Leading Labour

1. Clement Attlee

Clement Attlee was the leader of the Labour Party for 20 years from 1935.
After serving as Deputy Prime Minister through the Second World War, he brought Labour into power on a landslide, and changed Britain forever by establishing the Welfare State and, with it, the National Health Service.
With amazing guests: John Bew, Richard Toye, Paul Dimoldenberg, Christopher Massey, Andrew Seaton, Stephen Wall, Charlotte Lydia Riley and Edmund Fawcet - this episode explores Attlee's background, leadership, and legacy.
Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:
LinkedIn: Izzy Conn
X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_
**
Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.
LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor
X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor
**
Artwork by Brodie Bunker, BA Fine Art student, Goldsmith's University.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
LINKS
John Bew, Professor of History and Foreign Policy at the Department of War Studies, at King's College London and author of Citizen Clem (2017)
- https://www.waterstones.com/book/citizen-clem/john-bew/9781780879925 
Richard Toye, Professor of History at University of Exeter, and author of Age of Hope: Labour, 1945 and the Birth of Moden Britain (2023)
- https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/age-of-hope-9781472992291/ 
Paul Dimoldenberg, Lord Mayor of Westminster, and author of Building the New Jerusalem: How Attlee's Government Built 1 Million New Homes (2020), Cheer Churchill. Vote Labour (2020)
- https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Building-New-Jerusalem-Attlees-Government-Built/32027619759/bd
- https://www.worldofbooks.com/fr-fr/products/cheer-churchill-vote-labour-the-story-of-the-1945-general-election-livre-dimoldenberg-paul-9798648841499
Christopher Massey, Principal Lecturer in Learning and Teaching in the History Department at Teesside University
Andrew Seaton, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in History,  UCL and author of Our NHS: A History of Britain’s Best-Loved Institution (2023).
- https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300276527/our-nhs/
Stephen Wall, Former Ambassador, Political Expert and Historian, and author of Reluctant European: Britain and the European Union from 1945 to Brexit (2020).
- https://global.oup.com/academic/product/reluctant-european-9780198840671?cc=gb&lang=en& 
Charlotte Lydia Riley, Associate Professor at University of Southampton, and author of Imperial Island (2024).
- https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/442125/imperial-island-by-riley-charlotte-lydia/9781529923803 
Edmund Fawcett, author and journalist, and author of Conservatism: the Fight for a Tradition (2020).
- https://www.waterstones.com/book/conservatism/edmund-fawcett/9780691233994

2. Hugh Gaitskell

Hugh Gaitskell was the leader of the Labour Party from December 1955 until January 1963.
He was the original 'moderniser' and believed that Labour could only win by pursuing the middle ground. 
He's a less well remembered leader, but he played a huge part in the fierce infighting seen in the Labour Party in the 50s, between his 'Gaitskellites' and Aneurin Bevan's 'Bevanites.'
With amazing guests: David Owen, Briain Brivati, Scott Kelly, Kevin Hickson, Alan Johnson, Stephen Wall and Edmund Fawcett - this episode explores Gaitskell's background, leadership, and legacy.
Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:
LinkedIn: Izzy Conn
X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_
**
Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.
LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor
X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor
**
Artwork by Izzy Conn.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
LINKS
Brian Brivati, Executive Director of Britain Palestine Project, and author of Hugh Gaitskell: A Biography (1996).
- https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/hugh-gaitskell-book-brian-brivati-9781842751862 
Scott Kelly, British Politics lecturer, NYU London, and author of The Myth of Mr. Butskell: The Politics of British Economic Policy (2002).
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Myth-Mr-Butskell-Politics-British-Economic/dp/075460604X
Kevin Hickson, Senior Lecturer in British Political History at Liverpool University, and author of Peter Shore: Labour's Forgotten Patriot (2020).
- https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/peter-shore-labours-forgotten-patriot. 
Alan Johnson, former Home Secretary, Labour MP 1997 - 2017, and author of Harold Wilson (2024).
- https://swiftpress.com/book/harold-wilson/
Stephen Wall, Former Ambassador, Political Expert and Historian, and author of Reluctant European: Britain and the European Union from 1945 to Brexit (2020).
- https://global.oup.com/academic/product/reluctant-european-9780198840671?cc=gb&lang=en& 
Edmund Fawcett, author and journalist, and author of Conservatism: the Fight for a Tradition (2020).
- https://www.waterstones.com/book/conservatism/edmund-fawcett/9780691233994
 
