Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain, from 1945 to Truss

by Steve Richards

An authoritative history of the most consequential events in post-war British politics from Steve Richards, broadcaster, journalist, and author of The Prime Ministers We Never Had.

‘Steve Richards is one of the shrewdest political commentators we have’ – Andrew Marr

Every few weeks in British politics, a columnist will reach for the word ‘unprecedented’ as a cabinet minister resigns or yet another inquiry is called. We have become so accustomed to turmoil that it is impossible to take a breath and see where we are headed. In this magisterial history, respected broadcaster and journalist Steve Richards puts the recent chaos into context and takes a step back to explore ten critical moments that have shaped modern Britain.

From the Suez Crisis of 1956 to the Covid-19 pandemic, from 1945 to Thatcher, Richards argues that it is only with distance that we can perceive the tectonic plates shifting – and events that may seem earth-shattering in the moment might be a passing tremor with the perspective of history.

With his trademark insight, forged over several decades as one of the UK’s foremost political commentators, Richards blends anecdote and analysis to explore the biggest events in British political history. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand our nation, this landmark work is enlightening and entertaining in equal measure.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction, British Literature

416 pages, Hardcover

Published January 2, 2024

Reviews

[Jake Delbridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a comprehensive and compelling analysis of British politics since 1945 and gets at the root of the reasons why the country has developed (or in many cases not developed!) in the way it has. Its analysis, particularly from 1979 onwards, is pretty much spot on in my opinion. The only reason this does not get 5 stars is that it is sometimes too detailed in parts. It could be either slimmed down or have more room dedicated to commentary from the author, which is probably its biggest strength.

[Ricky Balas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but not very entertaining. Indeed, it was quite dull. I learned a fair amount about some interesting episodes in modern British history (especially the 70s oil crisis and Blair's downfall with Iraq), but it reads a bit like a college textbook.

[William Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The distance of time makes it stronger on the early post-War years. Ultimately, he js correct that we are trapped with the social reforms of the 1960’s and the Thatcherite economics of 1979. Thatcher’s legacy looming larger and longer than Attlee’s. Presented with so many turning points and crises (increasing since 2008), we seem unable to change direction. Our politics in a state of permanent confusion, unable to settle on a clear identity and direction.

[Evelyn Fenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until now, I’ve thought of politics as a pendulum swinging from left to right and back again, with the left periodically being elected to mitigate the least compassionate of right wing policies.

After reading this, I fear our politics is more like a backstitch leading inexorably to the right, the needle moving two units to the right, followed, if we are lucky, by one unit to the left. As the Tories move to the right, so does Labour in its quest to be electable. Any bursts of actual socialism are quickly quashed at the polls.

So, overall, I found this book both enlightening and depressing.

At first glance the events discussed in this book are key breaks with the past; they are the turning points of the title after all. However, the author makes a case for there having been a failure to create lasting change.

Neither of our main parties emerges from this analysis unscathed, and the thorny issue of Europe has claimed multiple scalps.

Other themes to emerge from the narrative are:
- the British press is far more tolerant of the right wing than the left and does not apply the same high standards when holding the right to account.
- Britain has long had an ambivalent attitude to Europe, unsure whether to align itself with our continental neighbours or suck up to the USA. Brexit merely brought these tensions to a head.
- The conservative right wing will never be satisfied or appeased by any concessions made to them; concessions come across as a rallying call for demanding ever more. They got the Brexit referendum. They demanded a hard Brexit (ideology trumping economic prosperity) because a soft Brexit wasn’t enough. What will they demand next?
- As a country, prioritising low taxes over investment has led to poor and declining public services and our being ill-prepared for global upheavals, whether these be economic or pandemic. Where these events have happened, the state has been forced to intervene and has done so surprisingly effectively. However any lessons learned about the value of state involvement and agency are quickly forgotten, sacrificed on the altar of doctrine.

I’m left wondering whether the Conservatives, who have moved away from one nation conservatism, are even recognisable as the same party they were 70+ years ago. Maybe only the name persists, but the name is enough to lull voters into a false sense of security; who knows where this shift to the right is going to take us?

Britain is for the most part a two party state, but the range of opinions within those parties are diverse. Does any other country in Europe have the same spread of values within a single party? And how can we, as electors, know what we are getting with this spread. Maybe a larger number of smaller parties with more coherent values would be easier to understand and easier to hold to account.

Does a country get the politicians and governments it deserves? I hope not because surely we are not so miserable a nation to deserve the governments we have been given.

