This month is the 30th anniversary of the election of Neil Kinnock as leader of the Labour Party, in October 1983. To mark this, here are a few documents from his campaign. As it happens, Kinnockis one of my favourite collections. It took years to catalogue, being (a) massive and (b) in no particular order, and besides, Neil Kinnock is also the only politician I’ve ever met who would get down on his hands and knees in his office to help me pack it up. And, being the archive of someone who is very much alive (and last seen being hastily escorted from the home stand of the Fulham FC ground after his beloved Cardiff City scored a goal), it is still growing. We received some more of his House of Lords correspondence just a few weeks ago.
Neil Kinnock’s nomination form for the Labour leadership elections, 1983. Reference: KNNK 2/1/8.
Draft of Neil Kinnock’s statement of views for the Labour leadership elections, 1983. Reference: KNNK 2/1/8.