 
 

3. Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson was leader of the Labour Party from 1963-1976 and led Labour to 4 general election victories, through some of the most turbulent political times Britain had seen in the post-war era.
He changed the party and the country - but his legacy is mixed. He has come under fire from those who have argued he lacked principles, whilst others have argued it was these tactics that allowed him to keep Labour in government.
With amazing guests: Lewis Baston, Jon Davis, Edmund Fawcett, Alan Johnson, Neil Kinnock, Linda McDougall, David Owen, Helen Parr, Charlotte Lydia Riley, and Stephen Wall – this episode explores Wilson’s background, leadership and legacy.
Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:
LinkedIn: Izzy Conn
X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_
**
Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.
LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor
X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor
**
Artwork by Francesca Lordan, Sky Creative.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
LINKS
Lewis Baston, Political historian and co-author of The Future Labour Promised: Modernisation and Labour’s Fight for Power, 1945-2001 with Brian Brivati (2001).
- https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Future_Labour_Promised.html?id=7NzfkQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Jon Davis, Director of the Strand Group at King’s College London and author of Prime Ministers and Whitehall 1960-74 (2007).
- https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781847251695/Prime-Ministers-Whitehall-1960-74-Davis-1847251692/plp
Edmund Fawcett, author and journalist, and author of Conservatism: the Fight for a Tradition (2020).
- https://www.waterstones.com/book/conservatism/edmund-fawcett/9780691233994
Alan Johnson, former Home Secretary, Labour MP 1997 - 2017, and author of Harold Wilson (2024).
- https://swiftpress.com/book/harold-wilson/
Neil Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party and current member of the House of Lords.
Linda McDougall, Historian and author of Marcia Williams: The Life and Times of Baroness Falkender (2023).
https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/marcia-williams
David Owen, minister in all of the Wilson governments and retired member of the House of Lords.
Helen Parr, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at Keele University, and author of Britain’s Policy Towards the European Community: Harold Wilson and Britain’s World Role, 1964-1967 (2005).
- https://www.routledge.com/Britains-Policy-Towards-the-European-Community-Harold-Wilson-and-Britains-World-Role-1964-1967/Parr/p/book/9780714656144?srsltid=AfmBOoo_Zz9SUhs7oTX-WHYTV3hYFb3LUAX_PbW9sO_CXivCz86xHW-m
Charlotte Lydia Riley, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, and author of Imperial Island: A History of Empire in Modern Britain (2024).
- https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/442125/imperial-island-by-riley-charlotte-lydia/9781529923803
Stephen Wall, Former Ambassador, Political Expert and Historian, and author of Reluctant European: Britain and the European Union from 1945 to Brexit (2020).
- https://global.oup.com/academic/product/reluctant-european-9780198840671?cc=gb&lang=en& 

