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Toxteth riots: Howe proposed 'managed decline' for city Toxteth riots: Howe proposed 'managed decline' for city
(about 7 hours later)
Margaret Thatcher was urged to abandon Liverpool to "managed decline" by her chancellor, newly-released National Archives files have revealed.Margaret Thatcher was urged to abandon Liverpool to "managed decline" by her chancellor, newly-released National Archives files have revealed.
The confidential government documents, which are made available under the 30-year rule, reveal the discussions in cabinet following the 1981 Toxteth Riots in Liverpool.The confidential government documents, which are made available under the 30-year rule, reveal the discussions in cabinet following the 1981 Toxteth Riots in Liverpool.
The riots erupted on 3 July, 1981, following the arrest of Leroy Alphonse Cooper on Selborne Street in Liverpool 8.The riots erupted on 3 July, 1981, following the arrest of Leroy Alphonse Cooper on Selborne Street in Liverpool 8.
The eight days of disturbance that followed left 460 officers injured and more than 70 buildings demolished or burnt down as tensions boiled over between the police and the district's Afro-Carribean community.The eight days of disturbance that followed left 460 officers injured and more than 70 buildings demolished or burnt down as tensions boiled over between the police and the district's Afro-Carribean community.
While ministers such as the then Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Heseltine, were arguing for regeneration funding to rebuild the riot-hit communities, Sir Geoffrey Howe, thought it would be a waste of money.While ministers such as the then Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Heseltine, were arguing for regeneration funding to rebuild the riot-hit communities, Sir Geoffrey Howe, thought it would be a waste of money.
He warned Mrs Thatcher "not to overcommit scarce resources to Liverpool".He warned Mrs Thatcher "not to overcommit scarce resources to Liverpool".
"I fear that Merseyside is going to be much the hardest nut to crack," he said."I fear that Merseyside is going to be much the hardest nut to crack," he said.
"We do not want to find ourselves concentrating all the limited cash that may have to be made available into Liverpool and having nothing left for possibly more promising areas such as the West Midlands or, even, the North East."We do not want to find ourselves concentrating all the limited cash that may have to be made available into Liverpool and having nothing left for possibly more promising areas such as the West Midlands or, even, the North East.
"It would be even more regrettable if some of the brighter ideas for renewing economic activity were to be sown only on relatively stony ground on the banks of the Mersey."It would be even more regrettable if some of the brighter ideas for renewing economic activity were to be sown only on relatively stony ground on the banks of the Mersey.
"I cannot help feeling that the option of managed decline is one which we should not forget altogether. We must not expend all our limited resources in trying to make water flow uphill.""I cannot help feeling that the option of managed decline is one which we should not forget altogether. We must not expend all our limited resources in trying to make water flow uphill."
'Hatred of police''Hatred of police'
Sir Geoffrey acknowledged the suggestion that the city could be left to a "managed decline" was potentially explosive.Sir Geoffrey acknowledged the suggestion that the city could be left to a "managed decline" was potentially explosive.
"This is not a term for use, even privately," he warned Mrs Thatcher. "It is much too negative.""This is not a term for use, even privately," he warned Mrs Thatcher. "It is much too negative."
As the Thatcher government sought to respond, Mr Heseltine was despatched to Liverpool in the wake of the riots.As the Thatcher government sought to respond, Mr Heseltine was despatched to Liverpool in the wake of the riots.
The cabinet papers reveal that he was horrified by the way Merseyside Police operated in Toxteth, saying they were not racist as they treated all suspects brutally.The cabinet papers reveal that he was horrified by the way Merseyside Police operated in Toxteth, saying they were not racist as they treated all suspects brutally.
He was reporting back by phone to Mrs Thatcher on 25 July, three weeks after the riots broke out in Liverpool 8.He was reporting back by phone to Mrs Thatcher on 25 July, three weeks after the riots broke out in Liverpool 8.
The cabinet papers note: "Mr Heseltine considered the behaviour of the police in Liverpool 8 to be quite horrifying. They were not acting in a racialist fashion. They treated all suspects in a brutal and arrogant manner."The cabinet papers note: "Mr Heseltine considered the behaviour of the police in Liverpool 8 to be quite horrifying. They were not acting in a racialist fashion. They treated all suspects in a brutal and arrogant manner."
Mr Heseltine also said there were too many young recruits in the area and the local commander had a "fortress mentality".Mr Heseltine also said there were too many young recruits in the area and the local commander had a "fortress mentality".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday, Mr Heseltine said the idea of abandoning Liverpool was never really an option.
He said: "It never really got any traction for the simplest reason that the cabinet minister responsible for so much of the policy that affected the city was me.
"I simply wouldn't countenance that you could say that one of England's great cities, a world city, was going into managed decline here. That would simply be unthinkable to the approach that I believed to be necessary to a very important part of our history."
'Profound mistrust'
The cabinet documents also reveal the confidential meetings the prime minister had with civic, community and church leaders, on 13 July, 10 days after rioting started.The cabinet documents also reveal the confidential meetings the prime minister had with civic, community and church leaders, on 13 July, 10 days after rioting started.
In a meeting with church leaders she said she was amazed at the hatred for the police in Liverpool 8.In a meeting with church leaders she said she was amazed at the hatred for the police in Liverpool 8.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool Derek Worlock said although there was a "profound mistrust" of the police this was not the cause of the rioting.The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool Derek Worlock said although there was a "profound mistrust" of the police this was not the cause of the rioting.
Instead he told her there was a "silent colour bar" in a city where there were no black councillors and just eight black policemen.Instead he told her there was a "silent colour bar" in a city where there were no black councillors and just eight black policemen.
He warned that people felt alienated from society and regarded the police to be part of the establishment, adding that community groups had to be part of the rebuilding of Toxteth.He warned that people felt alienated from society and regarded the police to be part of the establishment, adding that community groups had to be part of the rebuilding of Toxteth.
The archbishop, who died in 1996, also urged the prime minister to create a minister for Merseyside.The archbishop, who died in 1996, also urged the prime minister to create a minister for Merseyside.