The State of Political Leadership in Britain – recording and books now available
By: Communications
A recent expert roundtable hosted by the University of East Anglia (UEA) has marked the launch of two major new volumes, British Conservative Leaders and British Labour Leaders.
The event explored questions such as:
- How should we judge political leaders? What benchmarks matter most?
- How are figures like Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage performing today?
The books feature original interviews with former party leaders, including Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, offering insights into the nature of leadership and reflections on their time in office.
Covering leaders from Robert Peel through to contemporary figures such as Kemi Badenoch and Keir Starmer, the volumes provide a comprehensive look at the evolution of political leadership in Britain.
The roundtable panel included former Home Secretary, Education Minister and Norwich MP Charles Clarke, alongside fellow editors Toby James (UEA’s School of Politics, Philosophy and Area Studies), Tim Bale, Patrick Diamond, and Emmanuel Avril (Convenor of the Political Studies Association Group on political leadership).
The discussion offered an overview of the conceptual and political landscape – something which Prof James states is “useful for scholars, students, the media, and anyone interested in British politics”.
A full recording of the event is now available on YouTube.
Related Articles
2025 – a year in research
The past twelve months have seen UEA researchers break new ground on everything from Magna Carta to the mating habits of jaguars in the Amazon. Join us as we take a look back at just some of 2025’s incredible stories, discoveries and expert insights.
Read more
Q&A with Prof Thomas Ruys Smith: The legend of Santa Claus
Where did the legend of Santa Claus come from? An academic from the University of East Anglia (UEA) answered some questions on how the festive figure came to be.
Read more
New book reveals evolution of Santa Claus legend
A new book by an academic at the University of East Anglia (UEA) offers readers a rare glimpse into the literary and artistic origins of one of the most beloved figures in popular culture.
Read more