Joining the Party

Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament

Many of us have an interest in politics or want to help a cause, but most won’t turn this passion into a career in Parliament!

Within the History of Parliament’s Oral History project we don’t just ask former MPs about their time in the Chamber, but ask questions about individuals’ upbringing or family life, all in an effort to work out why these people found themselves affiliated to a certain political party and fighting for a seat in the Commons.

In our second episode we look into the motivations behind pursuing a political life and the impact that home life and childhood can have.

Presented by Dr Emma Peplow and Dr Alex Lock, produced by Melissa FitzGerald at Zinc Audio. With additional writing from Dr Priscila Pivatto and script editing from Connie Jeffery. All interviews are deposited at the British Library. Find a catalogue of interviews on our website.

Artwork by [e-mail].

Find more from the History of Parliament Trust at www.historyofparliament.com and follow this link to find information about our publication ‘The Political Lives of Postwar British MPs’.

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More information:

All interviews used in the episode are deposited at the British Library.

Their reference codes are as follows:

Olga Maitland interviewed by Emma Peplow, C1503/0139

Jim Sillars interviewed by Malcolm Petrie, C1503/0110

Toby Jessel interviewed by Anne Gulland, C1503/0077

Ted Rowlands interviewed by Paul Seaward, C1503/0025

Mildred Gordon interviewed by Richard Stowell, C1503/0087

Graham Tope interviewed by Andres Hertz, C1503/0166

Frank Judd interviewed by Rosa Gilbert, C1503/0004

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