4. James Callaghan

James Callaghan led the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980 and is still the only person ever to have held all four Great Offices of State: Prime Minister, Chancellor, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary.
Labour figures today rarely cite Callaghan as an inspiration. He led the party to catastrophic defeat in the 1979 election, losing to Margaret Thatcher, and beginning 18 years of Labour in opposition - but, this episode shines a light on his successes and strengths, as well as covering his path to failure.
With amazing guests Lewis Baston, John Edmonds, Steven Fielding, Tom McNally, David Owen, Pat Thane and Stephen Wall – this episode explores Callaghan’s background, leadership and legacy.
Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:
LinkedIn: Izzy Conn
X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_
**
Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.
LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor
X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor
**
Artwork by Miranda Reed, Ravensbourne Art student.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
LINKS
Lewis Baston, Political Historian and co author of The Future Labour Promised: Modernisation and Labour’s Fight for Power, 1945-2001 (2001). 
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Future_Labour_Promised.html?id=7NzfkQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
John Edmonds, former leading Trade Unionist.
Steven Fielding, political historian and Emeritus Professor at Nottingham University and author of Labour: Decline and Renewal (1994).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Labour-Decline-Renewal-Steven-Fielding/dp/1897626061
Tom McNally, Callaghan’s political secretary, and current Liberal Democrat peer in the House of Lords.
David Owen, Foreign Secretary under Callaghan.
Pat Thane, Professor in Contemporary British History at King’s College London and author of The Rise and Fall of the British Welfare State (2024). 
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/rise-and-fall-of-the-british-welfare-state-9781350414419/ 
Stephen Wall, Former Ambassador, Political Expert and Historian, and author of Reluctant European: Britain and the European Union from 1945 to Brexit (2020).
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/reluctant-european-9780198840671?cc=gb&lang=en& 

5. Michael Foot

Michael Foot became Labour Party leader in 1980.
A leading figure from the Bevanite left, during his leadership he contended with divison on both the left of Labour, led by Tony Benn, and the right, from the formation of the SDP.
Under his leadership, Labour adopted many left wing policies, all of which were put into the 1983 manifesto - nicknamed the ‘longest suicide note in history' - and Labour was defeated in the 1983 election. However, Foot is still personally respected by figures from across the Labour spectrum. 
With amazing guests Andrew Roe Crines, Peter Dorey, John Foot, Tom Foot, Ivor Gaber, Mark Wickham Jones, Neil Kinnock, David Kogan, and David Owen - this episode explores Foot’s background, leadership and legacy.
Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:
LinkedIn: Izzy Conn
X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_
**
Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.
LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor
X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor
**
Artwork by Mouse Terry, Goldsmiths BA Fine Art student.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
LINKS
Andrew Roe Crines, Senior Politics Lecturer at Liverpool University, and author of Michael Foot and the Labour Leadership (2011).
https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-4438-3159-8
Peter Dorey, Professor of British Politics at Cardiff University, and author of Thatcherism: A Short History (2023)
https://www.agendapub.com/book/detail/a-short-history-of-thatcherism-by-peter-dorey/?k=9781788215503//
John Foot, Michael Foot’s great nephew, and historian at Bristol University
Tom Foot, Michael Foot’s great nephew, and Deputy Editor of the Camden New Journal.
Ivor Gaber, Professor of Political Journalism at the University of Sussex, and co-author of Culture Wars: The Media and the British Left (2019).
https://www.routledge.com/Culture-Wars-The-Media-and-the-British-Left/Curran-Gaber-Petley/p/book/9781138223035?srsltid=AfmBOordtmFTpvTSWt3opcHGiWhANW93KkN0114WhZTs8tMC5uztGFed
Mark Wickham Jones, Professor of Political Science at Bristol University, and author of Economic Strategy and the Labour Party: politics and policy-making, 1970-83 (1996).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Economic-Strategy-Labour-Party-policy-making/dp/0333693728
Neil Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party and current member of the House of Lords.
David Kogan, Historian, and author of Protest and Power: The Battle for the Labour Party (2018).
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/battle-for-the-labour-party-9781448217342/
David Owen, retired member of the House of Lords who led the breakaway from Labour and formed the Social Democratic Party

