As a companion piece to our Chapeltown Road chapter of the Super League War, Michael chats to British labour historian Anthony Broxton about Thatcherism, striking miners, economic depression and how it all relates to Rugby League in England. Was a pleasure to be invited on to the Rugby League Digest podacst this year to talk … Continue reading Podcast: Class and the Politics of English Rugby League
Author: Anthony Broxton
Thatcher’s Britain: The strike that saved Only Fools and Horses and changed TV history
Celebrating the genius of Only Fools and Horses on its 40th anniversary - but it almost never survived its early struggles in depicting Thatcher's Britain. It was the summer of 1983, and John Sullivan was on a caravan holiday in Hastings with his wife and two children. It had been a difficult few months for … Continue reading Thatcher’s Britain: The strike that saved Only Fools and Horses and changed TV history
The Great Unknown: A Betting History of the Great British By-election
This article originally appeared on Political Betting on 4th May 2021 The modern era of political betting began in 1963 when Ladbrokes’ Ron Pollard opened up a book on the Conservative Party leadership contest. Shrewd punters could back the outsider Alec Douglas-Home at 16/1 over the hot 5/4 favourite Rab Butler….. In recent years we … Continue reading The Great Unknown: A Betting History of the Great British By-election
Robert the Lion Heart: Rob Burrow and Too Many Reasons to Live
Rob Burrow approaches MND like he did Rugby League: with bravery and without fear It was October 2011, and as they do at the end of every season, thousands of rugby league fans descended on Old Trafford to see which way the League title would be decided. Since the creation of a play-off and Grand … Continue reading Robert the Lion Heart: Rob Burrow and Too Many Reasons to Live
Benn, Healey and the Labour contest that never ends
This article originally appeared in The Times on 28 September 2021 Forty years ago this week Labour members across the country packed up their suitcases and headed down to Brighton to decide their party’s fate. Over the summer of 1981, Denis Healey and Tony Benn fought their deputy leadership battle in every newspaper column, television … Continue reading Benn, Healey and the Labour contest that never ends
By-election lessons from Warrington to Hartlepool
This article originally appeared in The Times on 6th May 2021 The voters in Hartlepool will soon pass judgment on the Boris Johnson era. In the months that have passed since the Conservative Party hammered away at Labour’s Red Wall there has been much talk of a “new normal”. In the first contest of the … Continue reading By-election lessons from Warrington to Hartlepool
Help Feed a Family this Christmas: The Labour Movement Charity Calendar
This year, Christmas and the New Year might still feel a bit different than usual. But while it may be tough not seeing our relatives and friends , most of us can hopefully look forward to a festive break in secure homes where we can feel safe, warm, and well-fed. Not everyone in Britain has … Continue reading Help Feed a Family this Christmas: The Labour Movement Charity Calendar
New Labour and the Making of Boris Johnson
Twenty years ago, the Conservative Party was at its lowest ebb. But on the night of New Labour’s greatest triumph, one man promised to revive their fortunes… As the sunset on eighteen years of Conservative rule in May 1997, Tony Blair had already set his sights on his next task. His primary focus was to … Continue reading New Labour and the Making of Boris Johnson
Tides of History 