Hanging in the Balance traces the history of capital punishment in the United Kingdom from ancient times to the modern day-through periods of reform until hanging for murder was finally abolished by Parliament in 1969. It describes in detail the Parliamentary and public debates, and notes the stance taken by organizations and individuals (including the tenacious and persistent Sydney Silverman MP). The book collates data and references not previously brought together in one place - and in exploring the underlying issues and the recurring arguments about deterrence, retribution and expediency it provides an invaluable resource vis-a-vis the same debate in the many countries where capital punishment still exists. Lord Callaghan was home secretary at the time of abolition. His Foreword conveys how strong his personal feelings were concerning the death penalty from the time he entered Parliament in 1945. The book's closing chapters record how his insistence that abolition should become permanent ultimately overcame the still considerable opposition. Capital punishment was finally abolished in 1999 throughout the UK. For all practical purposes this had already happened in 1969 when the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965 was made fully effective into following a trial period. 'A masterwork': Justice of the Peace

'One of the great political careers of the late twentieth century' - Roy Jenkins, "Observer." James Callaghan's career in politics is unique: no other British politician has held the four great posts of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister. In his autobiography, he writes openly of the issues and major crises of the time, and conveys vividly what it was like to be in the forefront of politics in a modern democracy. Callaghan describes his relationship with the trade unions and the struggle to establish and maintain an incomes policy; the problems of law and order; the long, complex negotiations over the Common Market and arms control; and the constant battle - ultimately in vain - to prevent the devaluation of the sterling. Personalities loom large, with incisive portraits of friends and rivals, including Harold Wilson, Henry Kissinger, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. "Time and Chance" is a compelling account of life in high office, where international conflicts vie for attention with the bubbling cauldron of internal party politics. This reissued edition includes an afterword by James Callaghan's daughter, Baroness Jay, covering the years between his resignation as Labour leader and his death in 2005. '"Time and Chance" describes, with usual frankness, the terrors as well as the triumphs, the disappointments no less than the delights, of over twenty years at the top of politics.' - Roy Hattersley, "Independent".