The Language of Political Leadership in Contemporary Britain

Introduction: political leadership and British political culture; Part 1 David Owen and social democracy: the relationship of speaker to audience; the representation of society; the call to action and moral vision. Part 2 David Steel and liberalism: the argument; personality traits - maxims and truth, humour, the Steel/Owen relationship, passion, claims to an alternative legacy. Part 3 Neil Kinnock and democratic socialism: the representation of the world - the rulers, the ruled; the programme; the projection of leadership persona. Part 4 Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative tradition: government and people; government and morality; government as a task; government as protector; the character of the speaker.