The Quiet Rise of Andrea Leadsom
- 28 Feb 2019
Back in June and early July 2016 there seemed to be a real possibility that Andrea Leadsom could succeed David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. She reached the run-off against Theresa May, having scored 83 in the first round of voting among Conse...
Alberto Costa Should Be Given His PPS Job Back
- 27 Feb 2019
I've spent most of the afternoon in Parliament catching up with a few people but not, of course indulging in any sort of gossip whatsover. You know me... While I was there I found out that Alberto Costa had been sacked as a government PPS. 'That can't be right,' I thought. ...
How Labour's 'People's Vote' Decision Was Made
- 26 Feb 2019
Imagine the scenes in the Opposition Leader's office yesterday morning... I have... JC: "Christ Seumas, this PLP meeting tonight is going to be pretty awful. They're going to monster me about the Zionists." SM: "I always think in these circumstances about what Stalin wou...
The 1966 General Election Campaign Video Collection
- 24 Feb 2019
Ted Heath campaigning Jo Grimond campaigning The election in Stockport Hecklers Heckling documentary Election night in Hull Pathe Election Night BBC Election Night Coverage
The 1910 General Elections Video Collection
- 24 Feb 2019
Vote for George Lansbury 1910 Election in Southport BFI Footage (including Home Secretary Winston Churchill) BBC Parliament Programme on the two 1910 elections BONUS - The 1912 Suffragette By-Election
The 1970 General Election Video Collection
- 24 Feb 2019
ITN Profile of Edward Heath First Time Voters Report from Glasgow Cathcart How to vote - a public information film BBC Election Night Coverage Robin Day flirts with Miss Janet Fookes David Dimbleby Interviews Harold Wilson the morni...
We Are Moving Towards a 'Total Eclipse of the Government'
- 23 Feb 2019
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks I really need you tonight Forever's gonna start tonight I'm torn. This morning, three cabinet ministers wrote an article in the Daily Mail which was in total opposition ...
Ten Life Enhancers & Why Are They Always So Cheerful?
- 23 Feb 2019
There's a delightful little paragraph in Chris Mullin's diary, which has set me thinking... David Puttnam's final outing as chancellor of the university. A delightful man. One of that small band of life enhancers of my acquaintance (others include Liz Forgan and Charles B...
Is The Independent Group Destined to Become a Pub Quiz Question in History?
- 23 Feb 2019
It’s been a huge week in politics with MPs leaving both the Conservatives and Labour. Iain Dale says the new independent MPs need to quickly build a realistic policy platform. I was just 18 years old when the Gang of Four left the Labour Party to form the SDP in 1981. It se...
Cross Question Podcast - Episode List
- 22 Feb 2019
Every Wednesday evening between 8pm and 9pm Iain Dale hosts LBC's weekly political panel debate show with four top guests from the world of politics, economic and the media. It's a bit like Any Questions but more relaxed and more fun. Questions are put by LBC listeners. A podc...
For the Many Podcast with Iain Dale & Jacqui Smith
- 22 Feb 2019
BREAKING NEWS See Iain & Jacqui in a Live Edition of For the Many at PodcastLive in London on 7 April! Buy tickets HERE... WHAT IS 'FOR THE MANY'? Back in November 18 Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith lauched a weekly podcast called FOR THE MANY. It's a one o...
19 Things I Like
- 21 Feb 2019
Well, having told you in the previous blogpost about the 19 Things I Hate, several of you have asked me to 19 Things I Like. So here goes... 1 - Most liked food. Yorkshire pudding, Baked cheesecake with a raspberry topping, Chicken Fajitas, Mint Magnums, Mince Pies. I ...
19 Things I Hate
- 21 Feb 2019
I discovered this on my old blog recently, which someone had tagged me to do, so I thought I'd bring it up to date. Hate is such an extreme emotion, but sometimes you just have to let it all out. Here goes... 1 - Most hated food. Avocado or prawns. Foods of the devil....
What does the Defection of Three Tory MPs Mean?
- 20 Feb 2019
Last night I thought about writing an article about the most likely Conservative MPs to defect. Then I read a piece mentioning the three I was going to name, so then I thought, sod it, going to bed is a more attractive option. Then, hey presto, the three I was going to nam...
Is Geoffrey Cox the Man to Save Brexit?
- 20 Feb 2019
Over the last few weeks it has appeared impossible for anyone to find a way through the Brexit morass. Plan after plan is put forward and then dropped. The EU appears to be at its most intransigent. Theresa May at her most obdurate, failing to recognise the real pickle she's i...
The Night I S*** Myself in the Kremlin & Other Food Related Stories
- 19 Feb 2019
A couple of broadcast things I've been involved in which I thought you might like to see/listen to. Last week I recorded an edition of The Spectator's Table Talk food and drink podcast. It's available on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts from, but here it is on A...
The Real Brexit Lies and Distortions & Why Honda's Decision Is Not Down to Brexit
- 19 Feb 2019
The announcement of the closure in 2021 of the Honda plant in Swindon is a disaster for the town. More than 3,000 people will lose their jobs and no doubt that figure will increase in the wider area through the supply chain. Honda has this morning been explaining why t...
Who is the Best Home Secretary of the Last 60 Years?
- 19 Feb 2019
Over the weeend I carried out a poll to see who people rated as the best Home Secretary of the last 60 years. There have been 24 Home Secretaries in that time, each lasting an average of two and a half years. According to my poll, this is the top five... Roy Jenkins ...
Will The Independent Group Break the Mould of British Politics?
- 18 Feb 2019
It's finally happened. After three and a half years seven Labour MPs have decided they can stomach Jeremy Corbyn no longer and have decided to sit as Independents. Some will see this as a mould breaking moment. I'm not sure I do, but time will tell. It has echoes of 1981 wh...
A Tribute to Paul Flynn 1935-2019
- 18 Feb 2019
I'm very sad to hear that the veteran Labour MP Paul Flynn has died at the age of 84. He was one of my favourite Labour MPs. We didn't really agree on an awful lot, but he was a brave politician and wasn't afraid to adopt causes which at the time were unpopular but later becam...