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/

***

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 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

***

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 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.

***

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 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

***

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.

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

***

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 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.

***

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 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

***

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 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

***

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 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

***

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 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 

***

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 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

***

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 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

***

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 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

***

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 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

***

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 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

***

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 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

***

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.

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 

***

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.

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.

***

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.

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

***

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.

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

***

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 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

***

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.

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/

***

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.

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

***

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 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

***

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 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

***

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.

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

***

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.

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

***

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 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

***

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 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

***

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.

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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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.

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

***

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.

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

***

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.

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

***

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.

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

***

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 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

***

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 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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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.

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

***

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.

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

***

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.

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

***

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.

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

***

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.

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

***

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.

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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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 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

***

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 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

***

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 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

***

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.

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

***

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.

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.

***

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 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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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.

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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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 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

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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.

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