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Reposted by Lee David Evans

Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 6h

Standing room only for @ldfreedman.bsky.social's superb "Hennessy Lecture" at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social this evening, on "As long as it takes: What does it mean to commit to Ukraine's security?"

Really good questions from the audience, too. Thanks to everyone who came.

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 12h

… and Richard discovers an almost century-old prescription given to Churchill by an American doctor - and considers what it reveals about prohibition-era America.

Available now on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2fKv...

And on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

Matters of Interest: Tory Conference, ECHR & Churchill's Boozy Prescription

open.spotify.com

Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 12h

🚨 NEW PODCAST: Tory Conference, ECHR & Churchill's Boozy Prescription

Richard and I are experimenting with mid-week instalments of ‘Matters of Interest’.

In this episode, I reflect on Thatcher’s starring role at Conservative Party Conference…

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 2d

Over a dramatic few days, the front-runner at the start of conference, David Davis, bombed; and a little known MP, David Cameron, emerged as the leader-in-waiting.

Available to listen now on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2oU2...

And on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

The Crucible of Conference (Episode 2 of 2): The Conservatives' 2005 Party Conference

open.spotify.com

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 2d

🚨 NEW PODCAST: Conservative Party Conference 2005

In the second part of our miniseries on consequential party conferences, Richard and I discuss the Conservatives' 2005 gathering in Blackpool - when discussion of the next leader was top of everyone’s mind.

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 8d

To re-establish some balance, we’ve recorded a special bonus episode on two of the most dramatic, and consequential, Tory lives cut short: Iain Macleod and Airey Neave.

You can listen here. 👉https://www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com/p/bonus-podcast-conservative-lives

Bonus Podcast: Conservative Lives Cut Short

A special podcast episode for Since Attlee & Churchill subscribers.

www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 8d

🚨 BONUS PODCAST: Conservative Lives Cut Short

Richard and I recently completed a three-part miniseries on the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast on ‘Labour Lives Cut Short’.

All three episodes are free to listen to on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 8d

Echoes of John Major in 1993 describing Britain as:

‘…the country of long shadows on county [cricket] grounds, warm beer, invincible green suburbs, dog lovers, and - as George Orwell said - old maids bicycling to Holy Communion through the morning mist.’

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 9d

Picture Post's preview of the 1952 Labour conference held in Morecambe.

It features many of the post-war Labour greats: Attlee, Bevan, Foot, Castle, Braddock, Wilson...

The drama of this conference is the subject of the latest Since Attlee & Churchill podcast.

Available now.

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 10d

… deeply split, with combustible speeches and outrageous heckling dominating the proceedings in the hall.

What then happened in Morecambe shaped the party for years to come.

You can hear all about in on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

And on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6pj1...

Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 10d

🚨 NEW PODCAST: The Crucible of Conference (Labour, 1952)

With party conference season under way, Richard and I discuss Labour's dramatic 1952 party conference in Morecambe.

Amidst pelting rain, Britain's socialists gathered in opposition for the first time in over a decade. The party was…

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 13d

From Margaret Thatcher's last PMQs as PM.

An SDP MP - Rosie Barnes - asks about an old Liberal/SDP talking point: electoral reform.

The outgoing Thatcher, who came top in the first round of the Tory leadership election but had to resign anyway, offers a pretty witty reply...

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 13d

Usual caveats about hypothetical polling to one side: I think this is disappointing for Burnham.

He gets fawning media coverage, and isn’t obviously tarnished by Labour’s actions in Westminster, but he hardly polls better than Starmer.

George Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 13d

Excl: Labour would take a two-point lead over Reform with Andy Burnham as leader, new More In Common polling shows. www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 14d

The front pages after John Major's shock resignation as Conservative leader in June 1995.

Almost as shocking as the news is their price: 27p for The Mirror, 30p for The Independent & The Telegraph, and 45p for The Guardian!

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 15d

You can hear Richard and I discuss this unusual - unprecedented, even! - leadership contest in our latest podcast.

Available on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

And on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2f8B...

Why did John Major resign (and then stand again for) the Tory leadership?

Podcast Episode · Since Attlee & Churchill · 21/09/2025 · 1h 12m

podcasts.apple.com

Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 15d

ESTABLISHMENT XI 218-3 dec.
CHALLENGER XI 89 all out

A special commemorative postcard, which proudly boasts being designed ‘by computer’ on the reverse, marking the 1995 Conservative leadership campaign.

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 16d

The subsequent leadership election is the subject of the latest Since Attlee & Churchill podcast.

Available on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

And on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2f8B...

Why did John Major resign (and then stand again for) the Tory leadership?

Podcast Episode · Since Attlee & Churchill · 21/09/2025 · 1h 12m

podcasts.apple.com

Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 16d

How can a prime minister under pressure strengthen their position?

John Major’s approach in 1995 was to resign, and then fight again for, his party’s leadership.

Here’s the highlights of his resignation statement, when he told his critics to ‘put up or shut up.’ 👇🏻

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 17d

Do let me know if anything I said contradicts your memory of events!

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 17d

Thanks! Hope you like listening to it - all feedback welcomed!

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 17d

What did he hope to achieve?

And what lessons could other political leaders, including Keir Starmer, learn from him?

Richard Johnson and I discuss on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

And on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2f8B...

Why did John Major resign (and then stand again for) the Tory leadership?

Podcast Episode · Since Attlee & Churchill · 21/09/2025 · 1h 12m

podcasts.apple.com

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 17d

🚨 NEW PODCAST: Why did John Major resign (and then stand again for) the Tory leadership?

In June 1995, John Major shocked the political world by resigning as leader of the Conservative Party…

… only to say he would stand to be his own successor.

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Lee David Evans @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social · 22d

With Danny Kruger's defection, the stakes have been raised for both parties on the British right.

I've written for @capx.co on the significance of Kruger joining Reform UK - and what might happen next.

Available to read now. 👇