46:30 Shirley Williams (Minister in the government) who had just lost her seat for Labour to a Conservative, received kind commiserations from Norman St John Stevas (Conservative) and he mentioned how sorry we has she had lost because she was a loss to political life in the UK. Could you ever imagine such a kind and gracious exchange in the current political climate? And how amazingly gracious Shirley Williams was in just being interviewed after losing her seat quite unexpectadly.. Its a shame our political discourse is not like this anymore..!!!!
I think you're right. I am a Tory voter, although felt a bit sorry for Mr Callaghan and the Labour government given how badly they were let down by the unions. Now, a lot of people don't agree to disagree - instead treat opponents as to be cancelled or removed.
Yes, I remember watching at the time, and her defeat seemed particularly cruel. And her strength in coming back to have the second interview after what must have been a devastating defeat for her. Watching again now, I too was struck by the goodwill and generosity of St. John Stevas´ words. (Not somethig that one would associate too much with the incoming Thatcher administration). But that was a nice moment certainly, so good on him, a very far cry from the yah boo! politics that normally prevail.
I agree with all the comments on James Callaghan taking it like a man. Probably one of the best speeches I've seen from an incumbent who lost an election.
I watched nearly the whole thing (apart from when they were repeating themselves). Very interesting, took me back to the first election I can clearly remember and which I watched on television at the time. I told the Conservative candidate 'You have got my vote sir', then he asked me how old I was and found out that he did not have my vote that time round!
Thanks for positng. David Dimbleby in his first election night anchor role. Hasn´t really been replaced yet, imho. His apprecation of the human toll and feelings of the defeated are shown in his sensitive reaction to Shirley Williams´defeat and Jim Callaghan´s post-defeat press conference.
How times change. Consider: in his outgoing remarks, Big Jim cited North Sea oil as the thing that would put Britain back on track financially. He'd be drawn and quartered for that sentiment by today's Labourite green-whacks. Also comical: him talking about 10 to 15 years of Toryism...
One of the greatest elections in British and Commonwealth history! Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher, not a man around to match her! (especially James Callaghan, Michael Foot or Neil Kinnock)
Bedwellty - Lab Hold... KINNOCK. Eww. Oh, and when Thatcher was giving her speech at the end, just off camera was a then-unknown ITN journalist named Jon Snow. The rest is history.
BBC Parliament are showing the 1979 Election programme Decision 79 next Monday the Election Night programme from 9:00am-3:10pm and the Friday daytime programme from 3:10pm-12:05am
