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SERIES 2 |
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PROGRAMME 9: Tam Dalyell on Richard Crossman
 Richard Crossman was a gifted figure who managed to combine a career as a successful politician with that of a brilliant academic and intellectual.
Born in Cropredy, Oxfordshire, on 15 December 1907, the son of a Judge, he attended Winchester and New College, Oxford, where he studied Classics. He soon embarked upon an academic career, becoming a Fellow in Philosophy at only 23.
His political career was as precocious. At 27 he became leader of the Labour Group on Oxford City Council, he was also a leading Fabian and Assistant Editor of The New Statesman.
With the coming of World War II Crossman became a Civil Servant, eventually rising to become Assistant Chief of the Psychological Warfare Department, for which he was awarded an OBE.
He entered Parliament in the Labour landslide of 1945. A prominent member of the 'Keep Left' group his intrersts were largely in the foreign policy arena, notably the creation of the Israeli and Palestinian states. When Labour were forced into opposition Crossman began keeping a diary of his time on the backbenches.
On Labour's return to power in 1964 he entered the Government as Minister of Local Government (1964-66) and the Privvy Council. He later rose to become Leader of the House and Lord President of the Council (1966-68) then Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (1968-70).
Again in opposition Crossman became Editor of The New Statesman and concentrated on preparing his Diaries for publication. When Crossman died in 1974 his Diaries were his lasting legacy.
Despite vigorous government attempts to suppress the Diaries they eventually began appearing in 1975. The first time a Cabinet Minister described the inner workings of government they revealled a picture of a Cabinet riven by factionalism and torn apart by the clashing of great egos.
The success of these Diaries ensured there was no shortage of others to follow in his footsteps, although few could match his wit or insight.
Perhaps his greatest contribution was the description of the rise of 'Prime Ministerial Government', his analysis of the concentration of power away from the Cabinet into the hands of Downing Street, a threat to collective responsibility that is still with us.
 Tam Dalyell was at Eton and Cambridge before becoming a teacher in both Scotland and India. As MP for West Lothian (1962-83) his greatest contribution to British political life was the formulation of the West Lothian question, an objection to Scottish devolution based on the presence of Scottish MPs at Westminster. Between 1964-70 he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Richard Crossman.
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BBC History
This Sceptred Isle
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to programme 9: Tam Dalyell on Richard Crossman
