Olden Life: What was a three-day week? By Christopher Sandford

Fifty years ago, in November 1973, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) began working to rule in support of its demand for a 35-per-cent pay increase. The next day, Ted Heath’s Conservative government declared its fifth and final state of national emergency, with the first wave of rolling power cuts following in December. By Christmas Day, there was a 50mph speed limit on Britain’s motorways, and the thermostats in centrally heated offices and businesses were meant to be set no higher than 63° Fahrenheit (17° Celsius) until further notice. The energy crisis of 1973-74 was the result of a series of domestic and international problems colliding in a perfect storm for the British consumer. In retaliation for the West’s support of Israel in the October 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Arab, oil-producing nations quadrupled their prices. More expensive chorus of their chart-topping song – ‘Here it is, Merry Christmas. Everybody’s...

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