Since Attlee & Churchill

Matters of Interest: The King’s Christianity & Tony Blair’s Socialism

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Lee kicks off this mid-week episode by sharing how annoyed he was by criticisms of the King’s Christian faith, or apparent lack of it, from some people on the right. In particular, he focuses on how a small number of self-described ‘conservatives’ have turned on the King and the monarchy - and asks what they are really trying to achieve with their attacks. Next, Richard engages with the challenge that Tony Blair, who Richard described as a ‘Christian socialist’ in our last Sunday episode, isn’t a socialist at all. Could Blair be said to fit into the longstanding ethical socialist tradition?

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Since Attlee & Churchill is a podcast about post-war British politics - since Attlee & Churchill - and is hosted by Lee David Evans, an historian of the Conservative Party, and Richard Johnson, an historian of the Labour Party.

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Which post-war PMs were most influenced by Christianity?

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In a special Easter Sunday episode, Lee and Richard discuss two of the most religiously observant, and theologically curious, post-war prime ministers: Harold Macmillan and Tony Blair. Macmillan's teenage years were riddled with crises of faith which left him on the brink of converting to Catholicism. Yet he remained a devout Anglican whose interest in matters of God and the church persisted throughout his life. Blair's university years were similarly influenced by Christianity and Richard argues he became one of the most, if not the most, religious Prime Ministers of the past century. If that's the case, how did his faith influence his politics? And what lay behind his decision, after being Prime Minister, to convert to Catholicism?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The Warden' by Anthony Trollope. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780199665440

'The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America' by Daniel Shea & Nicholas Jacobs. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780231218573

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Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

***

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Matters of Interest: Prime Ministers' Sense of History and Government by WhatsApp

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this mid-week episode, Richard discusses how Keir Starmer appears to be unmoored from the history of the office he holds. How concerned should we be about that? And which of his predecessors could he take inspiration from to be a more historically literate leader? Next, Lee wonders what the Morgan McSweeney phone story tells us about how internal government communications operate - do their ways of working serve the government, public or future historians well?

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Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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***

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Was this the most talented Labour leadership election ever?

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In the second part of their miniseries on the transition of power from Harold Wilson to Jim Callaghan, Richard and Lee discuss the remarkably talented field of candidates who sought the lease of Number 10 Downing Street in 1976. The incumbent Foreign Secretary, Jim Callaghan, Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins, and Chancellor, Denis Healey, were joined by Michael Foot, Tony Benn and Anthony Crosland. So, how did the contest unfold?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The Dream Shall Never Die: 100

Days that Changed Scotland Forever' by Alex Salmond. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780008139773

'God In Number 10: The Personal Faith of the Prime Ministers from Balfour to Blair' by Mark Vickers. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780281087280

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Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

***

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Matters of Interest: What next for the Lib Dems? & Unpacking Policy Diffusion

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this mid-week episode, Lee wonders where the Lib Dems will go from here. Can Ed Davey find a compelling and coherent policy agenda? And will his MPs be happy to be led by a man whose prominence, so far at least, rests on gimmickry? Next, Richard discusses the ‘California effect’ and the ‘Delaware effect’, exploring how policies set in one state can influence those in another. They conclude the podcast by considering what lessons we can learn from this in the UK.

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Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

***

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Why did Harold Wilson resign when he did?

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In the first episode of a new two-part miniseries, Richard and Lee discuss the 1976 transition of power from Harold Wilson to Jim Callaghan.

First, they consider the why, when and how of Wilson's resignation. The news that he would be resigning as Prime Minister shocked Westminster and the wider world - so what explains Wilson's decision to leave when he did? And as one of the few post-war PMs not to be bundled out the door by the judgement of his party or the electorate, could Wilson's departure be considered a triumph?

In the next episode, Lee and Richard will turn to the race to replace Wilson - arguably the most impressive leadership election ever.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'How Not to Be a Political Wife' by Sarah Vine. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780008746575

'Gordon Brown: Power with Purpose' by James Macintyre. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781526673411

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Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

***

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Matters of Interest: ‘Local’ MPs & Approaches to Inequality

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this mid-week episode of Since Attlee & Churchill, Lee and Richard weigh in on the debate, triggered by comments from William Hague, that we risk creating a pipeline of MPs who are more focused on being a local representative than a national leader. Is that fair? And are the two actually mutually exclusive? Next, they discuss whether inequality is the natural way of societies operating and what it would mean to reduce inequality - with Richard arguing that doing so, in order for people to flourish with their different personal strengths, is key.

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Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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***

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How did Attlee & Churchill get on with each other?

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Lee and Richard discuss the namesakes of the podcast - Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee. They consider their differences and similarities; how they worked together during the Second World War; and also how they opposed each other for the ten years they spent on opposite sides of the Commons after Victory in Europe day. The episode concludes by wondering what lessons modern politicians can learn from these two titans of post-war British politics.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

‘Attlee's Great Contemporaries: The Politics of Character’ edited by Frank Field. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780826432247

'Swimming in the Dark' by Tomasz Jedrowski. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781526604989

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Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

***

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Matters of Interest: Heritage in Flames & the Perils of Economic Orthodoxy

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In their mid-week instalment, Richard and Lee discuss issues that have caught their eye this week. Firstly, the problem of historic buildings, like Union Corner in Glasgow, burning down - and what we should do in response. Protect them? Rebuild them? Or move on? Next, Lee and Richard discuss how economic orthodoxies are often used to narrow the range of political debate and consider if it’s possible to break out from the assumptions that have defined British political economy in recent decades - and what might be gained if we did.

Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchill

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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***

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How did the Brighton bomb change British politics?

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

The bomb planted by the IRA at the Grand Hotel in Brighton in 1984 is one of the near-misses in British political history. Its target, Margaret Thatcher and her Cabinet, all survived, but 5 people died and 33 people were injured. How did the bomb get into the hotel? What damage did it cause? And how did these dramatic and murderous events change British politics? Lee and Richard discuss in this latest episode.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Attlee and Churchill: Allies in War, Adversaries in Peace' by Leo McKinstry. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781848876613

'Defying Dixie: The Radical Roots of Civil Rights, 1919-1950' by Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780393335323

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Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

***

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Matters of Interest: Denmark’s Migration Management & Britain’s Voting Rights

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this mid-week Matters of Interest, Richard discusses how the Danish Social Democrats, a party once confronted with losing its historic working-class base, re-oriented itself to maintain their traditional supporters. What lessons could Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party learn from its Scandi counterparts? And Lee reflects on Reform UK’s policy announcement, after the Gorton & Denton by-election, that only British citizens should be able to vote in UK Parliamentary elections. Is this reaction to by-election defeat the right one?

Joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon offers ad-free listening and bonus episodes, among other perks, and is also a great way to support the production of the podcast. Find out more at https://www.patreon.com/cw/SinceAttleeAndChurchill

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

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***

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How did Theresa May become Britain’s most pro-LGBT Prime Minister?

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Having started life as a vicar’s daughter, and casting socially conservative votes in her first years as a Member of Parliament, by the mid-2000s Theresa May had begun embracing the cause of LGBT rights. As party chairman, she recognised the Conservative campaign group for homosexual equality, and then as Home Secretary and Prime Minister she embraced a range of policies advocated for by gay and trans rights groups. Why did May go on this journey? And what impact did it have on government and the country? Lee and Richard discuss in this episode.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'A source book of Conservatism' by Geoffrey D. M. Block

'Statecraft: Policies and Politics under Prime Minister Theresa May. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9783031324741

Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchill

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

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Matters of Interest: From ‘Remainer’ to ‘Leaver’ & Cameras in the Commons

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this mid-week episode, Lee discusses an article he recently wrote for The Telegraph in which he set out why he has gone from being a ‘Remainer’ in the 2016 referendum to firmly committed to Britain staying out of Europe. And Richard offers his views on the recent debate about TV cameras in the Commons - are they really the cause of the alleged decline in Parliamentary speech-making? Or is the wrong culprit being blamed?

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Was the Poll Tax really such a bad idea?

