The Political Editors: Julian Haviland

Julian Haviland became political editor of the Times in 1981, but his career in journalism began in the 1950s and covered every prime minister from Alec Douglas-Home to Margaret Thatcher. He tells Matt about his recollections of a smug Jim Callaghan, the decent but flawed Harold Wilson, and Thatcher having a stiff drink before her weekly audience with Queen Elizabeth.

He also reveals that the Queen was horrified by police conduct at the Battle of Orgreave during the miners' strike, a story he confirmed but was unable to run at the time.

The Political Editors is half a century of politics told by the people who wrote the first draft of history for the Times.

Plus: Columnists Daniel Finkelstein and Jenni Russell discuss whether shoplifting has effectively been decriminalised, whether the Conservative party is choosing the right people to fight the next election, and whether Rishi Sunak has a future as an artist.

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