The credit crunch is very much upon us. Thousands are losing their jobs and the government doesn’t seem to have any answers.

To add insult to injury the weather is cold and the Russians keep turning the gas off.

In a moment of blinding genius I have come up with a solution which will solve both problems at the same time.

Let's reopen the coal mines shut down by Mrs T. in the 80s and send thousands of men, women and children down to get the coal out.

At the same time we should convert all the gas-fired power stations back to coal fired creating yet more jobs and a stable and secure energy source for the future.

This strategy has four main advantages:

-The first resolving the unemployment problem.

-The second creating high-end construction jobs.

-The third creating a stable energy supply which will help our balance of payment problems.

-And finally, the fourth, sending a big two fingers up to Thatcher, which is never a bad thing.

If we take this strategy up I want full credit. All I want is to see Thatcher’s face when she has to admit that Scargill was a visionary and could see into the future.

The answer is... Coal not Dole.