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

The Poll Tax is one of the defining policy failures in post-war British politics - almost universally dismissed as unfair and often credited with bringing down Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister. In this week's episode, Lee and Richard talk about the old 'rates' system that Thatcher sought to replace; the gestation of the idea of introducing the poll tax; and how the public and political backlash rocked Thatcher's last years as Prime Minister.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Liberalizing Lynching: Building a New Racialized State' by Daniel Kato. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780190232573

'The Road to the Scottish Parliament' by Brian Taylor. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780748617593

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Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

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Matters of Interest: Refurbishing Parliament & the Value of Voting Lobbies

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this midweek episode, Lee and Richard focus on the Palace of Westminster. First, Lee raises the staggering timescales and price tags proposed for refurbishing Parliament. Are either of the plans acceptable to Parliamentarians or the public? He thinks not. Next, Richard shares some evidence he recently submitted on the importance of voting in lobbies in the British Parliament - and what would be lost if it was swapped for voting in the chamber or, worse, remotely.

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How much power did Marcia Williams have over Harold Wilson?

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In recent weeks political advisors - especially those who have departed Keir Starmer's Downing Street - have never been out of the headlines. In this episode, Lee asks Richard about one of the most famous, celebrated and criticised political advisors in post-war politics: Marcia Williams. Having first met Harold Wilson when she was just in her 20s, she remained by the Labour Prime Minister's side until the end of his political life. What was the true nature of their relationship? Did they have an affair? And how did she become so invaluable to Wilson? Those questions, and more, are discussed in this episode.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Wyndham and Children First' by Lord Egremont.

'Making Do: Britons and the Refashioning of the Postwar World' by Susan Carruthers. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781009464284

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Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

***

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Matters of Interest: ‘Caretaker’ Prime Ministers & Political Promises

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this week's Matters of Interest, Richard explores what would happen if Keir Starmer didn't just announce he was going resign, but actually resigned as Prime Minister before a new Labour leader was chosen. The Labour rulebook says one thing, but the British constitution might have other ideas! Then Lee raises political promises and governing reality - including whether or nor our politicians are actually willing to deliver the sorts of policies that would make their rhetoric come true.

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Does the Profumo scandal deserve its infamy?

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Throughout the past week, frequent reference has been made to the Profumo affair, the benchmark for scandal and outrage in post-war British politics. But what was it? How did it unfold? And does it really deserve its infamous status? In this episode, Lee and Richard look back to the misjudgements of the Secretary of State for War John Profumo in 1961 and how it imploded in 1963 - ruining his career, the lives of many others, and arguably even bringing down the government.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'What Comes Naturally: Miscegenation Law and the Making of Race in America' by Peggy Pascoe. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780199772353

'The Gathering Storm' by Winston Churchill. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780141441726

Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchill

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

***

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Matters of Interest: Triggering Labour Leadership Elections & the PM's Travels

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this mid-week episode, Lee and Richard debate how Labour MPs can trigger a challenge (and maybe even bring about the downfall) of Sir Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader. After disagreeing, they invite rebellious Labour MPs to settle the matter once and for all. They then discuss the Prime Minister's travels, with both defending him from the attack that he is 'Never Here Keir' before exploring what his travel itinerary says about the government and its priorities for Britain in the world.

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What did the first Labour government achieve?

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, Lee & Richard look a little further back than usual to discuss the very first Labour government. Ramsay MacDonald 'kissed hands' upon his appointment as Prime Minister after Stanley Baldwin gambled his premiership on a snap election and lost the Conservatives' majority. But even so, Labour didn't have a majority of their own - and weren't even the largest party. So how did MacDonald become Prime Minister? What did his government achieve? How long did it last? And does this government have a legacy worth celebrating?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Waiting for the Wave: The Reform Party and the Conservative Movement' by Tom Flanagan

'Britain’s First Labour Government' by John Shepherd & Keith Laybourn

Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchill

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

***

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Matters of Interest: What's the point of PMQs?

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In a follow-up to the last episode on the history of Prime Minister's Questions, Lee and Richard discuss how Parliament's biggest weekly event works today. What types of questions do MPs ask - and what do they expect to achieve with them? What are the opportunities and risks for party leaders? And is it really true that the public hate the theatrical, adversarial nature of PMQs? Richard and Lee attempt to answer those questions, and more.

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What's the history of Prime Minister's Questions?

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

After a special visit to the House of Commons to watch PMQs, Lee and Richard discuss the long history of MPs interrogating the Prime Minister and how its evolved through the premierships of William Gladstone, Harold Macmillan, Jim Callaghan, Tony Blair and others. They finish by reflecting on who performed best in the format - and who flopped. On Wednesday, the next Matters of Interest will consider whether PMQs really matters, what its role is, if its unique to Britain and whether proposals for reform have any merit.

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In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

''The Last Leonardo: A Masterpiece, a Mystery and the Dirty World of Art' by Ben Lewis. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780008313449

'Heroes and Contemporaries' by Jonathan Aitken

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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Matters of Interest: The Risks of Being a 'Traitor' & Uncovering Party Members

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this mid-week episode of Since Attlee & Churchill, Richard shares his insights on whether, throughout history, it's paid off to be a 'traitor' by defecting away from your political party or a 'faithful' sticking with it - and finds it typically depends to whom you defect. And Lee discusses some newly published research into who joins our political parties - with surprises about, as well as good and bad news for, almost all of Britain's parties.

You can find the research into party members here: https://esrcpartymembersproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/britains-party-members-bale-et-al.pdf

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

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What lessons can we learn from the longest-lived MP?

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Earlier this year, Sir Patrick Duffy died at the remarkable age of 105. As well as being a long-serving MP, with service in the Commons from the 1960s to the 1990s, Duffy saw politics first-hand from the General Strike of 1926 to the Starmer government of today. In this episode, Richard and Lee discuss his life and sometimes complex politics, reflecting on the lessons we can all learn from his more than a century on this planet.

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In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The Sparrow's Flight' by Lord Hailsham

'Radicals: The Working Classes and the Making of Modern Britain' by Geoff Andrews. Available for pre-order: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780300265897

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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Matters of Interest: Labour's Historic Fight for Jury Trials & Badenoch's Barons

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this mid-week episode of Since Attlee & Churchill, Richard puts David Lammy's reforms to jury trials into the historic context of the Labour movement's fight for more trials by jury. And Lee comments on the approach Kemi Badenoch is taking to recruiting new members of the House of Lords - and commends her focus on creating interesting peers rather than satisfying short-term party political challenges.

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What happened when the Queen and six of her Prime Ministers met for dinner?

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

One of the most iconic pictures in post-war British politics sees six Prime Ministers - Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, Jim Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher - all standing alongside the Queen. The occasion was one of Elizabeth II's rare visits to Number 10 Downing Street, on this occasion marking 250 years since the house became the official residence of the Prime Minister. In this episode, Lee and Richard discuss the remarkable night they were all reunited and consider what the Queen's various prime ministers were up to in the mid-1980s.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' by Peter Just. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781785909207

'Time and Chance' by James Callaghan

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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Matters of Interest: Live Q&A

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In a special live recording, held at The Clement Attlee pub in Limehouse, London, Lee & Richard were joined by 50 listeners to toast the first year of the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast, share a birthday cake, and answer questions in their first ever live Q&A. Topics ranged from who is the best junior minister in post-war history to Britain's most toxic prime minister - via the most asked question of all: is the two-party system over? Thanks to everyone who joined in to celebrate the first year of the podcast. Here's to another year chewing over delightful morsels of British political history!

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The Heath vs Wilson Elections (Episode 4 of 4): The October 1974 General Election

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In the final instalment of their miniseries on the Heath vs Wilson elections, Lee and Richard look back on the October 1974 contest. After a frantic six months in office, Labour's Harold Wilson goes back to the country in search of a majority and a mandate to govern. Everything seems to be going well for him, but has enough changed since the people last voted for them to meaningfully change their verdict? Meanwhile Edward Heath, the Conservative leader, is hoping the second election of the year gives him a second chance with the voters.

In this episode, the following books are discussed:

'Britannia Bright's Bewilderment in the Wilderness of Westminster' by Clive James

'Making Sense of the Troubles: A History of the Northern Ireland Conflict' by David McKittrick & David McVea. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780241962657

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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Matters of Interest: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Richard and Lee mark the new year by looking back on the key events of 2025 that they expect to influence what happens in the year ahead. From Keir Starmer's decision to stick by Rachel Reeves to the removal of the hereditary peers from the House of Lords - via Nigel Farage's continuing centralised leadership style, Kemi Badenoch's growing confidence as Leader of the Opposition, and more.

