1981 in the United Kingdom

UK related events during the year of 1981

Events from the year 1981 in the United Kingdom.

September – Little Miss Bossy, the first book in the Little Miss series (the female counterpart to the Mr. Men series) is first published. 1 September – Filling stations start selling motor fuel by the litre. Sixteen Islington Labour councillors join the SDP following the defection of Labour MP Michael O'Halloran. The first episode of the long running and iconic sitcom Only Fools and Horses is broadcast on BBC1. 10 September – Another Enterprise Zone is launched, the latest being in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. 14 September – Cecil Parkinson is appointed chairman of the Conservative Party. 16 September – The children's series Postman Pat is first broadcast on BBC1. 17 September – A team of divers begins removing gold ingots worth £40 million from the wreck of HMS Edinburgh, sunk off the coast of Norway in 1942.

Inflation has fallen to 11.9%, the second lowest annual level since 1973, but has been largely achieved by the mass closure of heavy industry facilities that have contributed to the highest postwar levels of unemployment. In spite of the continuing rise in employment, the British economy improves from 4% contraction last year to 0.8% overall growth this year. First Urban Development Corporations set up in London Docklands and Merseyside. First purpose built Hindu temple in the British Isles formally opens in Slough. The London department store Whiteleys closes, after 107 years in business. Last manufacture of coal gas, at Millport, Isle of Cumbrae. Perrier Comedy Awards first presented to the best shows on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Suzuki, the Japanese manufacturer famous for producing motorcycles, imports passenger cars to the United Kingdom for the first time. The first model sold in Britain is the entry level Alto, with the SJ four wheel drive set to go on sale in 1982. In spite of the continued rise in unemployment, the British economy improved with 1.8% overall growth for the year compared to 3% overall contraction in 1980. New car sales in the United Kingdom fall to just over 1.4 million. The Ford Cortina enjoys its 10th year as Britain's best selling car since 1967, while the new front wheel drive Ford Escort is close behind in second place. British Leyland's new Metro is Britain's fourth most popular new car with nearly 100,000 sales. The Datsun Cherry, eighth in the sales charts, is the most popular foreign car in Britain this year.

Alasdair Gray's novel Lanark: A Life in Four Books. Terry Pratchett's novel Strata. Salman Rushdie's novel Midnight's Children. D. M. Thomas' novel The White Hotel. Roger Hargreaves' children's book Little Miss Bossy, first of the Little Miss series (the female counterpart to the Mr. Men series).