Economics: Did The Decline Of Coal Cause The Fall Of The British Labour Party?

(Drivebycuriosity) -  Recently I discovered a fascinating chart (   source ). The graphic above shows the decline of coal as source of electric energy in the UK. In the begin of the 20th century, Great Britain`s electricity was almost completely generated by burning coal; today the black mineral almost disappeared as source of energy.

The decline of coal has caused the decline of the union of coal miners, which once had been very powerful. UK`s dependence on coal made the country very vulnerable. In the 1970s & 1980 the coal miners abused their monopoly power (as energy producers) and they took the whole country hostage. They called frequently strikes to enforce salary hikes and other demands which brought coal mining to temporary still stands ( wikipedia). 

The halt of coal mining in winter 1984-85 shut down electricity production (which depended around 60% on coal). This caused a still stand of manufacturing and many households and offices were running out of heating material in the middle of the winter. The frequent strikes hampered economic growth, heated inflation and the whole country fell into a crisis. 

The decline of the coal miner union went along with the fall of the British Labour Party (wikipedia ). The left-wing party ruled UK in the 1950s, 60s & 1970s, today they are second. Is this just a coincidence? Did coal´s decline cause the weakening of the Labour Party? Or did the decline of Larbour cause the decline of coal? 

It seems that both declines where supporting each other. In the 20th century - till the 1980s - the strong unions - including the coal miners - and the votes of their members supported the Labour Party. Here a quote from Wikipedia: "Coal miners' politics, while complex, have occasionally been radical, with a frequent leaning towards far-left political views. A number of far-left political movements have had the support of both coal miners themselves and their trade unions, particularly in Great Britain." ( wikipedia )  

Since the 1980s the shrinking power and membership of the coal miners union  reduced the support for the Labour Party. Today there are not many coal miners who could vote for Labour. I am aware that there are many other and complicated causes for Labour`s decrease but I think the decline of coal also cost Labour important percent points at the elections.

Otherwise political changes in the UK also reduced the role of coal. The Conservative Party gave less support for a very dirty energy source and is less inclined to kowtow to the blackmailing by the coal workers union. Coal won`t come back, will Labour?