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How to Win a Tory Leadership Election

Michael Crick looks back at success and failure in Tory leadership contests in the past

What lessons should the current candidates to be Conservative leader learn from the contests of the past? The political journalist Michael Crick explores this question with the help of archive clips and interviews with leading figures involved. He recalls key moments from contests going back to Edward Heath's battle against Reginald Maudling in 1965, when the Conservative party first began to elect rather than appoint its leader. How should candidates approach and woo their colleagues - and the wider party? Can certain dark arts be useful? What tips can history offer on campaigning, presentation and media relations? What role can luck and timing play? How can a campaign become derailed? And does the favourite really never win?
Interviewees include Kenneth Baker, Iain Duncan Smith, Gabby Bertin, Andrew Mitchell, Iain Dale,
Producer: Leala Padmanabhan

Available now

57 minutes

Last on

Sat 8 Jun 2019 20:00

Broadcast

  • Sat 8 Jun 2019 20:00