It is one of a number of official papers prepared for the possibility of a Kinnock premiership, which I have been .css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link{color:#3F3F42;}.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited{font-weight:700;border-bottom:1px solid #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited:focus{border-bottom-color:currentcolor;border-bottom-width:2px;color:#B80000;}@supports (text-underline-offset:0.25em){.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited{border-bottom:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline #BABABA;text-decoration:underline #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:1px;text-decoration-thickness:1px;-webkit-text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-underline-offset:0.25em;}.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-1xgj2ad-InlineLink:visited:focus{-webkit-text-decoration-color:currentcolor;text-decoration-color:currentcolor;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:2px;text-decoration-thickness:2px;color:#B80000;}}trying to obtain under freedom of information. On a broader perspective, the traditional Labour voter was disappearing[citation needed] in the face of de-industrialisation that the Conservative government had accepted since 1979. Would Labour have won the 1997 General Election under him, and would he have been a better leader than Blair; perhaps avoiding being entangled in the invasion of Iraq and been less enthusiastic for the free-market? Neil Kinnock. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}This has to be one of the more ironic disclosures I have received in response to a Freedom of Information request. Anyone under 30 might have been puzzled when Kellyanne Conway, the outgoing White House counselor, recently accused Joe Biden of serial plagiarism and … To the question: "How did this position arise? Given that the Cabinet Office was preparing to release this paper in 1992 in line with a predicted Freedom of Information law, it seems puzzling and ironic that - despite a real FOI law now existing - it refused to disclose it over 20 years later until ordered to do so by the Information Commissioner. Kinnock has often referred to himself as a "unionist", he was controversially dismissive of Welsh identity, stating that "between the mid-sixteenth century and the mid-eighteenth century Wales had practically no history at all, and even before that it was the history of rural brigands who have been ennobled by being called princes". [55], Kinnock strongly opposed Brexit. [7], He has been married to Glenys Kinnock since 1967. Later many identified this as a particularly low period in Kinnock's leadership — as he appeared mired in internal battles after five years of leadership with the Conservatives still dominating the scene, and being ahead in the opinion polls. [citation needed] Kinnock focused on modernising the party, and upgrading its technical skills such as use of the media and keeping track of voters, while at the same time battling the Militants. He resigned unexpectedly in 1976. Many years later, he returned to appear as a guest host of the programme. “Wilson didn’t wield the power he got with a big majority to make the party sing from the same hymn sheet — loud, strong and proud — and he was overtaken by prime ministeritis,” Kinnock … They have a son, Stephen and a daughter, Rachel. Briefing papers not 'verbose' enough to be revealed, Inside the world's richest esports player's mansion. [36], At the 1992 general election, Labour made considerable progress – reducing the Conservatives' majority to just 21 seats. The prime minister’s political opponents took to social media during the campaign, urging young people to vote. He did a lot to reform the Labour party and make it possible for the New Labour group lead by Tony Blair to have real influence in the party. Mr Kinnock managed to change Labour, making it a credible party of the disaster of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Kinnock was determined to move the party's political standing to a centrist position, in order to improve its chances of winning a future general election. He was finally elected as Labour Party leader on 2 October 1983, with 71% of the vote, and Roy Hattersley was elected as his deputy; their prospective partnership was considered to be a "dream ticket". [21], In early 1987, Labour lost a by-election in Greenwich to the SDP's Rosie Barnes. [18] In June 1986, the Labour Party finally expelled the deputy leader of Liverpool council, the high-profile Militant supporter Derek Hatton, who was found guilty of "manipulating the rules of the district Labour party". The Labour Party was also threatened by the rise of the Social Democratic Party/Liberal Alliance, which pulled out more centrist adherents. Neil Kinnock, Actor: Tracey Ullman: My Guy. [31], Michael Heseltine challenged Thatcher's leadership and she resigned on 28 November 1990 to be succeeded by then-Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Major. The violence built up because the single tactic chosen was that of mass picketing, and so we saw policing on a scale and with a system that has never been seen in Britain before. [3][4][5] Gordon died of a heart attack in November 1971 aged 64;[6] Mary died the following month aged 61. Opinion polls showed that voters favoured retaining the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons, (Labour's policy, supported by Kinnock, was of unilateral nuclear disarmament), and believed that the Conservatives would be better than Labour at defending the country. Neil Kinnock’s speech in Bridgend, Glamorgan, on 7 June 1983, rates as one of the finest speeches ever made in British politics. Until the summer of 2009, he was also Chairman of the British Council and President of Cardiff University. He hates me as well. [50] His term of office as a Commissioner was due to expire on 30 October 2004, but was delayed owing to the withdrawal of the new Commissioners. He was introduced to the House of Lords on 31 January 2005, after being created, on 28 January, Baron Kinnock, of Bedwellty in the County of Gwent. 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As for the other documents prepared for Neil Kinnock in 1992, the BBC is appealing the case to the Information Rights Tribunal. He returned as prime minister in 1974 and held Britain's first referendum on membership of the European Economic Community, as it was then called, in 1975. The Cabinet Office turned down my request for them, the Information Commissioner upheld this refusal for the bulk of the material, but instructed the Cabinet Office to release this particular document. Hugh Gaitskell (Life: 1906-1963. Kinnock explained his change of attitude, despite the continuing presence of ninety hereditary peers and appointment by patronage, by asserting that the Lords was a good base for campaigning. In 2018, Kinnock stated, “The truth is that we can either take the increasingly plain risks and costs of leaving the EU or have the stability, growth and revenues vital for crucial public services like the NHS and social care. (A Tory list is to follow shortly!) One Liverpool MP, Eric Heffer, a member of the NEC left the conference stage in disgust at Kinnock's comments. .css-2kny4l-ContributorLink{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#B80000;}.css-2kny4l-ContributorLink:hover,.css-2kny4l-ContributorLink:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Martin RosenbaumFreedom of information specialist. [62], He was portrayed by both Chris Barrie and Steve Coogan in the satirical TV programme, Spitting Image and by Euan Cuthbertson in the Scottish film In Search of La Che. [60], Neil Kinnock is a Cardiff City F.C. ", In 2004, Kinnock said of Scargill, "Oh I detest him. His first period as party leader between the 1983 and 1987 general elections was dominated by his struggle with the hard-left Militant tendency, then still a dominant force in the party. [citation needed]. [1], Kinnock, an only child, was born in Tredegar, Wales. Wilson’s lecturing style was punctuated with jokes. 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