Since Attlee & Churchill

Mar 30 2025 17 ep. 48 mins 9

Since Attlee & Churchill Podcast artwork

The podcast about post-war British politics - since Attlee & Churchill.

Hosted by Lee David Evans, an historian of the Conservative Party, and Richard Johnson, an historian of the Labour Party.

Since Attlee & Churchill is also available as a Substack, which includes special bonus podcast episodes for premium subscribers. Visit www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com to find out more.

Got a question? You can contact Richard and Lee on [email protected].

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Was this the most explosive Tory conference ever?

Mar 30 2025 61 mins

In 1963, Harold Macmillan resigned as prime minister and triggered one of the most dramatic fights for the Tory leadership in modern history. Four men jockeyed for position at the party's annual conference in Blackpool, with an unassuming fourteenth earl eventually coming out on top. Why did Macmillan resign? Who should have succeeded him? And did the 1964 general election, which b

What lessons can be learned from a political maverick?

Mar 23 2025 56 mins

For almost 40 years, Austin Mitchell was a staple of the House of Commons. At the beginning of his career, he was an up-and-coming star with a successful media career. Yet for the vast majority of his time as an MP, he was overlooked by successive leaders and confined to the backbenches. In this episode, Richard and Lee look back on Mitchell's career and consider what lessons can b

Did Edward Heath deserve the name 'The Incredible Sulk'?

Mar 16 2025 57 mins

Edward Heath spent more time in the House of Commons after he was Conservative leader (1975-2001) than beforehand. This long period, in which he was a frequent thorn-in-the-side of Margaret Thatcher and critic of her legacy, has become known as 'The Incredible Sulk.' But is that title fair? Why did Heath stick around for so long? What did he hope to achieve? And was he successful?

Who was Labour's greatest champion of overseas aid?

Mar 09 2025 56 mins

The government recently made headlines with its decision to reduce overseas aid to 0.3% of national income. In this episode, we cast our eye back to Labour's most vocal supporter of overseas development and international aid, Judith Hart. Based on her years as a minister in both Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan's governments, we ask: What was her approach to international aid? What

Have confidence votes been a disaster for the Tory party?

Mar 02 2025 58 mins

After years of tumult at the top of the Conservative Party, the method by which it removes its leaders has rarely been far from the headlines. In this podcast, Lee and Richard discuss how 'confidence votes' have been used to test the levels of support for Tory leaders among their MPs. It's a dramatic story - from Iain Duncan Smith's downfall in 2003, to Theresa May and Boris Johnso

What use is the House of Lords, anyway?

Feb 23 2025 61 mins

For longer than it's been possible to talk about British politics, the House of Lords has played an essential role in how this country has been governed. But the 20th century saw their Lordships subordinated to the Commons and many of the peers, known as hereditary peers, stripped of their membership of the upper house. In this episode, Lee and Richard chart the history of the Hous

Who are the best political heroes?

Feb 16 2025 51 mins

Most politicians have at least one hero, someone in whose footsteps they hope to walk and whose achievements they hope to emulate. In this episode, Richard and Lee discuss whom senior Conservative and Labour politicians have named as their heroes - from the sublime to the occasionally ridiculous - and also share their own political lodestars. In this episode, the following books ar

Whatever happened to Labour Zionism?

Feb 09 2025 66 mins

For much of its history, Labour was Britain's most pro-Zionist party - with MPs on the left of Labour the most supportive of the Jewish state. But from the 1960s, things began to change and, ultimately, the factional dynamics reversed. In this episode, Richard and Lee discuss how Labour went from being an enthusiast for Israel to being fiercely divided about the existence, and acti

How did Margaret Thatcher take over the Conservative Party?

Feb 02 2025 45 mins

February 2025 marks fifty years since the election of Margaret Thatcher as leader of the Conservative Party. To mark this anniversary, Lee and Richard discuss the blockbuster leadership contest that elevated her to the top of the Tories, the first woman to lead a British political party. It’s a story that is full of drama: from the stubbornness of Ted Heath to the rebelliousness

Why did Soviet premier Nikita Khruschev say, if he were British, he'd vote Conservative?

Jan 26 2025 42 mins

1956 was the year that saw the Suez crisis and the brutal suppression of the Hungarian uprising. But before either of those events, Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev made a nine day visit to the United Kingdom. Included on a packed agenda, which saw the Soviet delegation tour the country, was a dinner with the Labour Shadow Cabinet. Almost immediately, the set-piece between Britain's