6. Neil Kinnock

Neil Kinnock took over as Labour leader in 1983 - when the party was at one of its most divided ever, and had lost 45 seats.
Whilst Kinnock lost two general elections, he is remembered as a moderniser and has been credited with getting the party to a point where it could succeed in subsequent elections.
In this exciting episode we hear incredible first-hand insights from Kinnock himself.
With amazing guests Neil Kinnock, Charles Clarke, Peter Dorey, David Kogan, Christopher Massey and Martin Westlake - this episode explores Kinnock’s background, leadership and legacy.
Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:
LinkedIn: Izzy Conn
X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_
**
Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.
LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor
X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor
**
Artwork by Sydney Godden, Ravensbourne BA Illustration for Communication student.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
LINKS
Neil Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party and current member of the House of Lords.
Charles Clarke, Chief of Staff under Kinnock and Home Secretary under Blair, and co-editor of British Labour Leaders (2015).
https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/british-labour-leaders
Peter Dorey, Professor of British Politics at Cardiff University, and author of Thatcherism: A Short History (2023).
https://www.agendapub.com/book/detail/a-short-history-of-thatcherism-by-peter-dorey/?k=9781788215503//
David Kogan, Historian, and author of Protest and Power: The Battle for the Labour Party (2018).
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/battle-for-the-labour-party-9781448217342/
Christopher Massey, Labour Historian, and author of The Modernisation of the Labour Party, 1979-97 (2020).
https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526144423/
Martin Westlake, Visiting Professor in Practice at the LSE European Institute, and author of Kinnock: The Authorised Biography (2001).
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780316848718/Kinnock-Authorised-Biography-Martin-Westlake-0316848719/plp

7. John Smith

John Smith served as Labour leader for just two years from 1992, until his untimely death in 1994.
His leadership made way for many of the liberal reforms introduced by Tony Blair's governments, including the National Minimum Wage.
With brilliant guests David Ward, Colm Murphy, Andy McSmith, Peter Dorey and Neil Kinnock - this episode explores Smith’s background, leadership and legacy, as well as how a Smith premiership might have differed from Blair's.
Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:
LinkedIn: Izzy Conn
X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_
**
Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.
LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor
X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor
**
Artwork by Miranda Reed, Ravensbourne Art student.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
**
LINKS
Peter Dorey, Professor of British Politics at Cardiff University, and author of British Conservatism: The Politics and Philosophy of Inequality (2023).
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/british-conservatism-9781845113520/.
Andy McSmith, Independent journalist, and author of the very first biography of Smith, John Smith: A Life, 1938-1994 (June 1994).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Smith-1938-1994-Andy-McSmith/dp/074939675X
Colm Murphy, Lecturer in British Politics at Queen Mary University of London, author of Futures of Socialism (2023).
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/futures-of-socialism/7EBE9FB7D4BFD38219BCD751C2F941BB
David Ward, Head of Policy for John Smith

8. Tony Blair (Part 1): the Team, the Tensions and the Triumphs

Tony Blair served as Labour leader from 1994 to 2007.
He won three elections with huge majorities and was Prime Minister for ten years. 
He made Labour a true election winning force, and made some very positive changes to the country. But, his leadership was complex, and his legacy remains divisive.
This episode - Part 1 of 3 - looks at his team, personal tensions, and electoral triumphs.
With brilliant guests Jon Davis, John Rentoul, Andrew Grice, David Blunkett, Sally Morgan, Alan Johnson, Polly Toynbee, Anthony Seldon, Neil Kinnock, Eunice Goes and Jacqui Smith - this episode is our first of three on Blair's life, leadership and legacy.
Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:
LinkedIn: Izzy Conn
X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_
**
Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.
LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor
X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor
**
Artwork by Izzy Conn.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
**
LINKS
Jon Davis, Director of the Strand Group at King’s College London and co-author of Heroes or Villains?: The Blair Government Reconsidered (2019).
https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9780198862819/heroes-or-villains?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22269009095&gbraid=0AAAAADocATD7QNJ3aYp7iaw3rDpt4vvs1&gclid=CjwKCAjwiNXFBhBKEiwAPSaPCYQN-NQNkvrEQlJbZ8AdHlH1IUeDfXPAHM7slb4LM42szFSU2G2KBRoCesUQAvD_BwE- https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781847251695/Prime-Ministers-Whitehall-1960-74-Davis-1847251692/plp
John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator, Independent, and co-author of Heroes or Villains?: The Blair Government Reconsidered (2019).
Andrew Grice, former Independent Political Editor.
David Blunkett, Education Secretary 1997-2001, and Home Secretary 2001-4, author of The Blunkett Tapes: My Life in the Bear Pit (2006).
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/blunkett-tapes-book-david-blunkett-9780747589310?sku=GOR001959143&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17415898947&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIARm_pRiLMB22jWBb4_WFInY&gclid=CjwKCAjwiNXFBhBKEiwAPSaPCXWJsaQlzUDDEOfBFzJ0GGqXDOi_OBTYuwFNRS_vghqiDPAV45imNRoC3V0QAvD_BwEhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/books/futures-of-socialism/7EBE9FB7D4BFD38219BCD751C2F941BB
Sally Morgan, former Downing Street Director of Government Relations. 
Alan Johnson, former Home Secretary, Labour MP 1997 - 2017, and author of The Long and Winding Road (2016).
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-long-and-winding-road/alan-johnson/9780552172158https://swiftpress.com/book/harold-wilson/
Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist, and author of Better or Worse?: Has Labour Delivered? (2005).
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780747579823/Better-Worse-Labour-Delivered-Toynbee-0747579822/plp 
Anthony Seldon, historian, and author of Blair (2005).
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Blair-Seldon-Anthony-Simon-Schuster-UK/32251157321/bd 
Neil Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party and current member of the House of Lords.
Eunice Goes, Professor of Politics, Richmond American University London.
Jacqui Smith, Home Secretary 2007-9, current Minister of State for Skills.
 

