The Great British Sell-Off: How They Spent the Family Silver (And Called It a Miracle)
A not-so-ironic tale of North Sea oil, convenient amnesia, and the bill that's finally come due Picture this: It's 1979, and Britain is, to put it mildly, having a rough time. Strikes, inflation, and general gloom are the order of the day. Then, quite literally beneath our feet, someone discovers the economic equivalent of finding a winning lottery ticket in your winter coat. North Sea oil arrives right on cue, like a deus ex machina in a particularly grim British drama. Fast-forward to 2026, and we're still arguing about whether Margaret Thatcher was an economic genius or just incredibly lucky. Spoiler alert: it's the latter, but try telling that at a dinner party. This is the story of how Britain stumbled into a geological windfall, spent it like a sailor on shore leave, and then spent the next forty years pretending it was all part of the plan. Grab a cuppa; it's going to be a bumpy ride. The Oil Boom That Wasn't (Supposed to Be) a Boom Let's st...