4. James Callaghan

James Callaghan led the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980 and is still the only person ever to have held all four Great Offices of State: Prime Minister, Chancellor, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary.

Labour figures today rarely cite Callaghan as an inspiration. He led the party to catastrophic defeat in the 1979 election, losing to Margaret Thatcher, and beginning 18 years of Labour in opposition - but, this episode shines a light on his successes and strengths, as well as covering his path to failure.

With amazing guests Lewis Baston, John Edmonds, Steven Fielding, Tom McNally, David Owen, Pat Thane and Stephen Wall – this episode explores Callaghan’s background, leadership and legacy.

Leading Labour is researched, presented and produced by Izzy Conn - find me on:

LinkedIn: Izzy Conn

X/Twitter: @izzy_conn_

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Edited by Will Barber-Taylor, host of the Debated Podcast.

LinkedIn: Will Barber-Taylor

X/Twitter: @WBarberTaylor

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Artwork by Miranda Reed, Ravensbourne Art student.

Music by Rykard From.

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Find out more about the Institute of Historical Research here.

LINKS

Lewis Baston, Political Historian and co author of The Future Labour Promised: Modernisation and Labour’s Fight for Power, 1945-2001 (2001). 

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Future_Labour_Promised.html?id=7NzfkQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

John Edmonds, former leading Trade Unionist.

Steven Fielding, political historian and Emeritus Professor at Nottingham University and author of Labour: Decline and Renewal (1994).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Labour-Decline-Renewal-Steven-Fielding/dp/1897626061

Tom McNally, Callaghan’s political secretary, and current Liberal Democrat peer in the House of Lords.

David Owen, Foreign Secretary under Callaghan.

Pat Thane, Professor in Contemporary British History at King’s College London and author of The Rise and Fall of the British Welfare State (2024). 

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/rise-and-fall-of-the-british-welfare-state-9781350414419/ 

Stephen Wall, Former Ambassador, Political Expert and Historian, and author of Reluctant European: Britain and the European Union from 1945 to Brexit (2020).

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/reluctant-european-9780198840671?cc=gb&lang=en&