[Joe O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

There can be few more knowledgeable guides to British politics than the veteran reporter Steve Richards. But his latest historical analysis, “Turning Points”, doesn’t quite match the verve and insight as his previous volume, “The Prime Ministers We Never Had”. This is because Richards’ choice of historical events (or ‘turning points’ in post-war British political history) are more predictable than the selections he made in that last work. The post-war ‘turning points’ catalogued here – the 1945 Labour landslide, the Thatcherite revolution, Brexit – are largely those you would expect, although Steve Richards details them with his characteristic perceptiveness and fairness.

Richards makes some though-provoking choices of ‘turning points’ in this book, such as the oft-overlooked 1967 Abortion Act (which while undoubtedly a striking piece of reforming legislation, is rarely considered to be a pivotal event in post-war history), and the 1973 international Oil Shock that effectively ended Social Democracy in the U.K. Persistent themes across this book include the influence of the national newspapers, Prime Ministers learning the wrong lessons from recent history (particularly in terms of foreign policy and military adventurism), and leaders calling referendums on Europe in vain bids to keep their parties together. If there was an axis upon which Richards views post-war British history, it is the competing definitions of ‘Freedom’ advocated by Right and Left, and the concomitant arguments over the role of the state in the economy. And it is always entertaining to read Steve Richards eviscerate David Cameron and George Osborne, those “Turbo-charged Thatcherite” wolves masquerading as moderate centrist lambs.

[Jesse Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the fourth book by Richards that I've read, and it was far and away the least satisfying. Part of the problem is that "turning points" is a rather weak, vague structure around which to build a book. It often amounts to recitations of famous events in UK history, whether they be Suez or Brexit. Does anyone really disagree that the 1945 election or the 1979 election were turning points? Richards' reflections are well-informed but they feel too loose and unstructured to be terribly insightful or novel. This book doesn't feel like it was the product of either much original research or renewed thinking on Richards' part, which is a shame -- as he's a talented analyst and teacher. This felt less than the sum of its parts, and often not worthy of its stellar author.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent clear-eyed and lucid analysis of British political history since 1945, with the emphasis - as the title says - on moments which forced, or provided the opportunity for, changes of direction. Sadly, we still haven't figured out where we stand in relation to Europe, we're still kidding ourselves about the special relationship with the US, and we've very little idea about the proper role of the state in providing services for citizens and whether we're willing to pay for it through taxation. So the title's actually quite misleading. Good book, though.

[Will Charley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title suggests, the book romps through key political moments of the last 80 years, from the Second World War to the rise of Rishi. In a faintly Buzzfeed-esque style listicle, Richards identifies ten key ‘turning points’ - some of which seem spot on, but a few others feel thrown in to get to double figures. It’s an enjoyable read though it perhaps might not offer too much that’s new to the table. But it has an interesting key message: That we never learn lessons from our crises and are bound to repeat them.

[Michael Macdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating argument against our conservative politics

Steve Richards shrewd and thoughtful, not adjectives he applies to politicians he reviews. Fond of Atlee and Wilson, contemptuous of Blair
and respectful of Thatcher, he analyses and dissects failures that leave an uncertain future. Probably far too kind to failed Labour leaders, he dismisses New Labour but does not understand why Miliband and Corbyn were so ineffectual.against his assessment of poor Government.

[Katie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book that covered lots of history, primarily related to foreign affairs and the role of the state in the UK. However, I feel like at times there was lots of assumed knowledge and it definitely felt a bit dry. The constant switching between political voices in all chapters was also a bit confusing at times

[Hannah Harazawa · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOVED Prime Ministers We Never Had and also, The Prime Ministers, but found this less enthralling.

For one, SR said ‘TURNING POINTS’ far too many time

Still, not a bad read

[Joe Baird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of time for Steve Richards but found this quite free form, enjoyable though and he is a font of knowledge

[Andrew Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, a wonderful post war history and increases your understanding of where we are today

[Ian Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's OK, but you need to be more of a political nerd than I am to get the most out of it.

[Edward Paulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does a great job of explaining both interpersonal politics and long term narratives and how they interlinked.

[Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richards takes no prisoners in his clear analysis of recent British history.

[Harry Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

+1/2 ⭐️

[Rachel N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Politics in the age of rolling news and social media seems to involve one major story after another, with every politician and commentator trying to shout the loudest. In this book, Steve Richards picks out 10 events in post war Britain that could genuinely claim to be turning points in the nation's history.
The 10 chosen are convincing and each of them is a well written essay which gives plenty of context and the chance to take a step back and see a bit more of how we got where we are. A really interesting book packed full of information but always easy to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in return for an honest review.

[Mihir Choughule · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book and one that should be mandated reading across political and economic spheres.

If it seems like Britain has been stuck in a state of constant crises since the turn of the century - that’s because it has. Great insight into how all these events came about, the political mood in the country and the devastation/optimism that was unleashed in the country afterwards.