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://amzn.to/48vQRZN

'Making Americans' by Desmond King. Available at: https://amzn.to/4mAIJe9

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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://amzn.to/46ctORa

'The Secret Life of Special Advisers' by Peter Cardwell. Available at: https://amzn.to/4mX4sxJ

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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

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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://amzn.to/3JDDvR6

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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://amzn.to/4mpSGf9

'How not to be a political wife' by Sarah Vine. Available at: https://amzn.to/45r7u79

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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