@leedavidevansuk.bsky.social
Podcasting and writing about post-war British politics. Ramsden Fellow at Mile End Institute.
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?
Richard and I discuss on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
And on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1yfj...
🚨 NEW PODCAST: Was Black Wednesday actually a good day for Britain?
Black Wednesday is remembered as a traumatic day in Britain's post-war economic history.
It left Britain looking powerless, whilst for John Major it was a blow from which he would never truly recover.
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🚨NEW BONUS PODCAST: The 1955 General Election
After our mini-series on the Attlee vs Churchill elections, Richard and I have recorded a special episode on Attlee’s last election as leader.
The Attlee vs Eden Election. Available now on Substack.
www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com/p/bonus-podc...
July was a good month for the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast - with record listener figures on Spotify and other podcast apps.
It’s very nice, but a little weird in truth, to think people spent over 2,000 hours listening to me and Richard Johnson discuss post-war British politics!
New episode of Since Attlee & Churchill coming out on Sunday.
It's the third in our series on the Attlee vs Churchill elections, this time looking at the 1951 contest.
Subscribe (for free) wherever you get your podcasts - just search ‘Since Attlee & Churchill.’
Some news - and for me, at least, it’s exciting news!
I’ve finally finished the draft manuscript of the book I’ve been working on about the methods of choosing, and removing, Conservative leaders.
It should be out in about 6 months with @agendapub.bsky.social.
The election has largely been forgotten, but it was one of the most unpredictable - and close! - contests of the century.
Our podcast is available now on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
And on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/45eG...
🚨 NEW PODCAST: The 1950 General Election
Part two of our series on the Attlee vs Churchill elections is now out.
Richard Johnson and I discuss 1950 - the effective referendum on all that Attlee did as PM, and the chance for Churchill to reclaim power after defeat in 1945.
See next tweet.
Thanks for sharing this - look forward to reading it!
15.07.2025 12:09 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 2 📌 0
Richard Johnson and I discuss how the wartime coalition came apart, and the blockbuster general election campaign than followed, in our latest podcast.
Available now on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
And on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6d5q...
‘The light of history will shine on all your helmets.’
On 28 May 1945, five days after the break-up of the wartime coalition, Churchill hosted the former Labour ministers at Number 10.
Hugh Dalton recalled how Churchill praised them with ‘tears visibly running down his cheeks.'
Thanks v much! If you get the chance to listen, I hope you like it - and would welcome feedback!
15.07.2025 11:55 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Our podcast on the election that saw Churchill booted out of office is now available.
On Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
And on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6d5q...
‘Why should I accept the Order of the Garter… when the people have just given me the order of the boot?’
- Churchill’s words when declining the highest order of chivalry in 1945.
He eventually accepted it in 1953, the first PM since Disraeli to receive the honour in office.
‘Why should I accept the Order of the Garter… when the people have just given me the order of the boot?’
- Churchill’s words when declining the highest order of chivalry in 1945.
He eventually accepted it in 1953, the first PM since Disraeli to receive the honour in office.
‘Interesting work. Fine town house. Nice place in the country. Servants. Plenty of foreign travel. I wouldn't give it up if I were you.’
- Harold Macmillan to Jim Callaghan on being prime minister.
Shortly after his election to Parliament in 1962, Tam Dalyell used his new position to intervene in a local issue.
He received an irate letter from a local Councillor who instructed:
‘Westminster, your business. Dog shit, mine.’
Richard Johnson and I discuss the rebellion, the response, and how Blair asserted his authority over his party, in our latest podcast.
Available now on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
And on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0Lyy...
In his first year as prime minister, Tony Blair faced a major rebellion on benefit cuts.
The maths was almost identical to Starmer with PIP: a majority of around 170 and 120 MPs supposedly ready to rebel.
But Blair took a fundamentally different approach to his successor. (1/2)
Lone parents protested; Labour MPs revolted; and Blair had to choose between fighting, or surrendering to, his backbenchers.
What did Blair do? And how does it compare to Starmer’s approach to PIP?
Richard Johnson and I discuss in our latest podcast. 👉🏻 open.spotify.com/episode/0Lyy...
🚨 NEW PODCAST: What happened when Tony Blair cut benefits for single mums?
After Labour’s landslide win in 1997, many on the left hoped for radical change.
But they were disappointed when Blair announced he would go ahead the Tories’ plan to scrap the Lone Parent Premium.
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Thrilled by the positive feedback we’ve had for Since Attlee & Churchill, our podcast on post-war British political history.
Subscribe to hear our thoughts on the rise of Thatcher, the battle of the Miliband Brothers, the Suez Crisis and Ted Heath’s ‘Incredible Sulk’ - and much more besides.
It starts with the patriarch of the Kennedy family being appointed American Ambassador to the UK...
... and ends with the dedication of land in Runnymede to honour the slain JFK.
Available now on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
And on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1JHn...
🚨 NEW PODCAST: What were the Kennedys up to in Britain?
In our latest podcast, Richard and I are joined by Presidential historian Alvin S. Felzenberg.
We discuss the rich and complex relationship between the Kennedy clan and the United Kingdom.
See next tweet. 🧵
The letter was simply signed 'FST' - a secret reference to Stanley Baldwin, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
Why did he make this gift?
Richard Johnson and I discuss on our latest podcast, available on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6u0F...
Or Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...
🚨 NEW PODCAST: Why did Stanley Baldwin secretly donate 20% of his wealth to the nation?
In 1919, a remarkable letter appeared in The Times.
The author had estimated the value of his estate and decided to give a fifth of it to the government as a 'thank offering' after WWI.
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Available now on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...
And Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0nSu...
As Britain prepared to join the Common Market, a dynamic and passionate (but occasionally absurd) Eurosceptic campaign group launched a daring attempt to Keep Britain Out.
Richard Johnson and I discuss the history of 'Women Against the Common Market' in our latest podcast.
See next post.
‘… will ever bring this country through into better days and better times, or will ever bring Europe through or the world through.’
Roy Jenkins put it well when he described Baldwin’s rhetorical style as ‘at once homespun and high-flown.’ I think it would still find an audience today.
‘… for the whole world, and they are "Faith," "Hope," "Love," and "Work." No Government in this country today, which has not faith in the people, hope in the future, love for his fellow men, and which will not work and work and work…
17.06.2025 10:44 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
