In this week's Matters of Interest, Richard reflects on the historic size of the Civil Service and considers whether Reform's plan to reduce it is really the solution to getting things done in Britain. Lee thinks back to the noughties when Labour last tried to introduce ID cards and asks what Keir Starmer could learn from Tony Blair. And the pair discuss - and disagree! - on whether compulsory voting is a good idea.

Visit the Since Attlee & Churchill bookshop to find books recently discussed on the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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In this week's podcast, we discuss one of the most important forks in the road in Britain's post-war history: when Clement Attlee's Labour government refused to take part in discussions on the Schuman Plan, which would become the European Coal and Steel Community and ultimately evolve into the European Union. What motivated their decision? Was it Germanophobia, or a devotion to socialism? And did their decision mean that European integration was set on a course that meant Britain could never truly be happy as part of the European project? We discuss these questions - and more!

In this podcast, the following books are mentioned:

'The Death of Consensus: 100 Years of British Political Nightmares' by Phil Tinline. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781805260356

'Another England: How to Reclaim Our National Story' by Caroline Lucas. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9781804941591

More generally, buying your books via the Since Attlee & Churchill page on Bookshop.org is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

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Richard kicks off this week's 'Matters of Interest' episode by discussing whether the old political parties in Britain - the Conservatives and Labour - are dying, changing, or simply finding they have new competitors vying for power. Lee focuses on the question of Margaret Thatcher's legacy, one he is keen to defend - and Richard even keener to condemn.

Visit the Since Attlee & Churchill bookshop to find books recently discussed on the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.