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First Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald

Political broadcaster Shaun Ley chooses Labour's first Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald. With Matthew Parris. From 2019.

Ramsay MacDonald, Labour's first Prime Minister, is chosen by Shaun Ley.

In 1931 Ramsay MacDonald went to see the king in order to resign. George V persuaded him to stay, and a story of party betrayal began.

Broadcaster Shaun Ley and journalist Anne Perkins pick through events that have a contemporary ring as the political class of the thirties struggled to cope with fast moving events.

MacDonald's own story and background is remarkable too - illegitimate son, born in Lossiemouth in Scotland, he is remembered as one of the early founding fathers of the Labour party, and a man who bravely spoke out against the First World War.

Presenter: Mathew Parris

Producer: Miles Warde

First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 4 in August 2019.

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28 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Tue 27 Aug 2019 16:30
  • Fri 30 Aug 2019 23:00
  • Thu 27 Oct 2022 18:30
  • Fri 28 Oct 2022 00:30
  • Sat 29 Oct 2022 07:30
  • Sat 29 Oct 2022 17:30
  • Sun 30 Oct 2022 05:30

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