Tides of History
@tidesofhistory.bsky.social
2.7K followers 540 following 47 posts
Commentary on Labour History, British Politics and Working Class Culture - Author of Hope & Glory
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sslh.bsky.social
Historians, archivists, librarians and historians working in the field of labour history. A starter pack to get you going…
go.bsky.app/CUqdx9a
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dwyfor16.bsky.social
Most accurate impression of all time
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
#OTD 1997. Gordon Brown delivers Labour’s first budget for 18 years 🧰

“Previous Budgets pursued the short-term interests of the few. This Budget advances the long-term interests of the many”

Windfall tax on privatised companies pays for education & welfare to work programme
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
Great piece and plenty to think about

Ponting’s Breach of Promise is always worth revisiting on this era.
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
24 years ago today…

John Prescott connects with the voters in Rhyl as Labour launch their election manifesto

🥊 👊
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
Stunning - can’t wait to read it.
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andywislon.bsky.social
29 years ago almost to the day - the great Ray French insisting on English beer on the Eurostar to Paris for Super League opener
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
Looking forward to this one 🎊
philtinline.bsky.social
How did America get to this point - where the people who want to destroy the 'deep state' have now won power? For @scribnerbooks.bsky.social, I trace this through the true story of a fake 1967 'top secret' government report, which 'proved' the deep state was real - and evil.

tinyurl.com/GhostsoIM
Ghosts of Iron Mountain
A compelling work of investigative journalism that explores the surprising origins and hidden ramifications of an epic late 1960s hoax, perpetrated...
tinyurl.com
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
#OTD 1900. 125 years ago today.

Labour Party is founded.

The Labour Representation Committee (LRC) is formed in London following a socialist conference.

The 129 delegates pass Keir Hardie's motion to create “a distinct group to represent working class people in Parliament”.
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
#OTD 1979. 1.5 million workers out as part of a 'National Day of Action' in biggest strike since 1926

Callaghan says only “rank and file trade unionists”can “ensure that we do not plunge once more over the abyss”

He says the “survival of free trade unionism” is at stake now.
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
#OTD 1963. Death of Hugh Gaitskell.

As leader he had urged Labour to change:

"Above all our object must be to broaden our base, to be in touch always with ordinary people, to avoid becoming small cliques of isolated doctrine-ridden fanatics, out of touch with the mainstream"
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
#OTD 1979. Crisis? What Crisis?

Callaghan arrives back to transport strikes, fuel & food shortages and calls for a State of Emergency

He tells the press there is no “mounting chaos” and they should stop talking the country down.

He jokes that he might not be able to get a cup of tea.
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
#OTD 1972. Miners strike begins.

The industry had borne the brunt of  Lord Robens’ cuts, and over the decade, the number of miners dropped from 571,000 in 1960 to 280,000 in 1972

And they had fallen down the wages league table

The story of the miners last stand 👇🏼

thecritic.co.uk/the-miners-l...
The Miners’ Last Stand | Anthony Broxton | The Critic Magazine
It was New Year’s Eve 1971, and Labour’s Tony Benn was in a sombre mood. Just eighteen months into his new life on the opposition benches, he feared that his party was becoming ever more unelectable.
thecritic.co.uk
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
#OTD 2003. Death of Roy Jenkins.

In the 1970s he was a key figure in the 1975 UK referendum campaign to remain in the Common Market:

“I think we are in danger of getting bogged down in a debate about theoretical paper sovereignty”.
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joeolyver.bsky.social
His White House Diary record of the visit
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
RIP President Jimmy Carter aged 100

Here he is in 1977 on his famous visit to the North East with PM Jim Callaghan

There were crowds of 20,000 and Carter visited the Corning glassworks in Sunderland where he was given a special gift…
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
Wham! Last Christmas takes out the Xmas no 1 again 🌲

40 years ago, just a few weeks before it’s release the band had “risked their reputation” by playing a benefit gig for striking miners at Festival Hall, London ⛏️
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sslh.bsky.social
Pleased to welcome @historytrainsman.bsky.social, a member of our EC, to BlueSky - and to add him to our labour history starter pack
go.bsky.app/CUqdx9a
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hackblackburn.bsky.social
What a mad five years

Covid, the Captain Sir Tom Moore Memorial Spa, the lettuce, that week where everyone thought the royal family were covering up the death of the Princess of Wales

Just normal country things
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
#OTD 2019. “Brexit” Election. Johnson and the Conservatives win majority of 80.

It is Tories biggest win since 1987 and their highest share of the popular vote since 1979.

Labour drop to lowest number of MPs since 1935.
tidesofhistory.bsky.social
#OTD 2019. “Brexit” Election. Johnson and the Conservatives win majority of 80.

It is Tories biggest win since 1987 and their highest share of the popular vote since 1979.

Labour drop to lowest number of MPs since 1935.