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_

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Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.

LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor

X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor

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Artwork by Izzy Conn.

Music by Rykard From.

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Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.

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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.