9. Tony Blair (Part 2): Controversies and Consequences

Tony Blair served as Labour leader from 1994 to 2007.
Whilst electorally successful, his legacy, in the Labour Party and in the country, remains divisve.
This episode explores three key controversial aspects of his legacy - which have had longlasting impacts on the country:
The Iraq war
EU policy
Immigration policy
Explore Blair's controversies, and the consequences of them, with brilliant guests: Sally Morgan, David Blunkett, Patrick Wintour, Anthony Seldon, Clare Short, Andrew Grice, John Rentoul, Stephen Wall, Richard Corbett, Maya Goodfellow and Nick Pearce.
Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:
LinkedIn: Izzy Conn
X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_
**
Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.
LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor
X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor
**
Artwork by Izzy Conn.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
**
LINKS
Thanks so much for listening – and thanks to the brilliant guests that we heard from today: Sally Morgan, David Blunkett, Patrick Wintour, Anthony Seldon, Clare Short, Andrew Grice, John Rentoul, Stephen Wall, Richard Corbett, Maya Goodfellow and Nick Pearce.
Sally Morgan, former Downing Street Director of Government Relations. 
David Blunkett, Education Secretary 1997-2001, and Home Secretary 2001-4, author of The Blunkett Tapes: My Life in the Bear Pit (2006).
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/blunkett-tapes-book-david-blunkett-9780747589310?sku=GOR001959143&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17415898947&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIARm_pRiLMB22jWBb4_WFInY&gclid=CjwKCAjwiNXFBhBKEiwAPSaPCXWJsaQlzUDDEOfBFzJ0GGqXDOi_OBTYuwFNRS_vghqiDPAV45imNRoC3V0QAvD_BwEhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/books/futures-of-socialism/7EBE9FB7D4BFD38219BCD751C2F941BB
Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic Editor, Guardian.
Anthony Seldon, historian, and author of Blair (2003). 
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/blair-book-anthony-seldon-9780743232128 
Clare Short, former Secretary of State for International Development, and author of An Honourable Deception?: New Labour, Iraq, and the Misuse of Power (2005).
https://www.waterstones.com/book/an-honourable-deception/clare-short/9780743263931 
Andrew Grice, former Independent Political Editor.
John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator, Independent, and co-author of Heroes or Villains?: The Blair Government Reconsidered (2019).
https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9780198862819/heroes-or-villains?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22269009095&gbraid=0AAAAADocATD7QNJ3aYp7iaw3rDpt4vvs1&gclid=CjwKCAjwiNXFBhBKEiwAPSaPCYQN-NQNkvrEQlJbZ8AdHlH1IUeDfXPAHM7slb4LM42szFSU2G2KBRoCesUQAvD_BwE- https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781847251695/Prime-Ministers-Whitehall-1960-74-Davis-1847251692/plp
Stephen Wall, Former Ambassador, Political Expert and Historian, and author of Reluctant European: Britain and the European Union from 1945 to Brexit (2020).
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/reluctant-european-9780198840671?cc=gb&lang=en& 
Richard Corbett, former Leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party, and co-author of The European Parliament (2024).
https://www.johnharperpublishing.co.uk/the-european-parliament/ 
Maya Goodfellow, journalist and academic, and author of Hostile Environment: How Immigrants Became Scapegoats (2019).
https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/777-hostile-environment?srsltid=AfmBOor5VLJQP6brLdvFL9vbcBjD2-YPV-vV-E50E5mwemeJl7DSDGgJ 
 

