Andy puts all the blame on Labour. but it was Thatcher that adopted Ragonomics, the belief that all they had to do was help the wealthy with tax cuts and middle England would do OK as the wealth filters down, much like eating the crumbs from under the masters table.

I wasn't 'putting all the blame' on Labour: just noting that whilst labour made no attempt to improve the situation there were no TUC-backed marches or calls  demanding that the loopholes were closed.  It is that hypocrisy that I find sad.

As for Thatcher being to blame, you forget the mess that Wilson/Heath/Callaghan managed to get the economy into during the 70s.