Since Attlee & Churchill

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 SpicerBuying 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/saacThe 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-1978627898307Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!***Since Attlee & Churchill is a podcast about post-war British politics - literally 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.Got a question or comment? Get in touch!Richard: [email protected]: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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***Since Attlee & Churchill is a podcast about post-war British politics - literally 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.Got a question or comment? Get in touch!Richard: [email protected]: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/16406/9781529155488Tickets 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***Since Attlee & Churchill is a podcast about post-war British politics - literally 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.Got a question or comment? Get in touch!Richard: [email protected]: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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!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***Since Attlee & Churchill is a podcast about post-war British politics - literally 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.Got a question or comment? Get in touch!Richard: [email protected]: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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***Since Attlee & Churchill is a podcast about post-war British politics - literally 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.Got a question or comment? Get in touch!Richard: [email protected]: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.