Britain's finest hour was also its most desperate. In 1940 Hitler's armies occupied most of Europe, our shattered army struggled home from Dunkirk and the nation faced the threats of invasion and the bombing Blitz. Rallying to the crisis Priestley told the free world in his war-time broadcasts of the British people's struggle to survive in this first People's War, as the nation rallied to defend democracy. He developed a new vision of a better post-war world-the New Jerusalem- which was to be the reward for their sacrifices. From April 1940 he attempted to rally the world, and particularly the United States, to Britain's cause, ending the broadcasts only in 1943, the beginning of the end, when the job was largely done. Published here for the first time, these overseas broadcasts "Britain Speaks" provide a fascinating record of the People's War, the spirit of a beleaguered nation and the building of national morale all chronicled by a master broadcaster. Priestley spoke. The World Listened. The People won.

These are the highly controversial memoirs of Austin Mitchell, local TV star of the 1970s and MP for Great Grimsby. Austin was the poster boy for Calendar TV at a time when local television had a much greater impact than national TV and its stars were the celebrities of the day. Austin charts his career path and reveals how he fell into his role at Yorkshire Television and went on to become its most popular presenter. He reveals the truth behind some of the most popular moments in TV history, including the infamous spat between Brian Cough and Don Revie. Austin also reveals the massive difference between the politically correct obsessed journalistic world of today and that of the 1970s. After his television career, Austin went on to serve as MP for Great Grimsby taking over the seat in 1977. He is still MP today, but has announced that he will not stand at the next general election. Calendar Boy will be a highly entertaining read for anyone who remembers the glory days of Calendar and wants to learn about the truth behind working life at a hugely popular TV prgramme that many tried to imitate but never bettered.

Austin Mitchell is a political maverick. For thirty-eight years he was a fly in the parliamentary ointment, a recurring itch on the body politic. A maverick may annoy the whips, threaten party discipline and challenge the solemnities of Parliament. Troublemakers they may well be, but the Commons would certainly be a duller place without them. However Mitchell's dissidence wasn't all bitterness without volume control. Rattling the cage, swimming against the tide, pursuing honourable causes and, of course, fighting for his constituency, Grimsby, proved a rewarding career in itself. Confessions of a Political Maverick succeeds in uncovering the realities behind the pretentious parliamentary facade of tradition and the stuffy complacency of Britain's failing political class. Dissenting from the peculiar and highly particular conformity of career politicians dedicated to climbing the greasy pole can be a lonely role, but it can also be fun. It certainly was for Austin Mitchell.

T book is about how we govern ourselves. Recent developments in politics, economics and administration appear all to lead in one direction, and that is federal. Federalism can mean many different things to different people. In needs to be nailed down. This book does just that, pinning down its relevance to the changing structure of regional government in Britain and to the changing role that Britain plays in the developing federal structure of the European Union. These four essays from outspoken politicians and commentators ask the federal questions about Britain's changing constitution and our greater integration with the continent, and offer various answers. Their cogent arguments reflect the deep-seated hopes and feares of millions about how we are governed, showing how getting decision making down as near as can be to the citizen may carry costs as far as efficiency is concerned, but brings benefits for democracy. Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, or on the costitutional issues that often divide the parties, this book will help to clarify the arguments about the right way to govern the country. These four essays from outspoken politicians and commentators ask the federal questions about Britain's changing constitution and our greater integration with the continent, and offer various answers. Their cogent arguments reflect the deep-seated hopes and feares of millions about how we are governed, showing how getting decision making down as near as can be to the citizen may carry costs as far as efficiency is concerned, but brings benefits for democracy. Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, or on the costitutional issues that often divide the parties, this book will help to clarify the arguments about the right way to govern the country