Tom Harris: The Imposter: Recent Episodes
tomharrisimposter
In the aftermath of the general election defeat, Tom avoids the temptation to feel sorry for himself and gets on with starting a new career.
Tom's Westminster adventure ends with a decisive defeat, while everyone around him puts on a brave face.
Westminster takes a necessary back seat as Tom focuses on campaigning for a No vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. No spoilers!
Pressure of the job finally puts an end to Tom's front bench career, while he settles down as half of Westminster's Odd Couple. Meanwhile, the Scottish independence referendum looms ever closer.
Being appointed to – and then sacked from – Scottish Labour's front bench, to being appointed as Shadow Minister for Fluffy Animals on Ed Miliband's front bench, and everything in between.
Denis MacShane is one of the most thoughtful and persuasive advocates of the European Union, but Tom is friends with him anyway. A fascinating figure who has been active in the labour movement for more than 50 years, his latest book, "Must Labour Always Lose?" asks why the party has been so electorally unsuccessful in that time and suggests some ways to improve its chances.
Following the death of his closest friend at Westminster, Tom makes the most important political decision of his career.
In the aftermath of the 2010 general election, Labour proves to be the natural party of opposition, while Tom continues his self-sabotage of his own political career.
It's 2010 and thirteen years of Labour government finally come to an end, but not without an intense level of drama involving a final coup attempt, a newspaper campaign against Tom personally, and some prime ministerial name-calling hijinx on the campaign trail.
It all gets a bit over-heated in the summer of 2009, as the expenses scandal claims its most high profile victim, Tom rejects an offer to rejoin the ministerial ranks and the Commons elects a new Speaker. And all that was just in June!
The second part of my interview with Jane Kennedy covers the internal strife in the Parliamentary Labour Party during Gordon Brown's premiership, her decision to leave full time elected politics and then to take up full-time elected politics a couple of years later. And Jane has some harsh words for her former party under Jeremy Corbyn and since.
An interview with the wonderful Jane Kennedy (you'll have to listen to find out where the "F" comes from, and who put it there), who fought Militant and rose through her trade union to become a Labour MP in Liverpool and a minister, before leaving parliament in 2010. Part 1 takes us up to the 2001 general election.
In which Tom manages, through some imaginative accountancy manoeuvres, to compress the entire 2009 MPs' expenses scandal into about 18 minutes.
In which Tom considers resigning as a minister, David Cairns actually does (and gets smeared for his troubles) and an embattled Gordon Brown turns to an old foe for aid in his hour of greatest need.
Rumblings of discontent over Gordon Brown's leadership start to spread as Tom gets on with his day job at the Department for Transport, saving the Blackpool Tram and engaging in a game of red box ping-pong with civil servants over who sets policy. Also, John Prescott shows a disarmingly self-effacing side to his character.
Gordon Brown's premiership gets off to a brilliant start. For a few weeks. Tom waits by the phone (again) to find out if the new prime minister wants him in his new government, before heading off to a Genesis concert. Meanwhile, everyone gears up for a snap general election that is definitely going to happen. Definitely.
Tony's time in office draws to a close, Gordon is crowned King of the Labour Party, and Tom worries that the new prime minister elect doesn't even know who he is. Features Douglas Alexander as Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
"Blue" Peter Duncan was the Conservatives' only Scottish MP between 2001 and 2005. In this episode he recalls his highs and lows from his short tenure as an MP, including Iain Duncan Smith's election as Tory leader, and also Iain Duncan Smith's dismissal as Tory leader.
Tom embarks on his ministerial career just as Tony Blair's is coming to an end. Meanwhile Gordon Brown embarks on a charm offensive to soothe MPs' tempers in the wake of the September 2006 coup.
Dennis Skinner's brush with pop fame, a new baby Harris, and the beginning of the end of Labour's time in government, as a number of MPs try to force Tony Blair from office. Refusing to join the plot against the PM, Tom nevertheless had a ringside seat as the September 2006 coup unfolded.
Falling for Patricia, joy and terror in London, and how on earth did we manage to win the Cathcart by-election under those circumstances?
As the general election of 2005 approaches, tempers flare between Gordon and Tony and between the Commons and the Lords. But at least there's a new series of Doctor Who, and Tom's bound to get a ministerial job once the election's over. Surely?
Tom takes part in "the CIA trip" to the US, sings karaoke in Memphis, says goodbye to his mum and takes a ringside seat to the most bizarre Scottish political scandal ever.
A deep dive into one of the darkest periods of Tom's time as an MP, when he had to fight tooth and nail to be reselected as a Labour candidate, following the redrawing of constituency boundaries. But it has a happy ending. Two, in fact.
Promoted to the giddy heights of PPS, Tom has to resign from a select committee and negotiate PMQs. Bad news on Iraq comes thick and fast, both internationally and domestically, but there is good news for the Harris family in the summer of 2003.
How Tom approached the most momentous and consequential parliamentary decision the Blair government would ever make. Includes swearing and use of the word "rammy".
Sex scandals, tattoo artists, dead dogs and the humiliation of republicanism – just another year in the life of a newly elected Labour MP.
In the wake of 9/11, parliament is recalled and Tom gets a front row (well, sitting on the stairs) seat for the emergency Commons debate. A trip to New York follows, as does an embarrassing brush with celebrity and a volte-face on the monumentally unimportant issue of House of Commons sitting hours.
How to take the oath, claim expenses, find an office and drink champagne... the first hectic few weeks of being an MP.
Foot and mouth disease, John Prescott, comedy-loving voters. . . Remembering the 2001 general election and my first visit to the Commons as a newly-elected MP.
Labour conference (again), losing Donald Dewar, my first trip to the US, and leaving one of the world's greatest football managers stranded in an Edinburgh hotel. Life comes at you fast when you're a Labour parliamentary candidate.
The big day finally arrives. Cathcart Labour chooses its new parliamentary candidate to fight the 2001 general election and nothing – not even a strike by road hauliers – is going to stand in my way. . .
The selection for Labour's parliamentary candidate finally gets underway in Glasgow Cathcart and Tom stares defeat in the face except not really.
It's 1999 and Tom prepares to fight a selection contest while dancing to the Bay City Rollers and getting drunk at 10 Downing Street.
In which Tom battles not very hard against New Labour control freaky and a fortuitous turn of events brings that parliamentary nomination a step closer.
In which the 1997 general election takes place and Tom makes plans for the future with the love of his life. No, not Tony. . .
Reality bites in 1993, but over the horizon comes a white charger carrying. . . You Know Who.
After a half-arsed attempt at local politics, I was appointed as the press officer for Labour in Scotland and was immediately thrown into the double Paisley by-elections – definitely the most important political event in the UK in November 1990. . .
1989 was a good year for Labour and for me, politically. But it was a close run thing. Included here is a 25-year-old me's maiden speech to Labour conference.
Campaigning in the 1987 general election, doing a Redwood, and the curse of "the Scottish constituency".
On my first experience of Labour Party meetings, fighting Militant and How Not To Canvass.
Introducing a new political podcast, exploring the insecurities that can overshadow the life and career of an aspiring (and actual) politician.