Retreating from widespread public outrage and a growing parliamentary revolt, the government said Monday it is scaling back plans to close more than half Britain's coal mines.
It was not immediately clear if the decision to shut only 10 mines instead of 31 would defuse the biggest political crisis faced by Prime Minister John Major. He already was under fire for Britain's severe recession and the further weakening of his position could force him from office.Trade Secretary Michael Heseltine emerged from a 21/2-hour emergency Cabinet meeting to announce the new plan to Parliament. Last week he had said some mines would be shut immediately, but Monday he said the 10 mines would be phased in beginning next year after consultations with miners unions.
But Heseltine also said "there is no economic alternative" to closing some mines, because they are producing more coal than they can sell.
"The government recognizes the concern at the speed . . . and the very great difficulties it would cause to the communities involved," Heseltine said, shouting above jeers from opposition lawmakers in the House of Commons.