10. Tony Blair (Part 3): Reforms and Legacy

Tony Blair served as Labour leader from 1994 to 2007, and Prime Minister from 1997 to 2010.
This episode explores the reforms of the Blair era: the Good Friday Agreement, Sure Start centres, introducing the minimum wage, a huge amount of extra funding for the NHS and much more.
Explore Blair's reforms, and his overall legacy, with brilliant guests: Sally Morgan, David Blunkett, Michael Barber, John Rentoul, Jon Davis, Alan Johnson, Clare Short, Polly Toynbee, Eunice Goes, Andrew Grice, Patrick Wintour, and Anthony Seldon.
Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:
LinkedIn: Izzy Conn
X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_
**
Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.
LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor
X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor
**
Artwork by Izzy Conn.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
**
LINKS
Sally Morgan, former Downing Street Director of Government Relations. 
David Blunkett, Education Secretary 1997-2001, and Home Secretary 2001-4, author of The Blunkett Tapes: My Life in the Bear Pit (2006).
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/blunkett-tapes-book-david-blunkett-9780747589310?sku=GOR001959143&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17415898947&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIARm_pRiLMB22jWBb4_WFInY&gclid=CjwKCAjwiNXFBhBKEiwAPSaPCXWJsaQlzUDDEOfBFzJ0GGqXDOi_OBTYuwFNRS_vghqiDPAV45imNRoC3V0QAvD_BwEhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/books/futures-of-socialism/7EBE9FB7D4BFD38219BCD751C2F941BB
Michael Barber, Government adviser, and author of Accomplishment: How to Achieve Ambitious and Challenging Things (2021).
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/314538/accomplishment-by-barber-michael/9780141991276 
John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator, Independent, and co-author of Heroes or Villains?: The Blair Government Reconsidered (2019).
https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9780198862819/heroes-or-villains?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22269009095&gbraid=0AAAAADocATD7QNJ3aYp7iaw3rDpt4vvs1&gclid=CjwKCAjwiNXFBhBKEiwAPSaPCYQN-NQNkvrEQlJbZ8AdHlH1IUeDfXPAHM7slb4LM42szFSU2G2KBRoCesUQAvD_BwE- https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781847251695/Prime-Ministers-Whitehall-1960-74-Davis-1847251692/plp
Jon Davis, Director of the Strand Group at King’s College London and co-author of Heroes or Villains?: The Blair Government Reconsidered (2019).
Alan Johnson, former Home Secretary, Labour MP 1997 - 2017, and author of The Long and Winding Road (2016).
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-long-and-winding-road/alan-johnson/9780552172158https://swiftpress.com/book/harold-wilson/
Clare Short, former Secretary of State for International Development, and author of An Honourable Deception?: New Labour, Iraq, and the Misuse of Power (2005).
https://www.waterstones.com/book/an-honourable-deception/clare-short/9780743263931 
Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist, and author of Better or Worse?: Has Labour Delivered? (2005).
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780747579823/Better-Worse-Labour-Delivered-Toynbee-0747579822/plp 
Eunice Goes, Professor of Politics, Richmond American University London.
Andrew Grice, former Independent Political Editor.
Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic Editor, Guardian.
Anthony Seldon, historian, and author of Blair (2003). 
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/blair-book-anthony-seldon-9780743232128