Leading Labour

11. Gordon Brown

After ten years as chancellor, Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair to become Prime Minister and Labour Party leader - from 2007 to 2010.
He led the country through the 2008 global financial crisis, but his tenure ended in defeat, and Labour lost power until 2024.
This episode explores Brown's leadership with amazing guests: Alan Johnson, Jacqui Smith, Neil Kinnock, Guy Lodge, Andrew Grice, Tim Bale 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 Chloe Watts, artist based in Manchester.
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
LINKS
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/
Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills (since 2024), and former Home Secretary.
Nick Pearce, head of Brown's No.10 Policy Unit, and Director of the Institute for Policy Research (IPR).
Guy Lodge, founder of Kivu International, and co-author of Brown at 10 (2010).
https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/brown-at-10
Andrew Grice, former Independent Political Editor.
Tim Bale, political scientist, and author of The Conservative Party from Thatcher to Cameron (2016).
Neil Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party and current member of the House of Lords.
 

12. Ed Miliband

Ed Miliband led Labour in opposition for the first time since 1997 - from 2010 to 2015.
He stood for the leadership as a candidate of the left, and distanced Labour from the looming New Labour legacy, but many of his approaches lacked clarity and he lost the 2015 election.
This episode explores Miliband's leadership with some of his key advisers and many other experts: Marc Stears, Eunice Goes, Kevin Hickson, Tom Baldwin, James Morris, Tim Bale and Tom Hamilton.
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 Phoebe Jones. 
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
LINKS
Marc Stears, Miliband's head speechwriter, and Director of UCL Policy Lab.
Eunice Goes, Professor of Politics, Richmond American University London, and author of The Labour Party Under Ed Miliband: Trying but Failing to Renew Social Democracy (2016).
https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781784994235/ 
Kevin Hickson, Senior Lecturer in British Political History at Liverpool University, and editor of Rebuilding Social Democracy: Core Principles for the Centre Left (2016).
https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/rebuilding-social-democracy 
Tom Baldwin, Miliband's Director of Communications and Strategy, and author of Keir Starmer: The Biography (2024).
https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/keir-starmer-the-biography-tom-baldwin?variant=41705270935630
James Morris, pollster for Miliband.
Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University London, and author of Five Year Mission: The Labour Party Univer Ed Miliband (2015).
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/five-year-mission-9780198702962?cc=gb&lang=en& 
Tom Hamilton, former head of research at the Labour Party and, since June 2025, Executive Director of Policy and Research of Labour again. Co-author of Punch and Judy Politics: An Insider's Guide to Prime Minister's Questions (2018).
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/punch-judy-politics-book-tom-hamilton-9781785904882
 
 
 

13. Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn led Labour from 2015 to 2019 through one of the most tumultuous periods in British political history.
This episode explores his leadership record, from surviving a leadership challenge in 2016 and Labour’s strong 2017 election campaign to the challenges that defined his tenure, including Brexit, party management, antisemitism controversies and sustained media hostility.
Featuring key advisers and many other experts: Gabriel Pogrund, Andy McSmith, James Schneider, James Meadway, Max Guarini, Tim Bale, Richard Corbett, Tom Baldwin and Neil Kinnock.
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. 
Music by Rykard From.
**
Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.
LINKS
Gabriel Pogrund, Sunday Times Whitehall Editor, and co-author of Left Out: the inside story of Labour under Corbyn.
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/442223/left-out-by-gabriel-pogrund-and-patrick-maguire/9781529113624 
Andy McSmith, Independent journalist.
James Schneider, Corbyn’s Director of Strategic Communications.
James Meadway, Adviser to Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, 2015-18, and co-author of The Cost of Living Crisis (And How to Get Out of It) (2023).
https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3146-the-cost-of-living-crisis?srsltid=AfmBOooExPfw4LgU0lpEOJ6dTvbP6jl0exPDuw1K_xNW8BTpD_gD76_fhttps://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/rebuilding-social-democracy 
Max Guarini, Political Scientist at Bristol University, and author of PhD thesis Jeremy Corbyn in the Hybrid Media: The Visual Construction of a Danger (2024).
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/maximillian-w-guarini-2/studentTheses/ 
Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University London, and author of The Conservative Party After Brexit: Turmoil and Transformation (2023).
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/conservative-party-after-brexit-book-tim-bale-9781509546015?gad_campaignid=17416831122&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIDDUS41Y_7QAyX_A4zlJ8UJE&gclid=CjwKCAiAmKnKBhBrEiwAaqAnZ5Gu6B6c2npl4JKJkdqDkz-sUQFY3I2rSaQIlNbniRznMAFsxSAiNxoC_8UQAvD_BwE&sku=GOR013040346 
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/ 
Tom Baldwin, Ed Miliband's Director of Communications and Strategy, and author of Keir Starmer: The Biography (2024).
https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/keir-starmer-the-biography-tom-baldwin?variant=41705270935630
Neil Kinnock, former leader of the Labour Party and current member of the House of Lords.