Happy new year!

***

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The Heath vs Wilson Elections (Episode 3 of 4): The February 1974 General Election

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In the latest instalment of their miniseries on the Heath vs Wilson elections, Lee and Richard consider Edward Heath's gamble on a general election in February 1974. Having u-turned on the policy agenda that got him elected in 1970 and run into intractable issues with the trade unions - leading to a state of emergency and energy rationing - Heath could see few better options than calling an election. But throughout the campaign it becomes clear that he doesn't really have a plan for overcoming the crisis, win or lose. Does the public think bringing back Harold Wilson would be a step in the right direction? Or are they beginning to look elsewhere, beyond the two major parties?

In this episode, the following books are discussed:

'Downing Street in Perspective' by Marcia Falkender

'The Spicer Diares' by Michael Spicer

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

The last few tickets are available for the 1st Birthday Party of the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast, featuring a live recording. Find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/since-attlee-churchills-1st-birthday-party-tickets-1978627898307

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Matters of Interest: Our Politicians at Christmas

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In a special Christmas edition of Since Attlee & Churchill, Lee and Richard have been searching through diaries, memoirs and other historical sources to find out how our politicians spend Christmas - and what some of them have contributed to our understanding of a traditional British Christmas. Featuring Ramsay MacDonald, Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan, Tony Benn, Jim Callaghan, Barbara Castle, Margaret Thatcher and more.

We wish you all a very happy Christmas.

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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The Heath vs Wilson Elections (Episode 2 of 4): The 1970 General Election

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:16:24 GMT

In part two of their miniseries on the Heath vs Wilson elections, Lee and Richard delve into the second of the contests fought between the pair. In May 1970, incumbent Prime Minister Harold Wilson asked the Queen for a dissolution of Parliament, judging it was his best opportunity to win a third successive election for Labour. Almost everyone expected Wilson to triumph. But when the votes were cast, Edward Heath and the Conservatives came out on top. How did it happen? And why did the polls and political commentators misjudge the views of the British people?

In this episode, the following books are discussed:

'Downing Street Downfalls: The Misadventures of Britain's Prime Ministers Since Thatcher' by Mark Garnett. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781788218696

'Original Sin: President Biden's decline, its cover-up, and his disastrous choice to run again' by Alex Thompson & Jake Tapper. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781529155488

Tickets are now available for the 1st Birthday Party of the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast, featuring a live recording. Find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/since-attlee-churchills-1st-birthday-party-tickets-1978627898307

***

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Matters of Interest: Burnham's Path to Parliament & Do Parties Need to Make Pacts?

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In this week's Matters of Interest, Richard considers whether the Labour Party's internal rules - especially the power of the National Executive Committee over Parliamentary selections - could stand in the way of Andy Burnham's triumphant return to Parliament. And Lee considers whether the changing electoral landscape of Britain means parties no longer need to really make pacts with one another, because the voters are effectively doing it for them.

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

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The Heath vs Wilson Elections (Episode 1 of 4): The 1966 General Election

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Lee and Richard are starting a brand new mini-series looking at some of the most dramatic and consequential general elections in post-war history: the four contests fought between Conservative leader Edward Heath and Labour leader Harold Wilson between 1966 and 1974. In this episode, they discuss Wilson's gamble on a snap election in March 1966. Boosted by a recent by-election win, Wilson thought it would be the perfect moment to seize the initiative and win a big majority. How did the campaign unfold - and did Wilson get the result he hoped for?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemingway. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780099273967

'White Identity Politics' by Ashley Jardina. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781108468602

***

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Matters of Interest: Expelling Peers & the Lib Dems

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In this Week's Matters of Interest, Richard suggests that the use of the royal prerogative to deprive Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his titles of nobility might have inadvertently set a precedent for allowing prime ministers to eject troublesome members from the House of Lords without legislation. And Lee raises the strategy and success of the Lib Dems. Both Lee and Richard have experience of fighting against Britain's traditional third party, but what do they think of how the Lib Dems got to where they are today - and what the future holds?

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

Buying your books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

***

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How did Jeremy Corbyn win the Labour leadership?

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 17:10:27 GMT

In this week's episode, Lee and Richard discuss one of the most dramatic events in Labour history: the emergence of Jeremy Corbyn, a man who had never before sat on the front bench, as the landslide winner of the party leadership. It's a story that covers the fallout of the Iraq war and reforms to Labour's leadership rules, Ed Miliband's decision to resign the leadership straight after election defeat and Andy Burnham's following of the Labour whip on Tory welfare measures. So, how did it unfold - and what were the consequences?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'A Scandal in Konigsberg' by Christopher Clark. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780241767887

'The House of Lords' by John Wells. Available at: https://amzn.to/3XIWGN4

***

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Matters of Interest: Grounds for Resignation & Badenoch's Big Week

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Richard kicks off this episode by looking at the reasons why ministers have resigned historically and what has prompted people to leave government since Labour came into office last year. Lee and Richard then debate whether politicians should rethink what constitutes grounds for resignation - either to make it more, or less, likely. Next, Lee discusses the most important week so far of Kemi Badenoch's leadership of the Conservative Party and considers what it means for the Conservatives, their fight for survival, and how they will try to return to government.

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

Buying your books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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Did the 1981 Budget really transform Britain's economy?

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 17:00:00 GMT

As we've just had a Budget in the UK, Lee and Richard look back to one of the most famous - and controversial - Budgets in post-war British politics: the 1981 Budget delivered by Geoffrey Howe in Margaret Thatcher's first term as Prime Minister. This Budget provoked a furious backlash among some Conservatives as well as most of the economic establishment. But by luck or by judgement it marked the turning point in Britain's economic fortunes in the 1980s.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House' by Amie Parnes & Jonathan Allen. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780063438644

'Wilt' by Tom Sharpe. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780099435488

***

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Matters of Interest: Removing the Labour Leader & Volatile Local Elections

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:00:00 GMT

This week, Richard delves into the Labour rulebook to explain the latest rumours of an attempt to remove Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader; and Lee looks at the extraordinary volatility of local by-election results which offer good news - and bad - for all of the parties, depending on where you look!

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

Buying your books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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How did Neil Kinnock defeat Militant?

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Neil Kinnock’s showdown with Militant Tendency at the 1985 Labour conference is one of the standout moments of his Labour leadership - and of the entire history - of the Labour Party. In this week's episode, Lee and Richard explore the history of ginger groups in the Labour Party; how Militant established themselves in Liverpool in the early 1980s; and how their high-stakes fight with Thatcher's government became a totemic moment for Kinnock and his leadership.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The Smallest Room in the House: 50 political oddities to read in more than one sitting' by Philip Cowley. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781785909702

'Rust Belt Union Blues: Why Working-Class Voters Are Turning Away from the Democratic Party' by Lainey Newman & Theda Skocpol. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780231218795

***

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Matters of Interest: Refurbishing Number 10 & The Crisis of Reading

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In the latest Matters of Interest, Richard tears apart the complaints made by some employees in government about the condition of Number 10 Downing Street, opening up a discussion about the refurbishments of the building over the years and the power of Number 10 versus other government departments. Then Lee takes issue with a recent report about different types of 'reading' - including digital reading and audiobooks - and makes the case for books as the pinnacle of literacy.

Buying your books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit our store: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

***

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Who achieved 'the most significant by-election success ever’?

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In this week's podcast, Richard and Lee are joined by historian Tom Chidwick to discuss the life and times of Dick Taverne. In the early 1970s, the Labour MP for Lincoln was deselected by his party over Europe; in response, he resigned his seat and stood in a spectacular by-election. When voters went to the polls, Taverne achieved what John Curtice has called 'the most significant by-election success ever’. Why was he deselected? How did he win? And what were the longer-term consequences for Taverne - and British politics?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Can the Welfare State Survive?' by Andrew Gamble. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780745698748

'Gladstone' by Roy Jenkins. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781509868292

***

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Matters of Interest: BBC Neutrality & Net Zero

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In their regular mid-week episode, Lee and Richard clash on the current scandal engulfing the BBC before Richard shares some anonymous correspondence from the heart of Whitehall, exposing some of the challenges we face in being an effectively-governed nation.

