The Things That Made England

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Seventy-five years ago, on June 22, 1948, the HMT Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, marking a pivotal moment in British history. In this episode, we delve into the significance of this landmark event, as we explore one man's journey to prove his British citizenship amidst a hostile environment. Thanks to the dedicated work of journalist Amelia Gentleman, who shed light on the plight of tens of thousands of British West Indians facing wrongful deportation, the Windrush scandal came to the forefront of public consciousness

Amelia Gentleman, a journalist renowned for her tireless efforts, played a crucial role in bringing the Windrush scandal to light. Her in-depth reporting exposed the injustices faced by the Windrush generation, many of whom had lived in Britain for decades, only to find themselves wrongly targeted by deportation measures. By acknowledging Gentleman's sterling work, we pay tribute to her dedication and the impact of her reporting in raising awareness about the systemic mistreatment faced by British West Indians and the urgent need for reform.

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• -1945: The end of World War II and the election of Clement Attlee's Labour Party, which introduced the National Health Service (NHS) and the National Insurance Act.
• 1950: Labour Party loses the general election to the Conservative Party, led by Winston Churchill, who becomes Prime Minister for the second time.
• 1964: The Labour Party, led by Harold Wilson, wins the general election and begins a period of economic and social reform.
• 1970: The Conservative Party, led by Edward Heath, wins the general election, but is unable to form a stable government and calls for a new general election in
• 1974: The Labour Party, led by Harold Wilson, wins the general election, but is unable to form a stable government and calls for a new general election in October.
• 1974: Labour Party led by Harold Wilson wins the general election in October and forms a minority government.
• 1976: The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher, wins the general election and begins an era of neoliberal economic policies.
• 1979: The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher, wins the general election, beginning an era of neoliberal economic policies.
• 1997: Tony Blair's Labour Party wins a landslide victory, introducing policies such as the minimum wage and devolution for Scotland and Wales.
• 2010: Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government
• 2015: Conservative Party led by David Cameron wins the general election, beginning a period of austerity measures and the Brexit referendum.
• 2016: The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a historic referendum.
• 2017: Conservative Party led by Theresa May loses majority in general election, leading to a hung parliament and a minority government.
• 2019: Conservative party led by Boris Johnson wins a majority in general election, resulting in the UK leaving the EU on January 31, 2020.

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David and Roifield tackle the first half of the 20th century.

Labour Representation Committee (1900–1906)

Liberal reforms 1906–1914

People's Budget (1909)

David Lloyd George

First Labour government and period in opposition (1923–1929)

1926 General Strike

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The Great Reform act transformed politics and parties in the UK - and Victoria's reign was the stage for one of the great political rivalries - Gladstone and Disraeli

• 1832: The Reform Act of 1832 expands the electorate, giving more men the right to vote.
• 1867: The Second Reform Act expands the electorate further, giving many working-class men the right to vote.
• 1885: The Liberal Party, led by William Ewart Gladstone, wins a general election.
• 1886: The Irish Home Rule Bill is introduced, but it fails to pass.
• 1892: The Liberal Party, led by Gladstone, wins another general election.
• 1895: The Conservative Party, led by Lord Salisbury, wins a general election.
• 1906: The Liberal Party, led by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, wins a landslide victory in a general election.

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David and Roifield go over the start of UK party politics from Exclusion Crisis to the Great Reform act of 1832

• Make the point that the growth of political parties is closely linked to the growth in the power of parliaments in Britain, and the exercise of politics in parliament rather than court, in the public eye (importance of war in that process)
• What are political parties?  A few definitions
• Parliamentary politics before the Stuarts & the shock of the Civil Wars, & the arrival of adversarial parliaments; the concept of representation & involvement in politics
• The Exclusion crisis and the Glorious Revolutions: The appearance of Whig and Tory, and what they stood for
• The Whig Dominance, Hanoverians, Walpole and the unconstitutional office of PM
• George III and the attempt to turn back the clock – putting the Bute in
• Pitt, the French Revolution and Tory dominance 
• The Great Reform Act & it’s impact.

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