Over the years, numerous Labour politicians have appeared on Desert Island Discs, and thanks to the BBC’s exhaustive archive these episodes, and many more, are available to download.
Usually a political right of passage – which Jeremy Corbyn missed out on – many of the interviews – such as Kinnock’s, Blair’s and Miliband’s – were conducted with the party in opposition and offer a great insight into their strategic mindset. Others – such as Shawcross, Foot, Castle and Healey – are reflective on their lengthy careers in politics.
Plenty to dive into if you need to self-isolate over the next few months…
BBC Desert Island Discs
Mary Wilson (1968)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p009y18k
T Dan Smith (1968)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009y21z
Denis Healey (First – 1978)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009myhy
Roy Hattersley (1986)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mmv7
James Callaghan (1987)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009ml8k
Bernard Donoughue
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mghr
Neil Kinnock (1988)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mg6n
Michael Foot (1988)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mfjy
Roy Jenkins (1989)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mdzc
Tony Benn (1989)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mf7r
Barbara Castle (1990)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093zs7
David Blunkett (1990)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009406m
Dennis Skinner (1990)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00940my
Hartley Shawcross (1991)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093z01
John Smith (1991)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093z5l
Clare Short (1992)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093xt4
Ken Livingstone (1993)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093x49
Betty Boothroyd (1994)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093wtn
Tony Blair (1996)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093n5f
Gordon Brown (1996)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093nrg
Glenda Jackson (1998)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093wtn
Jack Straw (1998)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0094338
Mo Mowlam (1999)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00942gb
Robin Cook (2002)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00947h3
Shirley Williams (2006)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093vxz
Alan Johnson (2007)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0080mb3
Diane Abbott (2008)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00bbdly
Denis Healey (Second – 2009)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kwftg
John Prescott (2012)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01c6trm
Ed Miliband (2013)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03j8srb
TIDES OF HISTORY 