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

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How did war shape our politicians?

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In this episode, released on Remembrance Sunday, Lee and Richard discuss four titanic politicians of the twentieth century shaped by their experience of war. Clement Attlee and Harold Macmillan both served with distinction in the First World War, and Denis Healey and Edward Heath in the Second. This podcast looks at what their contribution to the war looked like - including their many brushes with death - before reflecting on the significance of their service on their political lives.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The British General Election of 2019' by multiple authors. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9783030742560

'The Land in Winter' by Andrew Miller. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781529354300

***

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Matters of Interest: Politicians Changing Names & Funding Political Parties

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In this week's Matters of Interest, Richard shares some remarkable examples of leading British politicians who have chosen not to go by the name they were given at birth. Who did it? And why? Then Lee discusses the recent reforms to political donations in Australia, with a lively discussion about the need for - and the pitfalls of - reforming the way we fund our political parties.

Did you know that there is a Since Attlee & Churchill Substack, including bonus podcasts? Find it here: https://www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com/

Buying your books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

***

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How did the MPs' expenses scandal unfold?

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, Lee and Richard discuss the biggest political scandal of a generation: the publication of MPs' expenses in 2009. Reported on by the Daily Telegraph after the sensational leak of over a million and a half documents from Parliament, the scandal captured the attention of the nation. From duck houses to moat cleaning, phantom mortgages to packets of biscuits - every detail seemed to fascinate the public and provoke fury towards MPs. How did it unfold? Was it as bad as it seemed? And are we still living with the consequences today?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The Conservative Party After Brexit' by Tim Bale. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781509546015

'No Expenses Spared' by Robert Winnett & Gordon Rayner. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781409093664

***

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Matters of Interest: The size of the Civil Service, Digital ID & Compulsory Voting

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In this week's Matters of Interest, Richard reflects on the historic size of the Civil Service and considers whether Reform's plan to reduce it is really the solution to getting things done in Britain. Lee thinks back to the noughties when Labour last tried to introduce ID cards and asks what Keir Starmer could learn from Tony Blair. And the pair discuss - and disagree! - on whether compulsory voting is a good idea.

Visit the Since Attlee & Churchill bookshop to find books recently discussed on the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

***

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Why was Britain absent from the EU's beginning?

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In this week's podcast, we discuss one of the most important forks in the road in Britain's post-war history: when Clement Attlee's Labour government refused to take part in discussions on the Schuman Plan, which would become the European Coal and Steel Community and ultimately evolve into the European Union. What motivated their decision? Was it Germanophobia, or a devotion to socialism? And did their decision mean that European integration was set on a course that meant Britain could never truly be happy as part of the European project? We discuss these questions - and more!

In this podcast, the following books are mentioned:

'The Death of Consensus: 100 Years of British Political Nightmares' by Phil Tinline. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781805260356

'Another England: How to Reclaim Our National Story' by Caroline Lucas. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781804941591

More generally, buying your books via the Since Attlee & Churchill page on Bookshop.org is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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Matters of Interest: 'Are the old Political Parties over?' & Thatcher's Legacy

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Richard kicks off this week's 'Matters of Interest' episode by discussing whether the old political parties in Britain - the Conservatives and Labour - are dying, changing, or simply finding they have new competitors vying for power. Lee focuses on the question of Margaret Thatcher's legacy, one he is keen to defend - and Richard even keener to condemn.

Visit the Since Attlee & Churchill bookshop to find books recently discussed on the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

***

Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchill

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Did Margaret Thatcher have to resign as Prime Minister?

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 16:00:00 GMT

October 2025 marks 100 years since the birth of Margaret Thatcher. In this week's podcast, Lee and Richard discuss the dramatic events that came in her sixty-sixth year: her downfall as Prime Minister. Why did she resign after eleven and a half years in Number 10? Could she have fought on? And if she had stayed in power, would she have won the 1991/2 general election? Listen to find out their answers to these questions - and more.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The World We Have Lost' by Peter Laslett. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780367705329

'The Man Who Was Thursday' by G. K. Chesterton. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781513271842

***

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Matters of Interest: Political Awareness, Party Memberships & Public Loos

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:00:00 GMT

This week, Lee and Richard discuss whether the public really pay attention to politics - with Lee challenging the shibboleth of some political commentators that very few people really pay attention to what is going on in Westminster. They also discuss party memberships, following news that the Lib Dem membership has halved in the last five years. And Richard shares his thoughts on the importance of free-to-use toilets in public spaces, in a discussion that ranges from the London Underground to Japan via one of Barbara Castle's first ever political campaigns.

Since Attlee & Churchill Substack, featuring bonus podcasts: https://www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com/

Since Attlee & Churchill bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

***

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Was Barbara Castle Labour's Iron Lady?

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 16:00:00 GMT

115 years ago this week, one of Labour's most iconic politicians was born. Barbara Castle grew up in Yorkshire before attending Oxford University and becoming a Labour MP in 1945. For over three decades, she was one of the best-known MPs in the country and one of the most forceful advocates for socialism. In this episode, Lee interviews Richard about Castle's life and achievements and Richard explains why she is his favourite Labour politician of all time.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'A Year with Gilbert White' by Jenny Uglow. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780571354184

'The Castle Diaries 1964-1976' by Barbara Castle. Available at: https://amzn.to/4732K78

Did you know there is also a Since Attlee & Churchill Substack? Find it at: https://www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com/

***

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Matters of Interest: Tory Conference, ECHR & Churchill's Boozy Prescription

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Throughout the month of October, Lee and Richard are experimenting with mid-week editions of Matters of Interest. In this first episode, Lee returns from Conservative Party Conference and shares his thoughts on Margaret Thatcher's legacy and the Tories' newly announced policies. And Richard discovers an almost century-old prescription given to Winston Churchill by an American doctor, which reveals a great deal about what it was like to live (and be treated) in America under prohibition.

Since Attlee & Churchill Substack, featuring bonus podcasts: https://www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com/

Since Attlee & Churchill bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

***

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The Crucible of Conference (Episode 2 of 2): The Conservatives' 2005 Party Conference

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In the second part of their miniseries on consequential party conferences, Richard and Lee discuss the Conservatives' 2005 gathering in Blackpool. In the wake of their third successive election defeat, Tories gathered on the Fylde coast to mull over the choice of leader. The front-runner at the start of proceedings would bomb on the conference stage and a little known MP would emerge as the leader-in-waiting - setting him on course to the party leadership and 10 Downing Street.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Looking for Rights in All the Wrong Places' by Emily Zackin. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780691155784

'The Past Masters' by Harold Macmillan. Available at: https://amzn.to/4gZ2N8M

***

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The Crucible of Conference (Episode 1 of 2): Labour's 1952 Party Conference

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:00:00 GMT

With party conference season underway, Lee and Richard begin a new two-part miniseries discussing some of the most consequential Labour and Conservative conferences in the post-war era. First up is Labour's 1952 conference in Morecambe. Amidst pelting rain, Britain's socialists gathered in opposition for the first time in over a decade. The party was deeply split over its own record in government and its future direction - with combustible speeches and outrageous heckling dominating the proceedings in the hall.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Our Evenings' by Alan Hollinghurst. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781447208242

'Athelstan: The Making of England' by Tom Holland. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780141987330

***

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Why did John Major resign (and then stand again for) the Tory leadership?

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In June 1995, John Major shocked the political world by resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party. But in the very next sentence of his resignation statement, he confirmed that he would be standing to be his own successor. Why? What did he hope to achieve? Who stood against him? And what were the consequences? We look back 30 years to these dramatic political events and ask what lessons other political leaders, including Keir Starmer, could learn from them.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The Rage of Party' by George Owers. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781408719091

'Making Americans' by Desmond King. Available at: https://amzn.to/4mAIJe9

***

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Labour Lives Cut Short (Episode 3 of 3): John Smith

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 16:00:00 GMT

We conclude our miniseries on the Labour politicians whose lives came to premature ends with John Smith. After spending his early life practising law in Scotland, Smith served in the Wilson and Callaghan governments before 1979. In opposition, he was never far from the action - and in 1992 was chosen overwhelmingly to lead the Labour Party. Yet after just 22 months in charge, he died of a heart attack. How different would Labour, and Britain, have been if he lived? We think very, very different indeed...

