This film is part of Free
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_480x270/public/hero-images/QCdjB5HwFOTaWQ8X4xMDoxOjAwMTt5zx_1.jpg?itok=3p_L82bt)
Attlee at Walthamstow
One of Britain’s earliest surviving party political broadcasts.
Overview
One of our earliest surviving party broadcasts: a remarkable artefact of political communication from an era before ‘spin’ ruled the airwaves. As flat visually as it’s absorbing verbally, the largely unscripted conversation between local dignitaries and Labour leader and former PM Clement Attlee inside Walthamstow Town Hall today feels awfully stiff in style - and impressively mature in content.
Attlee left the leadership of the Labour Party one month after this broadcast, but remained MP for West Walthamstow until 1955. He here invokes local son William Morris’ dictum ‘Fellowship is Life’ in drawing a contrast between Labour and Tory philosophies. But the discussion centres mostly on foreign affairs, with Attlee making interesting comparisons between Russia and China. This film survived in the form of a telerecording - a film recording of what was originally a live broadcast on the BBC - made by pointing a 16mm camera at a TV monitor as the programme was being televised.
Related
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo252937958.jpg?itok=D6uJprF8)
Vote for Froglet Vote for Froglet
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1974 7 mins
As the general election is held in the UK, it's polling day for the Clangers on a small blue planet far away.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo251551539.jpg?itok=uOXVrYZI)
Sam Small at Westminster Sam Small at Westminster
Promotional 1935 3 mins
It's the 1935 general election and Stanley Holloway recites a comic monologue promoting the policies of the National Government.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo251549642.jpg?itok=M1cjpVxk)
Bristol Fashion Bristol Fashion
Party political broadcast 1959 25 mins Location: Bristol
The Labour Party takes a heartfelt look at Bristol council’s social(ist) housing and education agenda, spinning a 'new story from an old city'.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo251551037.jpg?itok=hJo0CAMH)
Mr. Jenkins Pays His Rates Mr. Jenkins Pays His Rates
Documentary 1957 19 mins Location: Slough
Slough gets a resounding thumbs-up from a reluctant ratepayer in a surprising 1950s government film.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo251549797.jpg?itok=no5_lG2k)
Socialist Car of State Socialist Car of State
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1930 9 mins Silent
Party-political hyperbole meets Wacky Races in this spirited cartoon produced for the Conservative Party.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo251646674.jpg?itok=GAoG96cW)
Children and Politics Children and Politics
News 1964 3 mins
Some remarkably well informed (well, for the most part) children interviewed prior to the 1964 General Election.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/1b14534cf4e46b6b0b6700de48d22106.jpg?itok=YR6y5moz)
Herons on Walthamstow Reservoir June 1951 Herons on Walthamstow Reservoir June 1951
Amateur film 1951 13 mins Silent Location: Walthamstow
Regal herons and their young are filmed in the urban wilderness of Walthamstow Reservoir in this home movie shot from a hide in the 1950s.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo260103648.jpg?itok=B5m8KSof)
Duke and Duchess of York... Hospital at Walthamstow Duke and Duchess of York... Hospital at Walthamstow
Non-Fiction 1927 1 mins Silent Location: Walthamstow
The future King George VI and future Queen Mother pay a whistlestop tour of a new hospital extension in Walthamstow
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo259953182.jpg?itok=p-1vRTYK)
Walthamstow Charter Day Celebrations Walthamstow Charter Day Celebrations
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Walthamstow
Crowds cheer and the mayor speaks as Walthamstow celebrates becoming a municipal borough in 1929.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Shoot-Your-Shot-02.jpg?itok=KREdlpBS)
Shoot Your Shot Shoot Your Shot
Drama 2022 12 mins
An emotional stand-off takes flight, as teen best friends Ronit and Brennan come to terms with navigating that fuzzy feeling in their stomachs, all whilst learning to skateboard.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Yellow-04.jpg?itok=Bt5NDkC8)
Yellow Yellow
Drama 2023 13 mins
In Taliban controlled Afghanistan, Laili walks into a Chadari store in Kabul to buy her first full body veil from a Talib shopkeeper and face a new future.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/%25E2%2580%258ELook-Like-You-02.jpeg?itok=2R3w9luT)
Look Like You Look Like You
Drama 2022 13 mins
While visiting the adoptive family of her eight-year-old biological son, Tara relays advice she gathered from growing up as a queer outcast.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/NEHEMICH-02.jpg?itok=ba9fjUy4)
Nehemich Nehemich
Drama 2023 23 mins
Banished in a dilapidated village hut during her menstruation, a young girl waits to elope with her lover.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/1717526943-default-ovp-poster-image.jpg?itok=Fk8VLsGa)
Interview with Pam Cullen Interview with Pam Cullen
Inside Film 2020 53 mins
Interview with Pam Cullen who at 97 boasts an incredible career spanning over fifty years in the Indian film industry.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/muscleqanda.jpg?itok=8sw22r7R)
Muscle - Exclusive Q&A Muscle - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 34 mins
Director Gerard Johnson talks Nia Child through the making of Muscle, an adrenalized drama that tears into the stereotypes of masculinity and male friendship.