Matters of Interest: Tory Conference, ECHR & Churchill's Boozy Prescription
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-------- Â
34:46
--------
34:46
The Crucible of Conference (Episode 2 of 2): The Conservatives' 2005 Party Conference
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-------- Â
1:08:07
--------
1:08:07
The Crucible of Conference (Episode 1 of 2): Labour's 1952 Party Conference
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-------- Â
1:01:50
--------
1:01:50
Why did John Major resign (and then stand again for) the Tory leadership?
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-------- Â
1:11:36
--------
1:11:36
Labour Lives Cut Short (Episode 3 of 3): John Smith
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The podcast about post-war British politics - since Attlee & Churchill. Hosted by Lee David Evans, an historian of the Conservative Party, and Richard Johnson, an historian of the Labour Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland