Since Attlee & Churchill

Benjamin Disraeli remains one of the most influential figures in Conservative history – but how much of the Disraeli we think we know was created after his death? In this episode, Lee and Richard are joined by Emily Jones, author of 'The Disraeli Myth: The Making of a Conservative Tradition'. They discuss how successive generations were inspired by Disraeli and reinvented him to suit their own political purposes, from Tory Socialists and Edwardian tariff reformers to One Nation Conservatives. What made Disraeli such a compelling figure in Tory history? How important was his Jewish identity to the mythmaking? And does 'political bodysnatching' – the appropriation of historical figures by later generations – help or hinder the way we think about politics?'The Disraeli Myth: The Making of a Conservative Tradition' by Emily Jones is available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780691246314Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Since Attlee & Churchill, Lee and Richard consider the argument that supporting North Sea oil and gas extraction is an “extremist” position. How useful is it to label political opponents in this way? And has it been a mistake to reduce Britain's environmental policy to what is essentially a spreadsheet exercise in calculating carbon emissions? They then turn to a new article exploring the relationship between politicians and their constituents through the letters and emails that MPs receive. Drawing on the correspondence of politicians including Tony Benn and Enoch Powell, Richard and Lee consider what politicians can really learn from their postbags – and whether the rise of email, social media and now AI is changing the relationship between voters and their representatives.Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lee and Richard discuss the remarkable life of James Douglas-Hamilton, the Scottish Tory politician who had the rare distinction of serving in three legislative chambers: the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Scottish Parliament, earning a reputation in each for courtesy and quiet effectiveness. Born the grandson of two Dukes and educated at Eton and Oxford, Douglas-Hamilton spent most of his life in politics. What motivated him? What did he achieve during his long career in public service? And why did he become the last MP to disclaim a hereditary peerage? These questions, and more, are explored in the episode.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'After you, Prime Minister' by James Douglas-Hamilton'Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress' by Maya Kornberg. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781421454580Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lee and Richard discuss the controversy over whether the Conservative Party is still the home of One Nation Conservatism. Drawing on the long history of One Nation ideas, stretching back to Benjamin Disraeli in the Victorian era, Lee argues that the tradition has become confused in recent decades with liberal conservatism - and makes the case for reclaiming its original emphasis on national cohesion, social responsibility and patriotism. Next, Richard examines what Prime Minister Andy Burnham meant when he suggested that his devolution reforms could lead to a written constitution. Does Britain actually lack one? What would be different about a codified constitution? And would it strengthen, or weaken, British democracy?Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ann Clwyd spent her political career on the Labour left. She marched with the miners, opposed nuclear weapons, rebelled against her own party, and was sacked from Labour's front bench more than once. Yet she also became one of the strongest supporters of the Iraq War. How? In this episode of Since Attlee & Churchill, Richard and Lee explore the life of one of Labour's most independent-minded MPs. They discuss Clwyd's Welsh upbringing, her route into Parliament, the battles she fought with her own party on everything from welfare to devolution, and the convictions that led her to champion military intervention in Iraq.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Rebel With a Cause' by Ann Clwyd. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781785901140And also the upcoming books for our Summer Book Club:'The Disraeli Myth: The Making of a Conservative Tradition' by Emily Jones. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780691246314'Churchill’s Queen: The Remarkable Friendship That Shaped Our Age' by Nigel Fletcher. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781529977257'Margaret Bondfield: The Life and Times of Britain’s First Female Cabinet Minister' by Nan Sloane. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781350513655Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Matters of Interest, Richard asks whether England's university funding system has reached breaking point after Sir Nick Clegg - one of the men who implemented it - described it as "indefensible". Rather than focusing on tuition fees, Richard argues that the coalition government's removal of student number caps was the real turning point. Lee then turns to one of the biggest political changes that has received remarkably little national attention: the sweeping reorganisation of local government across much of England. Why are historic council boundaries being redrawn? Is the process for doing so a sound one? And will it lead to better local government?Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Summer Book Club episode, Richard turns interviewer as he puts Lee in the hot seat to discuss his new book, 'Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders'. Together they explore how the Conservative Party has picked – and ditched – its leaders from the age of Disraeli to the present day. Was the old system of "emergence" really as undemocratic as it's often portrayed? Why did Harold Macmillan's handling of the 1963 succession bring that system to an end? And did William Hague's 1998 reforms create the instability that has seen Conservative leaders come and go with increasing speed? In this podcast, Lee and Richard discuss these questions and much more.'Coronations & Defenestrations' is available with 30% off (with the code AGENDA30) on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Matters of Interest, Richard argues that Andy Burnham's first policy announcements reveal an unexpected reliance on central government power and a willingness to exploit the policy freedoms created by Brexit. Does the reality of governing mean Burnham is abandoning his former enthusiasm for devolution and closer European alignment? Next, Lee challenges claims that taking foreign leaders outside London to 'Number 10 North', as brief by allies of the Prime Minister, would be a radical innovation, highlighting the long history of PMs showing off every corner of the UK to visiting world leaders. Is this, Lee wonders, just another example of Burnham's 'low-impact gimmickry'?Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lee and Richard are joined by former Business Secretary and Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable to discuss his new book, 'Eclipsing the West: China, India and the Forging of a New World.' Drawing upon his experience as an economist, Cabinet minister and long-time observer of Asia, Cable argues that the world's economic centre of gravity is shifting decisively away from the West. He is asked about Britain's relationships with both India and China during the Coalition Government and whether the UK's much-vaunted "golden era" of relations with China was actually naïve. The conversation also explores Donald Trump's transformation of economic orthodoxy, the future of globalisation, the positives and negatives of foreign investment, human rights, and how Britain should position itself in an increasingly uncertain world.'Eclipsing the West: China, India and the Forging of a New World' by Vince Cable is available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781526179821Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Matters of Interest, Lee looks back at mid-term changes of Prime Minister and asks: do new leaders tend to transform their party's fortunes? Or will Labour MPs hoping for a boost under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham be left disappointed? Next, Richard explores one of the most extraordinary Supreme Court cases in American history, concerning an axe murder at RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire. Deciding who had jurisdiction over the case led the US Supreme Court to overturn one of its own decisions, an almost unheard-of event. What does the case reveal about the relationship between politics, the courts, and constitutional power?Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost twenty years after Tony Blair left Downing Street, how should we judge the record of New Labour? In this Summer Book Club episode, Lee and Richard are joined by historian Glen O'Hara to discuss his new book, 'New Labour, New Britain?' Together they assess the Blair governments of 1997-2007, exploring whether their domestic record has been overshadowed by Iraq and asking what New Labour actually achieved. The discussion ranges from the transformation of the NHS and public services to education reform, welfare, crime, housing and globalisation, as well as Blair's political style, his relationship with Gordon Brown, and whether his governments have a legacy that can still be felt in Britain today. 'New Labour, New Britain?' by Glen O'Hara is available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781526146328Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Richard and Lee place two of the biggest stories in British politics into their historical context. Richard explores the curious history of MPs who have voluntarily triggered by-elections – upon accepting ministerial appointment, changing parties, or as a form of policy protest – and asks where Nigel Farage's decision to force a contest in Clacton fits within that tradition. Lee then examines Andy Burnham's unopposed march to the Labour leadership and premiership. Looking back at Conservative leaders who reached the top by 'emergence' rather than leadership elections, he considers whether the smoothest transitions have always produced the strongest Prime Ministers and what Burnham's effortless ascent might mean for Labour's future.Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Throughout the summer, we'll be interviewing authors of recent books that chime with the themes of the podcast.This week, we're joined by historian and author Alwyn Turner to discuss his latest book, 'A Shellshocked Nation'. In this sweeping portrait of Britain between the wars, Alwyn reveals far more than the political history of the period, uncovering remarkable cultural, technological and social change as well.As we discuss how Britain recovered from the First World War while beginning to confront the approaching horrors of the Second, a recurring theme of our conversation is the country's remarkable political stability. At a time when much of Europe was convulsed by revolution, dictatorship and economic crisis, Britain weathered extraordinary challenges without its constitutional system being fundamentally overturned. Why?A Shellshocked Nation by Alwyn Turner is available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781805221876Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available. Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Richard presents a special edition of the podcast exploring one of the world's most famous documents. As he argues, most people know the Declaration of Independence’s opening words about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But what about the rest of it? Richard makes the case that far from being an attack on the principle of monarchy, the Declaration reflected the American colonists' belief that George III had failed to protect them from Britain’s Parliament. And as listeners will discover, the Declaration was as much a piece of political theatre as it was an earnest statement of principle.Lee’s new book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available! Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve reached the finale of our miniseries of David Cameron’s gambles with referendums: the vote on whether Britain should remain in, or leave, the European Union. In this episode, Lee and Richard discuss why Cameron agreed to hold a referendum; the circumstances in which he made good on that pledge; the approach he took to negotiations; and how the campaign eventually unfolded. And of course, as a history podcast, the show is peppered with reflections and comparisons on how Britain’s last referendum on Europe in 1975 compares.In this episode, the following books are mentioned: 'All Out War' by Tim Shipman. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780008215170'Adults In The Room' by Yanis Varoufakis. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781784705763PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lee and Richard discuss the headline political news of the week: the forthcoming resignation of Keir Starmer. Lee considers why prime ministers so often fail to use the rules and tools at their disposal to resist leadership challenges more aggressively, arguing that nobody has really done so since John Major in 1995. Richard then looks at how Tony Blair managed the pressure on his leadership in 2006–07. Could Blair have taught Starmer how to hold on for a few more months - or even another year?Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years after the landmark referendum that set Britain on course to leave the European Union, what really went on behind the scenes of the campaign that transformed British politics? In this special episode of Since Attlee & Churchill, Lee and Richard are joined by Matthew Elliott, the former Chief Executive of Vote Leave (and previously Political Director of No to AV), to discuss his new book, 'Ten Years On'. They explore the arguments, strategy, personalities and pivotal moments that shaped the 2016 EU referendum - and consider what would have had to go differently for Remain to pull off a win instead.'Ten Years On: My Brexit Story' by Matthew Elliott is available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781837360758 ***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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2014, the very existence of the United Kingdom was on the ballot when Scotland voted on whether to sever its ties with the rest of the UK. In this episode, Lee and Richard discuss how devolution became the platform from which Alex Salmond and the Scottish National Party made the case for independence; the complacency of the UK Government over the answer Scotland would give; and the scrappy way in which two campaigns made their case. In the end, Scotland voted decisively to stay in the UK. But while the outcome was clear, the issue was far from settled - and the problems of using referendums to resolve such issues were laid bare.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot: The Great Mistake of Scottish Independence' by John Lloyd. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781509542673'Scotland’s Choices: The Referendum and What Happens Afterwards' by Guy Lodge, Jim Gallagher & Iain McLean. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780748696406PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lee and Richard reflect on attending the installation service for the Order of the Garter at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where they witnessed the induction of Peter Hennessy. But instead of being misty-eyed about the ceremony, should they have been more critical of this (allegedly) anachronistic hangover? Next, they turn to the Treasury's Green Book, the framework that guides government investment decisions. At its heart lies the Benefit-Cost Ratio, a measurement that often determines the fate of major infrastructure projects. Can the value of public investment really be reduced to a spreadsheet calculation?PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee and Richard are kicking off a new miniseries looking at the three major referendums David Cameron held as Prime Minister: on the electoral system, on the status of Scotland, and on Britain’s membership of the European Union. This first vote - widely seen as the least significant and also therefore the least well remembered - nevertheless prompted some important questions about how Britain chooses its MPs and its government. But perhaps more importantly, it helped a generation of campaigners learn how to win a referendum and, Richard argues, instilled a complacency in Cameron that encouraged him to keep on gambling with referendums.PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After giving a talk at the Manchester Histories Festival, Richard and Lee were joined by listeners to the show for a live Q&A. Questions ranged from how to get into history (especially if you don't go to university) and which TV programmes offer the most accurate representations of politics, to whether First Past the Post will survive and the political career of local Manchester MP Lucy Powell. Thank you to everyone who came along and asked their questions.PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special live recording of the podcast at the Manchester Histories Festival, Lee and Richard discuss four MPs, all with Manchester connections, who made an important (but largely forgotten) contribution to British politics: John Robert Clynes, Florence Horsbrugh, Harold Lever and Anthony Barber. Who were they? How did they come to represent Greater Manchester constituencies? And what is their overlooked political legacy? PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To kick off this midweek episode of Since Attlee & Churchill, Richard discusses an article he has recently read about the impact of proportional representation on forming governments in the Netherlands. Should advocates of PR in this country pay more attention to the potential drawbacks of the system they support? Next, Lee reflects on discovering a description of England and its place in an author’s imagination that chimed strongly with his own. Richard and Lee then exchange reflections on the important aspects of the nation, with Lee making the case that the English countryside can provide a unique space in which to understand the breadth of our history.PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode focuses on a former Labour MP who tried to return to Parliament in a by-election. If successful, he was expected to launch a challenge to the sitting leader - who was reluctant to see him return. On that occasion, the provocateur wasn’t Andy Burnham, but Tony Benn. In this episode, Richard and Lee discuss the 1984 Chesterfield by-election that Benn contested - how it came about, what it meant for Labour, and how the party hierarchy handled it - before asking what lessons it has to offer for Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham and the voters of Makerfield.In this episode, the following books are discussed:'A Prime Minister on Prime Ministers' by Harold Wilson'Resisting Reagan: Liberal Strategies in a Conservative Age' by Joe Ryan-Hume. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780700638789BOOK NOW: Tickets are available for our live event in Manchester. Find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/since-attlee-churchill-live-in-manchester-tickets-1989814631126 PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this mid-week episode, Lee begins by asking why, given the enormous change in the voting habits of British voters over the last decade, we’ve not seen more defections among MPs. Next, Richard wonders why the hit Disney+ show ‘Rivals’ gets so many of the details wrong about 1980s politics - carelessness, or purposeful Americanisation? BOOK NOW: Tickets are available for our live event in Manchester. Find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/since-attlee-churchill-live-in-manchester-tickets-1989814631126 PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of their strikes miniseries, Richard and Lee look back to one of the defining moments of Margaret Thatcher’s premiership: the year-long battle with the National Union of Mineworkers in the mid 1980s. Many Conservatives feared another showdown with the miners would bring the government down, as it did under Heath. But having spent years preparing for a strike, Thatcher and her ministers were ready - and their victory never looked in any doubt. But, as Richard argues, that doesn’t mean the government was in the right. In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Barchester Towers' by Anthony Trollope. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780199665860'The Republican House Divided: Civil War Memory, Civil Rights, and the Transformation of the GOP' by Tim Galsworthy. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781643365084 BOOK NOW: Tickets are available for our live event in Manchester. Find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/since-attlee-churchill-live-in-manchester-tickets-1989814631126 PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee opens up this mid-week episode by looking at the way politicians increasingly flitter between the Westminster Parliament and devolved bodies. Most prominently at the moment, Andy Burnham - who had 16 years experience as an MP under his belt before becoming Mayor of Greater Manchester - is seeking a return to the Commons. But also in Scotland, Stephen Flynn has traded being an MP to become an MSP. What do these transitions tell us about the way British politics works? Next, Richard interrogates the actions of Josh Simons and Wes Streeting and considers whether more is going on than meets the eye with the former Health Secretary’s strategy to win the Labour leadership.BOOK NOW: Tickets are available for our live event in Manchester. Find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/since-attlee-churchill-live-in-manchester-tickets-1989814631126 PRE-ORDER: Lee’s book, ‘Coronations & Defenestrations: Choosing (and losing) Tory Leaders’, is now available for pre-order (released 30 June 2026). Save 30% by using the code AGENDA30 on IndiePubs: https://indiepubs.co.uk/products/coronations-and-defenestrations-1760081414340 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Richard and Lee fast forward almost half a century from the General Strike to the next time mineworkers walked out across the country. Twice in two years, Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath went to war with the National Union of Mineworkers (or as he saw it, they went to war with him) and Heath came out the worst on both occasions. He appeared to learn the wrong lessons from, and over-correct for, the mistakes of the past - and was thoroughly bested by his opponents. But was Ted Heath just really unlucky? In this episode, the following books are mentioned: 'The Royalist Revolution: Monarchy and the American Founding' by Eric Nelson. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780674979772 'Edward Heath: A Biography' by John Campbell. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781845952051Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second instalment looking back at the General Strike of 1926, Lee and Richard pick up the story with millions of workers on strike and parts of the country brought to a standstill. To begin the episode, they debate the role of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin - with Lee making a much more positive case for his role - before Richard explains how the only General Strike in British history came to its murky conclusion. Was it a betrayal by the unions? Or were the unions duped into surrendering? And what were the long-term consequences of the strike?In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'The Edge of Revolution: The General Strike that Shook Britain' by David Torrance. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781399423595'English History 1914-1945' (Oxford History of England) by A. J. P. Taylor 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the country gripped by speculation over Keir Starmer’s future, Lee and Richard look back on the way recent prime ministers have fallen and how the next prime minister may be chosen. Lee begins by considering what stands out from the downfall of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss - focusing particularly on the difference between losing the authority to govern and then subsequently losing the status of prime minister. Next, Richard exposes some of the ambiguities in the Labour rulebook and urges people to think through how, if Starmer is felled, the next Labour leader will be decided. 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard and Lee kick off a new miniseries on the strikes that shaped the 20th century by looking back one hundred years to the first, and so far only, General Strike in British history. When a slump in the profitability of coal met with the demands of the mineworkers, few could see a peaceful way out. At first, the government provided the money to bridge the gap between what coal paid and what the miners needed. But in April 1926, the subsidy ran out and the scene was set for a showdown involving Stanley Baldwin’s government, the mine owners, the miners, and the trade unions. This episode takes us up to the outbreak of the strike and the government’s efforts to make sure it wouldn’t cripple the country. Episode two will be released on Tuesday. 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this mid-week episode, Lee starts by considering one of the possible comparisons for Labour’s performance in this week’s local elections: 1995, the nadir of John Major’s leadership of the Tory Party. Will Keir Starmer’s party do better, or worse, and what will it mean for his leadership? Lee then offers a tentative prediction on who may end up being the biggest party in English local government once all the votes have been counted. Next, Richard responds to a question he was asked about the raising of flags on lampposts and other public infrastructure - and reflects, as a person of the Left, on the principle and the practice of doing so.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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As millions of voters across the United Kingdom head to the polls this week, Lee and Richard discuss one of the worst local election results ever for a government. In 1968, Labour suffered a near wipe-out in large parts of London and was almost wholly rejected by voters in many English and Scottish cities. Why was Harold Wilson and his party so unpopular? What were the consequences for Wilson's leadership? And what are the parallels for Keir Starmer today? These questions, and others, are discussed in this episode.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:‘Stanley Baldwin’ by G. M. Young.'The Cancelled Prime Minister: The Extraordinary Rise and Tragic Fall of Ramsay MacDonald' by Walter Reid. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781805265306Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the rumours that the government is considering introducing rent controls, Richard reflects on the way in which private rents were controlled and regulated for much of the twentieth century in Britain. What was the impact then? And ought similar to be considered today - or are there better alternatives? Next, Lee takes us back to June 1974 when a young Prince of Wales (now Charles III) addressed the House of Lords for the very first time. What did he say, by what right, and what was he trying to achieve?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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week marked 100 years since the birth of Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. In this episode, Lee and Richard ask how political she was during her record-breaking reign. Lee argues that there are seven legitimate ways in which a monarch can do or say political things, and Richard and Lee then explore - and debate - the times they happened and the consequences of them in a democratic country.In this episode, the following books are mentioned: 'Viceregalism: The Crown as Head of State in Political Crises in the Postwar Commonwealth' edited by H. Kumarasingham. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9783030462857'The Queen: Elizabeth II and the Monarchy' by Ben Pimlott. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780007476626Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee kicks off this midweek edition of 'Since Attlee & Churchill' by unpacking one of the emerging divides on the British right: is the country broken? Reform seems to think so, and the Conservatives not. But what does it mean to label a country as broken? And what would the policy consequences of such a condition be? Next, Richard argues that there is nothing wrong with Prime Ministers making political appointments, as Keir Starmer did when he made Peter Mandelson ambassador. But when they do so, they must be willing to be held accountable and defend themselves in political terms - not try to hide their judgement behind bureaucratic processes. 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2010, Britain had its first ever Prime Ministerial debates, with Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg going head-to-head in front of the TV cameras. The idea had first been mooted as early as 1964, when Harold Wilson challenged Alec Douglas-Home to an on-air joust. So why did it take so long for them to happen? What advantages and disadvantages did the debates bring in the 2010 election - and since? And do they actually serve a useful purpose in British politics? Lee and Richard discuss in this latest episode of 'Since Attlee & Churchill.'In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Scoop' by Evelyn Waugh. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780141184029'America's Unwritten Constitution: The Precedents and Principles We Live By' by Akhil Reed Amar. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780465033096Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this mid-week episode, Richard discusses the rise of ‘Anglo-Gaullism’ as a prescription for Britain’s governing ills. Are its supporters learning the right lessons from de Gaulle’s experience - and do we really need to cross the channel to find political inspiration? Next, Lee responds to the latest flurry of articles about Andy Burnham’s ambitions to lead the Labour Party - but casts doubts on whether Burnham’s backers have learned the necessary lessons of the Gorton & Denton by-election.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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was a time when you could barely tune into the news without the cryptically named ‘1922 Committee’ being in the headlines. The future of Prime Ministers seemed to depend upon its deliberations - as well as who might be forming the next government. But how did this group of Tory MPs, originally founded as a self-help group for newly elected Parliamentarians, acquire its role as one of the key institutions in the Conservative Party? And is it a force for good in the party?In this episode, the following books are mentioned: 'Trump: The Art of the Deal' by Donald Trump. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781847943033'The 1922 Committee: Power Behind the Scenes' by Philip Norton. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781526173300 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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?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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/16406/9780231218573Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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?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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. 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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/16406/9781526673411Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/16406/9781526604989Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/16406/9780393335323Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying 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/saacEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/SinceAttleeAndChurchillEnjoy 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 - 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.