Tides of History
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tidesofhistory.bsky.social
Tides of History
@tidesofhistory.bsky.social
Commentary on Labour History, British Politics and Working Class Culture - Author of Hope & Glory
#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
July 2, 2025 at 6:40 AM
24 years ago today…

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

🥊 👊
May 16, 2025 at 7:34 AM
#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"
January 18, 2025 at 10:55 AM
#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.
January 10, 2025 at 8:06 AM
#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”.
January 5, 2025 at 9:27 AM
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…
December 29, 2024 at 9:46 PM
#OTD 1955. Clement Attlee steps down as Labour leader after 20 years in charge.

The Times leads the tributes to the man they say would be remembered as being "distressed by the needs of the needy, the poverty of the poor and the lack of opportunity for the many"
December 7, 2024 at 8:48 AM
#OTD 1990. Thatcher quits as Tory leader.

Kinnock calls for an election - but Thatcher refuses and argues that there wasn’t one in 1976 when Wilson quit.

Back then though she had also called for a snap election…
November 22, 2024 at 5:34 PM
2001. Labour Manifesto Launch.

Deputy PM John Prescott is hit by an egg after encountering pro-fox-hunting protesters in Rhyl.

He responds with a left jab.

Prescott later tells Blair 'well you asked me to go out and connect with the electorate'.

RIP JP 🌹🌹🌹
November 21, 2024 at 7:18 AM
“I’m me and John is John.

And I’ll tell you he’s got many great strengths….

Not least in his left arm”.

RIP the legend that was John Prescott

🌹🌹🌹
November 21, 2024 at 7:11 AM
#OTD 1967. Harold Wilson addresses the nation as the pound is devalued by 14%.

He says it will allow Britain to "break out from the straitjacket" and go for growth.

"It does not mean that the pound here in Britain, in your pocket or purse or in your bank, has been devalued."
November 19, 2024 at 8:32 AM