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'British By-Elections 1769–2025: The 88 By-Election Campaigns That Shaped Our Politics' edited by Iain Dale. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781785909788

'The Secret Life of Special Advisers' by Peter Cardwell. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781785907395

***

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Labour Lives Cut Short (Episode 2 of 3): Anthony Crosland

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In part two of our mini-series looking at the Labour politicians whose lives came to tragic and premature ends, we turn to Anthony Crosland. Having established himself as one of the lighthouses of socialist thinking in Britain, Crosland became a senior minister in the Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan governments. He left his mark wherever he went, including his fierce attacks on grammar schools. Crosland died, unexpectedly, of a stroke whilst serving as Foreign Secretary. But was that the limit of his potential? Or could he have gone on to lead the Labour Party - even to defeat Margaret Thatcher and become Prime Minister?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Singing the Blues: 30 Years Of Tory Civil War' by John Redwood. Available at: https://amzn.to/4p6XN5L

'SDP: The Birth, Life, and Death of the Social Democratic Party' by Ivor Crewe & Anthony King. Available at: https://amzn.to/4mRAUSk

***

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Labour Lives Cut Short (Episode 1 of 3): Hugh Gaitskell

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Richard and Lee begin a new mini-series looking at the Labour politicians whose lives came to tragic and premature ends, starting with Hugh Gaitskell. After becoming Chancellor just five years into his time as an MP, Gaitskell became the flagbearer for the Labour Right and, in 1955, the successor to Clement Attlee. His first meeting with the voters ended in defeat, but in 1963 he looked to be on the precipice of power. Then his health failed him. How did Gaitskell die? Would he have won the 1964 election? And would a Gaitskell premiership have been different to a Harold Wilson one? Lee and Richard delve into these questions - and more!

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Friends And Rivals: Crosland, Jenkins and Healey' by Giles Radice. Available at: https://amzn.to/4lW4SDt

'Poland: A history' by Adam Zamoyski. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780007556212

***

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How did Churchill use Chartwell to change the course of history?

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 16:00:00 GMT

For this episode, Lee and Richard are joined by Katherine Carter, the curator of Chartwell, Churchill's country home, and the best-selling author of 'Churchill's Citadel'. Their discussion ranges from Churchill's decision to buy a semi-ruined home in rural Kent to the remarkable cast of characters - from Britain and around the world - that he invited to meet with him there. Throughout Churchill's wilderness years the connections he forged, and the information that was shared at Chartwell, changed the course of British history.

Katherine's book, 'Churchill's Citadel', is available now in paperback: https://amzn.to/45Z6hnJ

In this podcast, the following books are mentioned:

'London is the Place for Me: Black Britons, Citizenship and the Politics of Race' by Kennetta Hammond Perry. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780190909949

'How not to be a political wife' by Sarah Vine. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780008746575

***

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"Alice, who the **** is Alice?"

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Alice Mahon may not be a well-remembered figure today, but for 18 years she served as MP for Halifax. In this episode, Lee and Richard discuss how this working class Yorkshirewoman entered the House of Commons and how her left-wing politics were received in Tony Blair's Labour Party. In doing so, they reflect on Blair's style of party management - in which left-wingers like Mahon were tolerated - and how it contrasts with Sir Keir Starmer's approach today. The episode finishes by asking whether, as Mahon apparently claimed, she was the inspiration for the Smokey song 'Living next door to Alice.'

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Shattered Nation: Inequality and the Geography of A Failing State' by Danny Dorling.

'The Man Who Was Saturday: The Extraordinary Life of Airey Neave' by Patrick Bishop.

***

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Bonus: What was it like working for Ted Heath?

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In a special bonus episode to mark 25,000 downloads of the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast, Lee and Richard interview Dr Mark Garnett, a renowned historian of the Conservative Party and researcher for Ted Heath on the former prime minister’s memoirs. They discuss Heath’s approach to writing his much-anticipated autobiography; his ideology; how he came to terms with Thatcherism; and why he stayed around in the House of Commons for so long - a full 26 years after he lost the Tory leadership in 1975.

About Mark Garnett

Mark is a political historian. He is the author of biographies of Keith Joseph and Willie Whitelaw, among other prominent post-war politicians, and has written on a wide range of political matters. He is the co-author of Keeping the Red Flag Flying, a history of the Labour Party in opposition, and has recently published books on Conservatism and the prime ministership.

***

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Whatever happened to the Young Conservatives?

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In 1949, the Young Conservatives boasted 160,000 members. They were the largest political youth organisation in the free world. Their social events were iconic and thousands of marriages, it was said, had been formed after encounters at Young Conservative committee meetings or balls. But by the mid-1960s, the organisation was declining; by the 1980s, it was in freefall. So what happened to the Young Conservatives? And can the Tories, or any other party, engage young people once again as members?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors' by Matt Chorley. Available at: https://amzn.to/4gJ10of

'Ruling the Void: The Hollowing of Western Democacy' by Peter Mair. Available at: https://amzn.to/4gEUv5P

***

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Was 'Black Wednesday' actually a good day for Britain?

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Black Wednesday, also known as the Sterling Crisis of 1992, is one of the most traumatic events in Britain's post-war economic history. It left Britain looking devalued and powerless compared to the economic powerhouse of Germany, whilst for John Major and his government it was a blow to their economic credibility from which they would never recover. But was it actually a bad day for Britain? And what was its legacy as Britain thought about joining the Euro, and eventually leaving the European Union, in the years ahead? Lee and Richard discuss this, and more, in this week's episode.

The special bonus episode of Since Attlee & Churchill on the 1955 election is available now. Click here to listen: https://www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com/p/bonus-podcast-the-1955-general-election

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Trials of the State: Law and the Decline of Politics' by Jonathan Sumption

'Thatcher' by Clare Beckett

***

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The Attlee vs Churchill Elections (Episode 3 of 3): The 1951 General Election

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The third and final instalment of a special mini-series on the Attlee versus Churchill elections turns to the 1951 general election. In some respects, it was a repeat of the contest 20 months earlier - similar candidates, similar ideas, and a similar number of votes for both parties. But due to the workings of the electoral system, it gave the Conservatives and Winston Churchill a small majority in the House of Commons. Could Clement Attlee have avoided this election, or the defeat which brought to an end six years of Labour government? Lee and Richard discuss - and often disagree!

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'A prime minister remembers' by Francis Williams

'Viking Economics' by George Lakey.

***

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The Attlee vs Churchill Elections (Episode 2 of 3): The 1950 General Election

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The 1950 general election, the second contest between Clement Attlee and Winston Churchill, came four and a half years after Labour's landslide victory at the end of the Second World War. In many ways, this election was a referendum on the agenda implemented by Attlee as prime minister, from the NHS to the nationalisation of 20% of the economy. For Winston Churchill, 1950 was an opportunity to try and reclaim power after his shock rejection in 1945. Throughout, there was drama and the laying of the foundations for post-war British politics. In this podcast, Lee and Richard chart the election battle from the party's preparations through to the results and aftermath.

The following books are mentioned in this episode:

'Patrick Gordon Walker: A Political and Family History' by Alan Gordon Walker. Available here: https://amzn.to/3GOvzvd

'The Diary of a Nobody' by George & Weedon Grossmith. Available here: https://amzn.to/459Ob1W

***

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The Attlee vs Churchill Elections (Episode 1 of 3): The 1945 General Election

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The 1945 general election is undeniably one of the key turning points in modern British history. It's also the first of three general elections that the namesakes of this podcast - Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee - fought against each other as leaders of their parties. In this first of three special episodes charting the Attlee vs Churchill elections, Lee and Richard look back at the contest that took place 80 years ago this month - featuring scuffles about when the election should be; rogue radio broadcasts that undermined the Tory campaign; and the curious history of 'Wakes Weeks' which saw polling day delayed in parts of the north and Scotland. The podcasts concludes by reflecting on the enormous consequences of this election for Britain.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Election '45: Reflections on the Revolution in Britain' by Austin Mitchell.

