The Brink

May 01 2020 20 mins 212

The Brink Podcast artwork

In the 1980s, Liverpool's fortunes plummeted. Docks shut, jobs vanished and neighbourhoods erupted into riots. Into this fractious world stepped a group of hard-left politicians that would be celebrated and vilified in turn - Militant.Three and a half decades on, Militant is still a loaded word in British politics. In Liverpool, many families will never forgive them. But for others, they were heroes.This is the story of how a secretive group of left-wingers captured power in one of Britain's great cities, and took on Margaret Thatcher. It's about what happens when you try to put your ideals into practice - and how it can go spectacularly wrong. It involves skulduggery, taxis and a case of missing orchids.This is the story of the most controversial group in British politics. It's the story of Militant in Liverpool.

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Scuttling around in taxis

May 01 2020 33 mins

In the final episode of The Brink – the podcast that travels back to 1980s Liverpool to look at the rise and fall of Militant – we see the nadir of the political group.The Liverpool Echo's Julia Rampen speaks to key figures from the time, including former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, Militant's Derek Hatton, and more.She explores the famous Neil Kinnock speech, aimed at Militant

Militant on the brink

Apr 09 2020 19 mins

After winning a game of brinkmanship with the Thatcher government in 1984, Liverpool Council is enlisted in the rate-cap rebellion of 1985. But when almost all the other rebel councils cave in, the city finds itself on its own.The councillors face an option: raise the rates, or back an illegal budget. The latter could result in them voting for their own bankruptcy.In this episode,

Dented shield or no shield at all?

Mar 26 2020 23 mins

At a time when Liverpool was fragmenting in the early 1980s, the city found an unlikely ally in a Tory minister.Michael Heseltine - nicknamed Tarzan - spent three weeks walking the streets, until he became something of a bizarre local attraction for the neighbourhood kids.He listed the Albert Dock, organised the Garden Festival and stood up for the city in Margaret Thatcher's cabin

Orchids, housing, and race relations

Mar 08 2020 21 mins

In the latest episode of The Brink, Julia Rampen moves the focus from Liverpool’s fight with Westminster to the changes that were happening in the city after Britain’s most left-wing local council got into power.She travels back to 1980s Liverpool and looks at the challenges faced by the Militant-dominated Labour council.From orchids to housing to race relations, Julia talks to

Militant City - Meet the new regime

Feb 23 2020 19 mins

In 1983, as Margaret Thatcher re-enters 10 Downing Street, a Militant-dominated Labour Party wins a sweeping majority in Liverpool.Taking control of Liverpool City Council, the Labour group is led by John Hamilton, Derek Hatton, and Tony Byrne.But who are these mismatch of leaders? Are they part of the Militant movement, or are some of them puppets?Travel back to 1980s Liverpool an

Liverpool in the 1980s

Feb 09 2020 23 mins

In this episode, Julia Rampen travels back to 1980s Liverpool, where the Militant-controlled council is poised to clash with Margaret Thatcher.By 1980, a city once known for its millionaires is almost unrecognisable.The docks lie empty. Hundreds of factories have closed, taking thousands and thousands of jobs with them. One in four workers is unemployed.Margaret Thatcher's cutting

What is Militant, and why is it so controversial?

Jan 27 2020 22 mins

For many in the Labour Party, Liverpool became a cautionary tale of what happens when you dare to be too left-wing.The story of Militant was a warning about the dangers of entryism - how an organisation within a party can come close to taking over the party itself.Julia Rampen travels back to 1980s Liverpool to look at the most controversial group in British politics.In this episod

The Brink - Trailer

Jan 13 2020 3 mins

Here's what you can expect from The Brink, the podcast about Militant in 1980s Liverpool.Presented by Julia Rampen, edited by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices