unions pledged £3 million towards Labour's ex- penses in the next General Election and the National Graphical Association, meeting in Eastbourne, pledged support to any members refusing to print 'scurrilous' in- formation or opinions about the unions. Harland and Wolff dismissed the first 300 of 1,000 redundant workers in Belfast and Sir Derek Ezra retired from the National Coal Board chairmanship amid threats from Mr Scargill of a new strike against closures.
In the Middle East, Israel imposed a total blockade on the western, Muslim quarter of Beirut and Colonel Gaddafi advised Yasser Arafat to commit suicide — a suggestion which Arafat indignantly rejected. Mr Begin said no notice would be taken of a 100,000-strong anti-war rally in Tel Aviv, and it seemed likely that Israeli soldiers tak- ing part in the demonstration would be court-martialled for mutiny.
The Social Democrat party elections resulted in a clear win by Roy Jenkins. Mr Heath bitterly attacked Mrs Thatcher for saying that the inquiry into the Falklands invasion (to be conducted by Lord Franks) would include a study of previous administrations. Mr Nott an- nounced naval defence expenditure greatly in excess of that needed to replace ships lost in the Falklands. The Board of Deputies of British Jews demanded that Ken Liv- ingstone and Ted Knight should be pro- secuted under the Race Relations Act for their published views on the Lebanon war. Mr Livingstone seemed likely to inherit the Labour parliamentary constituency of Brent East if the sitting Member, Mr Reginald Freeson, could be persuaded to retire in face of left-wing attacks. Tribune, now the mouth-piece of Tony Benn's fac- tion in the Labour party, disowned the 70-strong Tribune group of left-wing Labour MPs on the grounds that too many of them supported the party's leader.
The new president of Argentina, General Bignani, reaffirmed his country's claim to sovereignty over the Falklands. Prepara- tions were made to send about 500 Argenti- nian prisoners of war back to England until such time as Argentina should declare the war finished. Rear Admiral Woodward and Major General Moore were both replaced. The United States risked offending Britain by resuming sales of spare parts for military aircraft to Argentina. Mrs Thatcher attack- ed America's embargo of sales of pipeline pumping equipment to the Soviet Union.
South African gold miners rioted for higher wages, with about eight being killed. The Pope announced he would visit El Salvador, while the Catholic Church in England wondered how it would meet the £6 million cost of his visit earlier this year. In Russia Ms Natalya Lazareva, a feminist, was jailed for four years, accused of slandering the Soviet State and social system. In New York 2,075 Moonie 'ideal couples' were married by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon at a ceremony in Madison Square. At home, telephone charges were once again increased despite a forecast pro- fit of £450 million for British Telecom. Mr Barry Prudom was shot dead after being chased by 800 armed policemen in North Yorkshire. Mr Walker suspended badger gassing after discovering that it was very cruel. Mrs Shirley Williams sued Sir John Junor, editor of the Sunday Express, for alleged libel and Mr B. Shrimsley retired from editorship of the Mail on Sunday after 10 issues. The Dowager Lady Dufferin settl- ed a dispute with her former butler, Mr Chopping. Argentina and England were both knocked out of the World Cup, after English suporters had distinguished themselves by unruly behaviour. Jimmy Connors beat John' McEnroe in the Wimbledon men's singles, and Ms M. Navratilova beat Mrs Lloyd in the women's singles. About 40 men were arrested for in- decent behaviour during the tournament thought to be a record.
'I'm leaving to go and live with my donor.'
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