Overview of 171. Neil Kinnock: A Labour Rebel’s Path To Power (Part 1)
This episode of The Rest is Politics (hosts Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell) is a long-form interview with Neil Kinnock covering his upbringing in South Wales, early political formation, rise into Parliament, years as a backbench rebel, and the first stages of his leadership of the Labour Party (1983–1992). Part 1 focuses on personal background, Welsh political culture, the Labour Party of the 1970s, key intra‑party battles (devolution, the Militant tendency), the miners’ strike, the SDP challenge, and the beginnings of policy shifts under Kinnock’s leadership.
Key topics covered
- Childhood and family background in South Wales; social mobility after WWII.
- Welsh political culture and influential Welsh figures (Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, Lloyd George).
- Education, early career and selection as MP (Bedwellty).
- Long record of rebellions on the back benches (c. 70–79 rebellions) — reasons and consequences.
- Debate over devolution and fears about financial disadvantage for Wales.
- Factions within Labour in the 1970s and early 1980s: Tony Benn, the ultra-left, and Trotskyist/Militant elements.
- The miners’ strike (1984–85): Arthur Scargill, legitimacy, ballots and strategy.
- The Bournemouth speech confronting Militant and the subsequent evidence drive.
- The SDP breakaway and how Kinnock positioned Labour in response.
- Major policy shift example: sale of council houses and internal party battles.
Main takeaways
- Kinnock’s upbringing was comparatively comfortable within a working‑class Welsh family; he attributes his outlook to a mix of family support and the post‑war welfare/state-employment transformation.
- Welsh culture (oral tradition, chapel politics, local community life) helped produce rhetorically strong political figures; Kinnock situates himself in that tradition.
- He saw his role as an MP first and foremost to represent his constituents — this justified frequent rebellions when government policy seemed wrong for his area.
- Devolution: Kinnock supported serious decentralization for the UK but opposed the half‑measures of the 1970s that, he argued, would disadvantage Wales financially and provide regional governments with a permanent excuse for resisting central government policies.
- Militant and other hard-left groups posed a deep internal threat. Bournemouth (1985) was the public opening salvo; it was followed by a protracted process of investigation and expulsion.
- On the miners’ strike, Kinnock supported miners’ cause but felt the lack of a national ballot undermined the strike’s legitimacy and prospects; he later regretted not stating that stronger and earlier.
- The SDP split was both a political opportunity for the Conservatives and a complicating factor for Labour’s efforts to modernize; Kinnock denounced the SDP while pruning Labour policies that impeded electability.
- Sale of council houses: Kinnock argued for enabling home ownership (and using receipts for housing renewal) and fought internal resistance (notably from Tony Benn supporters) to reframe party policy.
Notable quotes & lines
- On Militant and misplaced policy: “You go through the years sticking to that, outdated, misplaced, irrelevant to the real needs, and you end in the grotesque chaos of a Labour Council hiring taxis to scuttle around the city, handing out redundancy notices.”
- On the miners’ strike and Thatcher/Scargill: “Scargill and Thatcher deserved each other. Nobody else did.”
- On the purpose of changing party policy: get power in order “to be doing good things” — pragmatic rationale for modernizing Labour policy.
Timeline / Topics discussed
Childhood & Wales
- Only child; parents from very deprived pre‑war generations; benefited from post‑war full employment.
- Early schooling (grammar school), appetite for reading and sport, studied industrial relations at university.
- Strong cultural and rhetorical Welsh tradition referenced (Aneurin Bevan, Lloyd George).
Entry to politics & selection as MP
- Elected to represent Bedwellty (selected after a dead heat in the local selection; won after a re-vote).
- Early experience with senior local MP S.O. Davies (who encouraged him).
Backbench rebellions (1970s–early 1980s)
- Rebelled frequently (c. 70–79 times) against government decisions on public expenditure and devolution; saw it as duty to constituents.
- Paid a political price: kept out of government for years as a consequence.
Devolution and the Labour party
- Argued for meaningful decentralization but opposed the piecemeal approach then on offer, fearing it would weaken Wales and entrench regional political excuses.
- Concerned about financial settlements (Barnett formula consequences).
Labour left, Benn and Trotskyist/Militant elements
- Described Tony Benn’s trajectory toward a more assertive socialism and unilateral positions (e.g., on defence/Europe).
- Explained Trotskyist/Militant groups as a long‑standing ultra‑left fringe that became more visible in late 1970s/early 1980s (influential in some councils, notably Liverpool).
Miners’ strike (1984–85)
- Thatcher prepared (stocks, legal/administrative changes); strike lacked a national pit‑head ballot — Kinnock believed that lack of democratic mandate fatally weakened it.
- Kinnock supported miners but felt he should have been louder earlier about the need for a ballot.
Militant tendency & Bournemouth speech (1985)
- Publicly attacked Militant at Labour conference (Bournemouth); the speech provoked dramatic reactions (e.g., Derek Hatton).
- Kinnock followed the speech with months of intensive investigation and expulsions to confront the problem structurally.
SDP split and electoral strategy
- SDP was a centrist split that divided anti‑Conservative votes; Kinnock denounced the SDP while pruning Labour policy to broaden appeal.
- Believed modernization had to be pursued to win power — “two‑innings” view: long process, not instant.
Council house policy
- Favoured a reformist approach: allow right to buy but enable councils to use proceeds for new build/refurbishment (criticized Thatcher for centralizing receipts to Treasury).
- Fought internal resistance; change represented a shift in Labour’s centre of gravity.
People mentioned (key figures)
- Neil Kinnock — interviewee; Labour leader 1983–1992; later European Commission VP, chaired British Council; sits in House of Lords.
- Glenys Kinnock — wife and political partner.
- Hosts: Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell.
- Welsh figures: Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, David Lloyd George.
- Labour figures: Michael Foot, Tony Benn, Denis Healey.
- Militant/left figures: Derek Hatton, Eric Heffer (both notable reactions to Bournemouth speech).
- Miners’ leaders and figures: Arthur Scargill; Ian McGregor (National Coal Board chairman appointed by Thatcher).
- SDP founders: Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers, Shirley Williams.
- Conservative figures referenced: Ted Heath, Willie Whitelaw, Margaret Thatcher.
- Local MP who helped Kinnock: S. O. Davies (Merthyr Tydfil).
Why this episode matters
- It captures the personal and political formation of a leader who helped shift Labour from the hard‑left image of the early 1980s toward electability.
- Provides first‑hand perspective on pivotal British political battles of the 1970s–80s: miners’ strike, Militant, SDP split, and internal policy transformation.
- Useful for understanding the tactical and ethical trade‑offs involved in modernizing a party while maintaining core principles.
What to listen for in Part 2
- Kinnock’s general election campaigns and electoral strategy.
- Deeper account of tackling Militant and party modernisation outcomes.
- His later career (European Commission, British Council) and reflections on Labour’s legacy.
Further context: the episode weaves personal anecdotes (selection drama, Welsh sporting braggadocio) with high‑level political strategy — valuable for listeners interested in Labour history, intra‑party reform, and the politics of the 1980s UK.