'Conservatism (Short Histories)' by Mark Garnett. Available at: https://amzn.to/4gIhk8T

***

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What happened when Tony Blair cut benefits for single mums?

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In 1997, Tony Blair returned Labour to power with a landslide majority. But many people who hoped for radical change were left disappointed when he announced that Labour would continue with the Tory plan to scrap the Lone Parent Premium, a welfare top up for single parents. Lone parents protested; Labour MPs revolted; and Blair had to decide whether to plough on with the measure or surrender to his backbenchers. In the week after Keir Starmer buckled under pressure from his MPs over the Personal Independent Payment, Lee and Richard look at Blair's approach to a similar dilemma almost three decades ago.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Queen James: The Life and Loves of Britain’s First King' by Gareth Russell. Available at: https://amzn.to/44vEJEN

'Storyteller: The Life of Roald Dahl' by Donald Sturrock. Available at: https://amzn.to/4lcmA5N

***

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What were the Kennedys up to in Britain?

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In this special episode, we're joined by Presidential historian Alvin S. Felzenberg to discuss the rich and complex relationship between the Kennedy clan and the United Kingdom. How did this Irish American family, whose patriarch was appointed American Ambassador to Britain, cope with being in England? How did it shape the young Kennedy children? And what relationship would they, including John F. Kennedy, have with Britain and its leaders in years to come?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Rules of Civility' by Amor Towles. Available at: https://amzn.to/46lXjl3

'Progressively Worse: The Burden of Bad Ideas in British Schools' by Robert Peal. Available at: https://amzn.to/4l2yM9b

***

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Why did Stanley Baldwin secretly donate 20% of his wealth to the nation?

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In 1919, a remarkable letter appeared in The Times. The author had estimated the value of his estate and decided to give 20% of it to the government as a 'thank offering' for the sacrifices made in the First World War. The letter was simply signed 'F.S.T.'. It would be several years before people discovered that the letters stood for 'Financial Secretary to the Treasury', the job held by future Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. In this podcast, Lee and Richard ask how and why Baldwin made this staggering yet secret gift and what it tells us about Britain's much overlooked three-time prime minister.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The Conservative Human Rights Revolution: European Identity, Transnational Politics, and the Origins of the European Convention' by Marco Duranti. Available at: https://amzn.to/46Da89a

'Land of Shame and Glory: Britain 2021–22' by Peter Hennessy. Available at: https://amzn.to/3KnO7DQ

***

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How did 'Women Against the Common Market' try to keep Britain out of Europe?

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In 1970, an eccentric and passionate Eurosceptic campaign group was founded: Women Against the Common Market. Its founder, Anne Kerr (a former Labour MP) was determined to prevent Britain's entry into the European Economic Community and wanted to persuade women to stand with her. Of course, she failed to keep Britain out - and sadly died before she had the chance to make her arguments in the 1975 European referendum. But did she still make an impact? In this podcast, we look back at the dramatic and eye-catching ways in which Kerr and her allies campaigned to keep Britain out of Europe and assess the impact they had.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Yes to Europe! The 1975 Referendum and Seventies Britain' by Robert Saunders. Available at: https://amzn.to/3FB8sUs

'1975 Referendum' by David Butler & Uwe W. Kitzinger. Available at: https://amzn.to/45WzIap

'Baldwin' by Roy Jenkins. Available at: https://amzn.to/3HDWZUC

***

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Was Eden right about Suez after all?

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The 1956 Suez Crisis has gone down as one of the most shameful events in modern British history. After Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal, part owned by the United Kingdom, the British government desperately sought to re-assert its authority. A conspiracy developed with France and Israel to intervene and strike a blow against Nasser. Yet the events ended in disaster, with Britain's reputation in tatters and Prime Minister Anthony Eden's political career cut short. But is our conventional understanding of the Suez crisis correct? Or was Eden right after all?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Between Extremes: Seeking the Political Center in the Civil War North' by Jack Furniss. Available at: https://amzn.to/43BjuSE

'Write to the Point: How to be Clear, Correct and Persuasive on the Page' by Sam Leith. Available at: https://amzn.to/4mNOoyV

***

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Did Labour choose the wrong Miliband brother?

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 16:00:00 GMT

After 13 years in government, the 2010 general election saw Labour ejected from office and on the hunt for a new leader. Curiously, two brothers - David and Ed Miliband - stood against each other in a five-way battle to lead the party. This divisive leadership contest led to accusations of fratricide and, when Ed won, many in Labour conclude that the party had chosen the wrong brother to lead it. Is that fair? In this episode, Richard and Lee look back on the 2010 leadership election and interrogate the decision made by MPs, members and trade unions about who would lead the Labour Party in opposition.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Ed: The Milibands and the making of a Labour leader' by James Macintyre and Mehdi Hasan. Available at: https://amzn.to/4mJcNFN

'Steeple Chasing: Around Britain by Church' by Peter Ross. Available at: https://amzn.to/4mCBYJY

***

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How did Viscount Stansgate become Tony Benn MP?

Sun, 25 May 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In 1961 and 1963, two by-elections took place that changed British politics, and the fortunes of Tony Benn, forever. The first came after Benn was removed from the House of Commons following the death of his father. This elevated Benn to the peerage as the second Viscount Stansgate and meant, although Benn won the by-election, he was denied his seat in the Commons. After years of political and legal battles, Benn fought a second by-election and became an MP once more. In this week's podcast, Richard and Lee chart this dramatic time in British political history and discuss the consequences for Benn, for other peers, and for British politics.

In this episode, the following articles and books are mentioned:

'Labour must learn to love Brexit' by Richard Johnson in The Spectator. Available at: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/labour-must-learn-to-love-brexit/

'These are the British' by Drew Middleton. Available at: https://amzn.to/3ZAOQq3

'Britain’s Conservative Right since 1945: Traditional Toryism in a Cold Climate' by Kevin Hickson. Available at: https://amzn.to/4k5LFik

***

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Does Michael Foot deserve a kinder verdict from historians?

Sun, 18 May 2025 16:00:00 GMT

From 1980-1983, Michael Foot led the Labour Party through a disastrous and divisive period in its history, culminating in the famous landslide defeat of 1983. That result has marred how people think of Foot ever since. But Richard believes that Foot's long and remarkable career - as a journalist and a politician - deserves a more generous appraisal from historians. Is he right? In this episode we look back at Foot's long life to find out.

In this episode, the following books, journals and articles are mentioned:

'The President's Kill List: Assassination and US Foreign Policy since 1945' by Luca Trenta.

'The Conservative History Journal'. Find out more: https://conservativehistory.wordpress.com/journal/

'The Life and Legacy of Michael Foot' by Richard Johnson, as published in Tribune. Available here: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/07/the-life-and-legacy-of-michael-foot

***

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Do private members clubs still matter in British politics?

Sun, 11 May 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Private members clubs once played a crucial role in British politics, even acting as the organising hubs of the Conservative and Liberal parties. For centuries, politicians of every shade have drunk, dined and gossiped together behind the closed doors of London clubs. But do they still? And do clubs still influence our politics? In this week's episode, Lee and Richard tackle that question and identify the one post-war prime minister who, it seems, has never been a member of any club.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Ten Years to save the West' by Liz Truss.

'Active and Passive Citizens' by Richard Tuck.

If you are interested in learning more about clubs, we also recommend:

'Behind Closed Doors' by Seth Thévoz.

***

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Which foreign leaders should be invited to address Parliament?

Mon, 05 May 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Since the end of WWII, an increasing number of foreign leaders have been invited to address MPs and peers - whether in Westminster Hall, the Royal Gallery or elsewhere in Parliament. In 2017 and again today, a debate raged about whether Donald Trump should be among them. Lee and Richard look back on the history of foreign leaders addressing Parliament and consider whether it would be reasonable for Trump to be prevented from making an address to Parliament.

in this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Vassal State: How America Runs Britain' by Angus Hanton. Available at: https://amzn.to/4lWVBMF

'The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness' by Jonathan Haidt. Available at: https://amzn.to/4cZ29WO

***

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Are prime ministerial resignation honours an embarrassment?

