Hennessy Lecture 2017: Neil Kinnock

Neil Kinnock, in conversation with Peter Hennessy, at the Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London. This event took place on Tuesday 3 October 2017.

[@lucianopavarotti2843]

It's so fantastic to listen to a conversation between two such versed. literate, knowledgeable and decent people

[@zeddeka]

"There always have been, there always will be, people in the Labour Party who cherish the idea of power in the Labour Party more than the idea of power for the Labour Party". Never a truer word said.

[@eightiesmusic1984]

It is not true. People do not go into politics for a laugh or to waste time for want of something better to do. It is only in this country that this myth has taken hold. It underlines the extent to which ideas that are part of the mainstream elsewhere in Europe have been demonised and how comprehensive Thatcherism has been in changing society irrevocably. Labour sold its soul when it capitulated to neoliberalism under Blair. The dystopian world Kinnock rightly warned of in 1983 and 1992 is here and now, in large part because of the lasting damage under so called new Labour in failing to reverse Thatcherism.

[@NeilBates1]

What a great man. The first inspirational politician I ever heard. Great to see he still has his eloquence in his later years.

[@Jazzstan98]

It's funny that Kinncock brought attention to the date, considering that this was filmed on Mean Girls day

[@dansumsion9904]

Neil Kinnock a great man indeed.

[@malc.s.5373]

I think not.

[@cecilefox9136]

A brilliant politician! Neil Kinnock.

[@briandelaney9710]

Tony Benn was right I’m afraid “I would ashamed to do what Neil Kinnock has done to give up all his principles in order to be elected only to find that people don’t Believe a word you say “

[@jaggafeen]

you chat shit, sounds more like bojo

[@timcomley3241]

Yet you tune in to watch

[@briandelaney9710]

@@timcomley3241 Indeed. Any person trying to be fair minded should listen to differing perspectives

[@zeddeka]

And Roy Hattersley was right about Tony Benn: "He was probably more responsible than anybody else for keeping the Labour Party out of power between 1979 and 1987."

[@eightiesmusic1984]

@@zeddeka No. The SDP achieved that by splitting the vote on the left.

[@alunhughes2632]

A great follower of Neil Kinnock until his lack of support of the miners in their 1984/85 strike against pit closures.

[@petersz98]

The Welsh Windbag full of hot air as usual!

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Explain.

[@thomasboyd755]

Art Bezrukavenko win you England politically Thomas. You get STV voting system for UK general election that STV voting system Thomas Art Bezrukavenko can deliver this policy politically for Labour party government Thomas.

[@ob2395]

all wearing ties

[@jake751]

Vile man

[@gordonwilkinson5041]

it's best if we in Britain showed the way and got rid of our nuclear weapons and spent the dosh on preserving the environment.

[@timcomley3241]

And what if we get attacked

[@markmeade2937]

@@timcomley3241 The trees and plants will save us 😉

[@freemenofengland2880]

@@timcomley3241 He's a snowflake - his pet Unicorn wouldn't allow a nuclear strike.

[@thomasboyd4745]

Who introduced STV voting system into Welsh local government elections politically it Conservative party in Wales politically Thomas. Tories are strong in Wales.

[@StrongandStable17]

Tories strong in Wales that's a laugh.

[@imposs-up1hg]

An absolute fraud but, hey, him and his family prospered from the EU gravy train . . . so that's nice.

[@haydnowen8002]

Plaid cymru the party of wales

[@alexcrowson5750]

WELSH WINDBAG!

[@Tridhos]

Alex crowson I look forward to reading your views on Boris.

[@freemenofengland2880]

@@Tridhos Two heads of the same pissy coin.

[@StevenPerren]

It’s a lazy daily mail trope