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The 'Winter of Discontent' in British Politics
Panel discussion held on 22 January 2009, to consider the 'Winter of Discontent' – 30 years on.
Text of opening presentation ('Chronicles of a Death Foretold: The Winter of Discontent and Construction of the Crisis of British Keynesianism') by Colin Hay (PDF)
Streamed audio of panel discussion (Please note this event is streamed, and is not available as a podcast.)
Article in British Academy Review, June 2009 (PDF)
The industrial strife that beset the Callaghan government in the winter of 1978/79, the 'winter of discontent', was seen at the time as a key factor in Labour's defeat in the general election of 1979, but has continued to resonate in British politics for many years after. The panel discussion considered the causes and consequences of the 'winter of discontent' over both the short- and long-term.
Chair: Peter Riddell, Chief Political Commentator of The Times, and Senior Fellow of the Institute for Government.
Speakers: Professor Colin Hay, University of Sheffield; Lord Lea, former Assistant General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress; Lord Baker, former Conservative Home Secretary; and Lord Lipsey, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister 1977-79 and political journalist.