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Prime ministerial resignation honours - first used in 1895 and regularly issued since - have been a perennial embarrassment for outgoing prime ministers. In this episode, Richard and Lee look back on the post-war lists, from Churchill to Sunak, Attlee to Brown, and consider who they chose to honour, why, and whether it harmed their reputation and legacy.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Priests de la Resistance!: The loose canons who fought Fascism in the twentieth century' by The Revd Fergus Butler-Gaillie. Available at: https://amzn.to/42xHFRq

'Polarized by Degrees' by by Matt Grossmann & David A. Hopkins. Available at: https://amzn.to/4cNC4d7

***

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Could 'English Socialism' save the Labour Party?

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The ideas underpinning English socialism go back to before the Norman Conquest, but they have been strangely absent from the Labour Party in recent years. In this week's episode, Lee and Richard discuss the concept of English socialism - what it is, where it comes from, how its distinct (but compatible) with British socialism, and why its values could be a recipe for the rejuvenation of the Labour Party today.

In this podcast, the following articles and books are mentioned:

'An American Sissy' by Gore Vidal. Available at: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1981/08/13/an-american-sissy/

'Hope and Glory' by Peter Clarke. Available at: https://amzn.to/42jwETM

'George Lansbury: At the Heart of Old Labour' by John Shepherd. Available at: https://amzn.to/3GjOuxi

***

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Ernest Marples MP - a visionary, a scoundrel, or both?

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Few people today can recall the man who launched premium bonds, gave us the motorway network, or invited Dr Beeching to swing his axe on the United Kingdom's railway network. It was Ernest Marples, a post-war Conservative MP and ally of Harold Macmillan. Marples has a claim to be one of the most consequential ministers of the 1951-64 Conservative governments, but his personal immorality and financial failings left him off the frontbench, out of the Commons, and soon fleeing the taxman in Monaco. Lee and Richard discuss his sensational but consequential political career in this podcast.

In this podcast, the following books are mentioned:

'The Carlton Club 1832-2007' by Charles Petrie and Alistair Lexden.

'The False Promise of Liberal Order: Nostalgia, Delusion, and the Rise of Trump' by Patrick Porter. Available at: https://amzn.to/43LJBXz

You can also read more about Ernest Marples, among other topics, on the Since Attlee & Churchill Substack here: https://www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com/

***

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What is the socialist case for monarchy?

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 16:00:00 GMT

For the past century, many of the most prominent left-wing politicians in Britain, especially Labour leaders, have judged that the institution of monarchy is compatible with their vision of a more equal Britain. Why? In this episode, Richard and Lee discuss the socialist case for monarchy, from the earliest days of the Labour Party right up to the present day. Richard, a socialist himself, makes the fascinating argument that the monarchy is a pre-capitalist institution which sits outside of what socialists want to achieve.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Britain in Pictures: The Conservative Party (122) by Nigel Birch.

'The First Brexiteer: The Diaries of Sir Neil Marten, 1970-79' edited by Tim Aker. Available at: https://amzn.to/4lyqbfk

***

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Was this the most explosive Tory conference ever?

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In 1963, Harold Macmillan resigned as prime minister and triggered one of the most dramatic fights for the Tory leadership in modern history. Four men jockeyed for position at the party's annual conference in Blackpool, with an unassuming fourteenth earl eventually coming out on top. Why did Macmillan resign? Who should have succeeded him? And did the 1964 general election, which brought Harold Wilson to power, get decided by these combustible events a year earlier? That's the theme of this week's podcast.

In this podcast, the following talks and books are mentioned:

'The Rule of Law: at home, abroad – and in Westminster' by Lord Wolfson. Available at: https://policyexchange.org.uk/events/the-rule-of-law-at-home-abroad-and-in-westminster/

'People Without Power: the war on populism and the fight for democracy' by Thomas Frank. Available at: https://amzn.to/43yImuS

'Public Servant, Secret Agent: The elusive life and violent death of Airey Neave' by Paul Routledge. Available at: https://amzn.to/4hRXZ3G

***

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What lessons can be learned from a political maverick?

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

For almost 40 years, Austin Mitchell was a staple of the House of Commons. At the beginning of his career, he was an up-and-coming star with a successful media career. Yet for the vast majority of his time as an MP, he was overlooked by successive leaders and confined to the backbenches. In this episode, Richard and Lee look back on Mitchell's career and consider what lessons can be learned from the life of a political maverick.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Could it Happen Here? The Day a Prime Minister Refuses to Resign' by Peter Hennessy and Andrew Blick. Available at: https://amzn.to/4iTyD6N

'Trump, the Administrative Presidency, and Federalism' by Frank Thompson, Kenneth Wong, and Barry Rabe. Available at: https://amzn.to/4iBbhD1

***

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Did Edward Heath deserve the name 'The Incredible Sulk'?

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Edward Heath spent more time in the House of Commons after he was Conservative leader (1975-2001) than beforehand. This long period, in which he was a frequent thorn-in-the-side of Margaret Thatcher and critic of her legacy, has become known as 'The Incredible Sulk.' But is that title fair? Why did Heath stick around for so long? What did he hope to achieve? And was he successful? That's the topic of this week's episode.

In this episode, the following books and articles are mentioned:

'Strengthening the Political Constitution' edited by Richard Johnson, published by Police Exchange. Available here: https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/strengthening-the-political-constitution/

'Why a media savvy British politician-ambassador may be just what the US-UK relationship needs' by Richard Johnson, published by the LSE Blog. Available at: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2025/03/11/the-2024-elections-why-a-media-savvy-british-politician-ambassador-may-be-just-what-the-us-uk-relationship-needs/

'The Road to Inequality: How the Federal Highway Program Polarized America and Undermined Cities' by Clayton Nall. Available at: https://amzn.to/43OnQGs

'Bloody Panico! or Whatever happened to the Tory Party?' by Geoffrey Wheatcroft. Available at: https://amzn.to/4iyeMtT

***

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Who was Labour's greatest champion of overseas aid?

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

The government recently made headlines with its decision to reduce overseas aid to 0.3% of national income. In this episode, we cast our eye back to Labour's most vocal supporter of overseas development and international aid, Judith Hart. Based on her years as a minister in both Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan's governments, we ask: What was her approach to international aid? What did she manage to achieve in office? And what would she have made of what Keir Starmer and Labour are doing in office today?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Deep Roots: How Slavery Still Shapes Southern Politics' by Avidit Acharya, Matthew Blackwell, and Maya Sen. Available at: https://amzn.to/4hkRA0G

'Frustrate their knavish tricks' by Ben Pimlott. Available at: https://amzn.to/4kB3xST

***

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Have confidence votes been a disaster for the Tory party?

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMT

After years of tumult at the top of the Conservative Party, the method by which it removes its leaders has rarely been far from the headlines. In this podcast, Lee and Richard discuss how 'confidence votes' have been used to test the levels of support for Tory leaders among their MPs. It's a dramatic story - from Iain Duncan Smith's downfall in 2003, to Theresa May and Boris Johnson's near misses in 2018 and 2022, respectively.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Revolt on the Right: Explaining support for the Radical Right in Britain' by Matthew Goodwin and Robert Ford. Available at: https://amzn.to/41FEfur

'Churchill's Citadel: Chartwell and the Gatherings Before the Storm' by Katherine Carter. Available at: https://amzn.to/3QCKpGf

***

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What use is the House of Lords, anyway?

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 17:00:00 GMT

For longer than it's been possible to talk about British politics, the House of Lords has played an essential role in how this country has been governed. But the 20th century saw their Lordships subordinated to the Commons and many of the peers, known as hereditary peers, stripped of their membership of the upper house. In this episode, Lee and Richard chart the history of the House of Lords and consider how it got to where it is today and ask: what use is the House of Lords in modern Britain?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Dear Bill: A Memoir' by Bill Deedes. Available at: https://amzn.to/3ETBtdi

'Get In: The Inside Story of Labour under Starmer' by Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund. Available at: https://amzn.to/4hNVHUl

***

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Who are the best political heroes?

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Most politicians have at least one hero, someone in whose footsteps they hope to walk and whose achievements they hope to emulate. In this episode, Richard and Lee discuss whom senior Conservative and Labour politicians have named as their heroes - from the sublime to the occasionally ridiculous - and also share their own political lodestars.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Loyalists and Loners' by Michael Foot. Available at: https://amzn.to/3CUo9of

'A Fabulous Failure: The Clinton Presidency and the Transformation of American Capitalism' by Nelson Lichtenstein & Judith Stein. Available at: https://amzn.to/4hC484Y

'Politics on the Edge' by Rory Stewart. Available at: https://amzn.to/4hDiQsv

***

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Whatever happened to Labour Zionism?

