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James Heale

@JAHeale • 42,560 subscribers

Deputy Political Editor @spectator. DM for email.

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It’s 50 years today since Australia’s great constitutional crisis. The Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed Gough Whitlam as PM, appointing Malcolm Fraser. Kerr’s Secretary read out the proclamation, ending with the words “God Save the Queen.” Whitlam’s response was thus:

It’s 50 years today since Australia’s great constitutional crisis. The Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed Gough Whitlam as PM, appointing Malcolm Fraser. Kerr’s Secretary read out the proclamation, ending with the words “God Save the Queen.” Whitlam’s response was thus:

143,862 Aufrufe

Makes Theresa May look like a beacon of festive merriment

Makes Theresa May look like a beacon of festive merriment

330,784 Aufrufe

Badenoch takes a pop at Reeves' job at the Bank of England. The Chancellor looks unimpressed:

Badenoch takes a pop at Reeves' job at the Bank of England. The Chancellor looks unimpressed:

75,059 Aufrufe

4:30 Reform press conference you say?

4:30 Reform press conference you say?

66,218 Aufrufe

A Labour source messages:

A Labour source messages:

16,568 Aufrufe

That slight quiver when he says “for more than eight years”. British planning law remains undefeated 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

That slight quiver when he says “for more than eight years”. British planning law remains undefeated 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

53,827 Aufrufe

One of the all time great parliamentary heckles featuring the late Ming Campbell, RIP.

One of the all time great parliamentary heckles featuring the late Ming Campbell, RIP.

69,168 Aufrufe

Clapham girlies today:

Clapham girlies today:

74,626 Aufrufe

Reform deciding their next press conference:

Reform deciding their next press conference:

15,140 Aufrufe

Seeing all your mates at Labour conference:

Seeing all your mates at Labour conference:

30,822 Aufrufe

Ted Heath talks about his 1990 advert for Cheshire Cheese

Ted Heath talks about his 1990 advert for Cheshire Cheese

33,141 Aufrufe

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The striking opening titles to Alan Clark’s 1997 series on the history of the Tory Party

The striking opening titles to Alan Clark’s 1997 series on the history of the Tory Party

39,251 Aufrufe • vor 4 Tagen

PM refuses to say what Jonathan Powell's security clearance was when he was appointed as the Special Envoy to the BIOT:

PM refuses to say what Jonathan Powell's security clearance was when he was appointed as the Special Envoy to the BIOT:

247,310 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

Priti Patel criticises Reform’s policy on welfare and the economy, suggesting the party “are national socialist in terms of their conduct”

Priti Patel criticises Reform’s policy on welfare and the economy, suggesting the party “are national socialist in terms of their conduct”

505,152 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

Clip from the Question Time 2005 election leaders’ special in which voters complain to Tony Blair about being given doctors’ appointments sooner than needed

Clip from the Question Time 2005 election leaders’ special in which voters complain to Tony Blair about being given doctors’ appointments sooner than needed

2,841,079 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

Flashback to 2018 when MPs were asked who would be Prime Minister in ten years’ time

Flashback to 2018 when MPs were asked who would be Prime Minister in ten years’ time

561,018 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

Peter Kyle: “If Jimmy Savile were alive today he’d be perpetrating his crimes online, and Nigel Farage is saying he’s on their side”

Peter Kyle: “If Jimmy Savile were alive today he’d be perpetrating his crimes online, and Nigel Farage is saying he’s on their side”

681,915 Aufrufe • vor 10 Monaten

In January 1986, following a series of controversies, the BBC ran a campaign of licence fee adverts starring John Cleese. “Is 16p a day really too much to ask?” was the pay off at the end. Spitting Image parodied it the next week on ITV:

In January 1986, following a series of controversies, the BBC ran a campaign of licence fee adverts starring John Cleese. “Is 16p a day really too much to ask?” was the pay off at the end. Spitting Image parodied it the next week on ITV:

361,487 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

Tony Blair shows how to deal with a PMQ on an obscure matter, from 2005:

Tony Blair shows how to deal with a PMQ on an obscure matter, from 2005:

640,367 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Kemi Badenoch goes after Labour hecklers. "More!" cry the Tory benches:

Kemi Badenoch goes after Labour hecklers. "More!" cry the Tory benches:

181,654 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

Yesterday’s announcement was chaotic but doesn’t compare to a drunken Bob Muldoon dissolving parliament 40 years ago after a few too many at dinner. Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 in today’s Times recalls “Clearly sozzled and laughing uproariously” Muldoon announced the news live on air 1/2

Yesterday’s announcement was chaotic but doesn’t compare to a drunken Bob Muldoon dissolving parliament 40 years ago after a few too many at dinner. Jack Blackburn 🇺🇦 in today’s Times recalls “Clearly sozzled and laughing uproariously” Muldoon announced the news live on air 1/2

437,635 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

Amid debate around political props, here’s Dennis Skinner throwing a miner’s suit at Michael Heseltine in the debate on pit closures in 1992

Amid debate around political props, here’s Dennis Skinner throwing a miner’s suit at Michael Heseltine in the debate on pit closures in 1992

150,218 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

Clip from the The Spectator archives starring a young Robert Jenrick evaluating a piece of political porcelain for Harry Cole

Clip from the The Spectator archives starring a young Robert Jenrick evaluating a piece of political porcelain for Harry Cole

88,259 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

NFU President Tom Bradshaw on the verge of tears describing the impact of tax changes on family farms: "People in ill health or who don't believe they will live for seven years may well decide they shouldn't be here in April 2026"

NFU President Tom Bradshaw on the verge of tears describing the impact of tax changes on family farms: "People in ill health or who don't believe they will live for seven years may well decide they shouldn't be here in April 2026"

151,056 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

“You closed any more hospital?” “Not in your patch - but good to see you on neutral ground” John Prescott and Ken Clarke discuss jazz at Ronnie Scott’s via Angus Colwell

“You closed any more hospital?” “Not in your patch - but good to see you on neutral ground” John Prescott and Ken Clarke discuss jazz at Ronnie Scott’s via Angus Colwell

151,429 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Charles Kennedy with the story of John Prescott’s Billy Bass fish

Charles Kennedy with the story of John Prescott’s Billy Bass fish

145,976 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Jon Culshaw prank calls Tony Blair by impersonating William Hague, 1998:

Jon Culshaw prank calls Tony Blair by impersonating William Hague, 1998:

127,694 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

How British car ads used to be made. One for the political obsessives:

How British car ads used to be made. One for the political obsessives:

109,449 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Labour MP Brain Leishman says the Labour Together smear campaign is some "dark shit"

Labour MP Brain Leishman says the Labour Together smear campaign is some "dark shit"

27,895 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten

Michael Foot on what makes a great parliamentary debater, 1992:

Michael Foot on what makes a great parliamentary debater, 1992:

49,400 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

Tory benches chant "U-turn!" at the Prime Minister:

Tory benches chant "U-turn!" at the Prime Minister:

26,022 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten