Martha Kearney reviews secret government files from 1986 - the year of US air strikes against Libya, the Chernobyl disaster and a Royal wedding between Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. She discusses the annual release of official papers with three distinguished politicians from the time - former Health Secretary Lord Fowler, former Labour leader Lord Kinnock and former Liberal leader Lord Steel - as they look for new insights into some of the top political stories of that year. Early 1986...

Martha Kearney reviews today's release of secret government files from the mid 1980s. The year long miners' strike came to an end in 1985, but social unrest continued with riots in London leaving a policeman dead in Tottenham. Football hooliganism burgeoned, resulting in horrific scenes at the European Cup Final in Heysel when 39 people died during violent riots before the Liverpool/Juventus match. Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet leader and Oleg Gordievsky was one of a number of high...

Martha Kearney uncovers the secrets within the Government files of 1984. Margaret Thatcher's government faced some formidable adversaries. The long-anticipated battle with the National Union of Mineworkers and its leader, Arthur Scargill, finally erupted, dominating the political scene well into 1985. The charismatic Ken Livingstone, leader of the Greater London Council, was winning the costly PR war against abolition of the GLC. And terror hit home with the shooting of policewoman Yvonne...

Martha Kearney uncovers the secrets within the government files of 1983 - who said what in Cabinet, and what did the Prime Minister really think about the issues of the day? It was the year that Compact Discs and £1 coins were first sold in Britain. The country was introduced to the joys of wheel clamps and breakfast television, and Shergar - the most valuable racehorse in the world - was stolen, never to be seen again. It was an election year, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was...

With unique access to secret government papers, Martha Kearney presents a look at the political events of 1982 as told through the Cabinet minutes, Prime Ministerial papers and Foreign and Commonwealth Office documents and briefings that are being released to the public at the end of the year. Close to 30,000 Government papers containing top secret memos, notes and briefings are included in the release, and the Radio 4 team have been given special access over the last few weeks. In a...

With unique access to secret government papers, Martha Kearney presents a look at the political events of 1982 as told through the Cabinet minutes, Prime Ministerial papers and Foreign and Commonwealth Office documents and briefings that are being released to the public at the end of the year. Close to 30,000 Government papers containing top secret memos, notes and briefings are included in the release, and the Radio 4 team have been given special access over the last few weeks. In a...

It was the year of the Royal Wedding, urban riots and soaring unemployment. Leading economists despaired of the government's handling of the economy, while spending cuts were considered too deep, and relations with European allies fragile. This was 1981. Martha Kearney reviews newly-released government papers from 1981 with guests including former Ministers, government advisers and leading opponents. There are fascinating insights to be gleaned from Margaret Thatcher's personal files,...

On the day that previously secret government files from 1980 are released to the public, Martha Kearney and guests discuss what they reveal about government thinking at the time. It was a year of government cutbacks, high unemployment and economic gloom. The newly-released papers highlight the astonishing resonance with today. Martha and guests will examine the Prime Minister's personal papers, complete with handwritten notes in the margins, and memos from trusted aides; transcripts of...

With unique access to Secret government papers, Martha Kearney presents a look at the political events of 1979 as told through the Cabinet minutes, Prime Ministerial papers and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Documents that are being released to the public at the end of the year. Domestic stories include the growing crisis of confidence in the Labour government, the handling of backbench rebellions, the winter of discontent and the handover of power to Margaret Thatcher following the...

It's the loneliest decision of all, they say, when to go for a general election. Turn the clock back thirty years and it was the big question facing the then Prime Minister Jim Callaghan. With industrial strife gripping the country, a slew of manufacturers on their knees asking Government for help, and a dangerous situation brewing in Rhodesia, it was a testing time for Labour. The secret government files from 1978 have been transferred to the National Archives in Kew, West London and opened...

Martha Kearney presents a look at the political events of 1977, as told through the Cabinet minutes, Foreign Office documents and other Government papers that are released under the thirty year rule at the end of the year. Stories will include the Lib Lab pact, the question of when to go for a general election, the rise of Margaret Thatcher, back bench rebellions, nuclear power to Iran and the Silver Jubilee. UK CONFIDENTIAL includes extracts from papers read by actors, discussion with...

Martha Kearney presents a look at the events of 1976, as told through the Cabinet papers, Foreign Office Documents and other Government papers that are being released released under the thirty year rule at the end of the year. UK CONFIDENTIAL features Harold Wilson's resignation and failing health, Rhodesia, Trade Union relations at breaking point, the Cod Wars, Chairman Mao's death, the drought, the run on the pound and Cabinet splits over the IMF loan. The programme includes extracts from...

Martha Kearney looks at the events of 1975, as told through the cabinet papers, Foreign Office Documents and those of other Government departments that are released under the thirty year rule at the end of the year. UK CONFIDENTIAL features the aftermath of President Nixon's resignation over Watergate, Harold Wilson's failing health, Trade Union negotiations starting to break down, IRA activity and security arrangements following terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland, Cabinet splits on the...

1974 was a year of political confusion and domestic strife. There was the Three Day week, a Miners Strike and two General Elections as well as on-going problems over Northern Ireland and Cyprus, and an attempt to kidnap Princess Anne. With exclusive access to papers released by The National Archives under the thirty year rule, Sue MacGregor presents UK CONFIDENTIAL, a special Radio 4 programme which will give a new insight on many of the political decisions and controversies of the...