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/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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