In 2010, Britain had its first ever Prime Ministerial debates, with Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg going head-to-head in front of the TV cameras. The idea had first been mooted as early as 1964, when Harold Wilson challenged Alec Douglas-Home to an on-air joust. So why did it take so long for them to happen? What advantages and disadvantages did the debates bring in the 2010 election - and since? And do they actually serve a useful purpose in British politics? Lee and Richard discuss in this latest episode of 'Since Attlee & Churchill.'

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Scoop' by Evelyn Waugh. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780141184029

'America's Unwritten Constitution: The Precedents and Principles We Live By' by Akhil Reed Amar. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780465033096

Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchill

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: 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.

In this mid-week episode, Richard discusses the rise of ‘Anglo-Gaullism’ as a prescription for Britain’s governing ills. Are its supporters learning the right lessons from de Gaulle’s experience - and do we really need to cross the channel to find political inspiration? Next, Lee responds to the latest flurry of articles about Andy Burnham’s ambitions to lead the Labour Party - but casts doubts on whether Burnham’s backers have learned the necessary lessons of the Gorton & Denton by-election.

Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchill

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!

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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.

There was a time when you could barely tune into the news without the cryptically named ‘1922 Committee’ being in the headlines. The future of Prime Ministers seemed to depend upon its deliberations - as well as who might be forming the next government. But how did this group of Tory MPs, originally founded as a self-help group for newly elected Parliamentarians, acquire its role as one of the key institutions in the Conservative Party? And is it a force for good in the party?

In this episode, the following books are mentioned:

'Trump: The Art of the Deal' by Donald Trump. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781847943033

'The 1922 Committee: Power Behind the Scenes' by Philip Norton. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781526173300

Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchill

Buying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: 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.

Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchill

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