Opposition Studies

Brief clip of Heath making a speech during the 1970 election.

Former Conservative Leader Michael Howard launches an attack on Tony Blair's former Press Secretary Alistair Campbell for having "bullied and lied his way across our political life". BBC Newsnight, 10 May 2007

The famous speech Churchill delivered on 5 March 1946 at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, whilst Leader of the Opposition.

A 1931 appeal by Baldwin for support for the National Government, arguing that the Labour Party (under Arthur Henderson) had disrupted the stability of the country. Baldwin was, in effect, second in command of the National Government. However, he was better suited to film than the Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, who always looked uncomfortable in the glare of the camera. Baldwin, indeed, had had advice and encouragement from various film producers, and from John Reith, director-general of the BBC. This advice and his own naturalness in front of the camera served him effectively in the 1935 election, when he was returned as prime minister. From Downing Street archive

Winston Churchill takes a holiday in the Unites States whilst Leader of the Opposition.

Margaret Thatcher describes her battles with the "Grandees" in her party

David Cameron opens his leadership election speech to the Party Conference in 2005 by paying tribute to past Conservative Leaders

BBC coverage of the death of Leader of the Opposition John Smith, at the age of 55.

Former Leaders of the Opposition Neil Kinnock and William Hague debate on BBC 1's Andrew Marr show.