The battle lines are being drawn up

The 1980 Conservative government had to rescue the country from the economic disaster that was the Wilson/Callaghan government and to break the control of the Trade Unions over the UK's life. It looks as though the 2010s Conservative government will have to fight similar battles; arguably the economic problems they inherit will be worse than those inherited by Mrs Thatcher in 1979 and the Trade Union fight will not be over secondary picketing or wildcat strikes but public sector final salary pensions.