Description
How politicians consider, define, and respond to issues shape their actions. This paper explores Smethwick’s long-term Labour MP Patrick Gordon Walker, a politician with a complicated legacy in post-war decolonisation. A former Commonwealth Relations Secretary, Gordon Walker had a complicated relationship with racial issues, including the banishment of Seretse Khama, opposition against the restrictive Commonwealth Immigration Bill in late 1961, with his failed re-election at Smethwick in 1964 often linked to this stance. This paper examines Gordon Walker’s social origins and political career to consider whether he was to blame for the disconnection between his candidacy and voters, or whether a ‘connect’ ever existed in the first place.| Period | 18 Jun 2021 |
|---|---|
| Event title | Britain and the World conference 2021 |
| Event type | Conference |
| Degree of Recognition | International |
Related content
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Activities
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The Road to Smethwick's 1964 contest: Activism, candidates, and elections
Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Colonialism and Political Reputation: A case study of Patrick Gordon Walker
Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Research output
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A southern 'Smethwick'? The Eton and Slough constituency and the 1964 General Election
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review