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

For much of its history, Labour was Britain's most pro-Zionist party - with MPs on the left of Labour the most supportive of the Jewish state. But from the 1960s, things began to change and, ultimately, the factional dynamics reversed. In this episode, Richard and Lee discuss how Labour went from being an enthusiast for Israel to being fiercely divided about the existence, and actions, of the world's only Jewish state.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'The Betrayal of Anne Frank: Less a Mystery Unsolved Than a Secret Well Kept' by Rosemary Sullivan. Available here: https://amzn.to/42MUPdP

'Failed State' by Sam Freedman. Available here: https://amzn.to/42SJqcF

***

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How did Margaret Thatcher take over the Conservative Party?

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

February 2025 marks fifty years since the election of Margaret Thatcher as leader of the Conservative Party. To mark this anniversary, Lee and Richard discuss the blockbuster leadership contest that elevated her to the top of the Tories, the first woman to lead a British political party. It’s a story that is full of drama: from the stubbornness of Ted Heath to the rebelliousness of Conservative MPs, right up to the moment that Thatcher wins and a new age in British politics begins.

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

‘Kingmaker’ by Graham Brady. Available at: https://amzn.to/48uo1Jl

‘Harold Wilson: The Winner’ by Nick Thomas-Symonds. Available at: https://amzn.to/3KgtauJ

***

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Why did Soviet premier Nikita Khruschev say, if he were British, he'd vote Conservative?

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT

1956 was the year that saw the Suez crisis and the brutal suppression of the Hungarian uprising. But before either of those events, Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev made a nine day visit to the United Kingdom. Included on a packed agenda, which saw the Soviet delegation tour the country, was a dinner with the Labour Shadow Cabinet. Almost immediately, the set-piece between Britain's left-wing party and the Russian communist leader got off to an awkward start - and ended with shouts of 'God forgive you!' across the dinner table.

In this episode, Lee and Richard mention the following books:

'The Last Liberal Republican: An Insider's Perspective on Nixon's Surprising Social Policy' by John Roy Price. Available here: https://amzn.to/3E7E9nd

'Ungovernable: The Political Diaries of a Chief Whip' by Simon Hart. Available here: https://amzn.to/4jpBlSx

***

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Which U.S. Presidents were the favourites of British monarchs?

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In a special episode recorded in Palm Beach, Florida, Lee and Richard interview presidential historian Alvin S. Felzenberg about two centuries of relations between American Presidents and British monarchs. Topics include: who was the first President to meet a monarch - before, during, and after their presidency? And who did the late Queen Elizabeth II like most of her American counterparts?

In this episode, we mention the following books:

'American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy' by David Corn.

'The Leaders We Deserved (and a Few We Didn't): Rethinking the Presidential Scorecard' by Alvin S. Felzenberg.

***

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What happened to the grace and favour house for women ministers?

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 17:00:00 GMT

From 10 Downing Street to Chequers, Bute House to Dorneywood, senior British politicians love grace-and-favour homes. They are the properties made available to the prime minister and other senior government figures during their period of public service. In this episode, we recall the forgotten story of a woman who tried to leave her estate to the nation for the benefit of the most senior woman in government, only to find her plans frustrated.

In this episode, we mention the following books:

‘The Time of My Life’ by Denis Healey. Available at: https://amzn.to/406riJi

‘How to be a Conservative’ by Roger Scruton. Available at: https://amzn.to/3DOxC0w

‘Divided House’ by Melanie Phillips. Available at: https://amzn.to/4a6yF87

***

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Who was the Macmillanite in the Thatcher Cabinet?

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Few people remember Peter Walker today. But for more than a decade he was one of the most important figures in Margaret Thatcher's government - in spite of the fact he styled himself as an Macmillanite and not a Thatcherite. In this episode we discuss Walker's career, the role he played in 1980s Britain, and whether or not he was able to exercise much influence as a Cabinet minister.

In this episode, we discuss the following books:

'Taken as Red' by Anushka Asthana. Available here: https://amzn.to/4fI2k8T

'Strange Days Indeed' by Francis Wheen. Available here: https://amzn.to/4fBtJJz

***

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Why did the 1964 Labour government get off to such a bad start?

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 17:00:00 GMT

An incoming Labour government gets off to a difficult start, taking tough and unpopular decisions which they say are necessary because of the inheritance left by the Conservatives. It's not Keir Starmer in 2024, but Harold Wilson six decades ago. In this episode, we consider Wilson's tricky start as prime minister, how a controversial and sensational by-election crystallised the issues facing Britain and its government in the mid-1960s, and the ways Wilson tried to recover ahead of the 1966 election.

In this episode we discuss the following programmes, articles and books:

'Lucan' on BBC iPlayer. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m0024qb9/lucan

‘'Make The Equal Rights Amendment Part Of The Constitution' by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/15/opinion/trump-biden-legacy.html?searchResultPosition=4

'John Stonehouse: My Father' by Julia Stonehouse. Available at: https://amzn.to/41Rv9Mv

'Making the Weather' by Vernon Bogdanor. Available at: https://amzn.to/3ZVQrWH

***

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Did the late Queen secretly reference a Prime Minister's illness in her Christmas speech?

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:00:00 GMT

If you're British or live in a Commonwealth realm, the Sovereign's Christmas message is synonymous with Christmas. And it's one of those broadcasts that we're talking about in this festive special of 'Since Attlee & Churchill'. In particular, Richard and Lee ask whether, in her 2013 Christmas message, Elizabeth II made a covert reference to the illness of one of her former prime ministers.

In this episode, we mention the following books/articles:

'The Queen' by Ben Pimlott. Available here: https://amzn.to/41JdDKx

'The Way the Wind Blows' by Alec Douglas-Home. Available here: https://amzn.to/3VSrRVA

'Breaking the Code: Westminster Diaries' by Gyles Brandreth. Available here: https://amzn.to/49VAyEE

'Harold Wilson and the "Big Six"' by Michael Lloyd-Jones. Available here: https://amzn.to/3VSrJFA

***

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What happened to Peter Shore's Labour Party?

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 18:00:00 GMT

Two-time Labour leadership candidate Peter Shore represented a version of left-wing politics that has mostly disappeared: constitutional socialism. He opposed Britain's entry into Europe and believed in the power of the House of Commons to deliver a radical socialist agenda. Yet by the time he left the Commons in 1997, the party he had represented for over three decades had abandoned many of his ideas. Why?

In this episode, we mention the following books/articles:

'A Constitutional Socialist' by Richard Johnson. Available at: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/06/a-constitutional-socialist

'Ed Miliband is our most consequential MP, I’m afraid' by Dominic Lawson. Available at: https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/ed-miliband-is-our-eras-most-consequential-politician-im-afraid-gm8pqk058

'Lord Berners: The Last Eccentric' by Mark Amory. Available at: https://amzn.to/41GClv1

'Uproar!' by Alice Loxton. Available at: https://amzn.to/3VINN5z

***

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Could Harold Macmillan have been a Labour prime minister?

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:00:00 GMT

Harold Macmillan, Conservative prime minister from 1957-1963, was one of the most iconic politicians of the twentieth century. In this episode, we rediscover some forgotten historical sources which pose the question: could he have been a Labour prime minister? One very surprising Labour figure certainly thought so...

In this episode, we mention the following books/articles:

'Could Macmillan Have Become a Labour Prime Minister?' by Lee David Evans. Available at: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143749625?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

'The Abuse of Power' by James Margach. Available at: https://amzn.to/3ByfaIy

'Macmillan' by Emrys Hughes. Available at: https://amzn.to/4iAZxkr

'The Twilight of the Pardon Power' by Margot Colgate Love. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/25766118

'Backbencher' by Ian Mikardo. Available at: https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/88123567

'Ian Mikardo' by Tam Dayell (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography). Available at: https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-52289?rskey=JkgL8F&result=1

'OUT' by Tim Shipman. Available at: https://amzn.to/3VFuUQZ

***

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