Historian | Author of "Now or Never! A History of the First Scottish Devolution Referendum", published by @BloomsburyAcad on 12 Nov 2026 | Manager @MileEndInst.
Essex
Joined September 2011
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The first reviews of my forthcoming @BloomsburyAcad book, "Now or Never!", have just been published!
Thanks so much to @davidtorrance and the titanic @NaeFear for reading it and providing such lovely endorsements!
You can find out more and pre-order your copy in the link below.
ALT Reviews: "The 1970s were a decade of referendums - Northern Ireland, Europe, Scotland and Wales - but that regarding a devolved Scottish Assembly in March 1979 was one of the most historically important. This engaging book by Tom Chidwick brings it vividly to life, from its dramatic birth in Lanarkshire electoral politics to its sustained parliamentary battles and finally its often colourful campaign". Dr David Torrance, House of Commons Library.
ALT "Chidwick demonstrates undoubted objectivity and grasp of the powers, and personalities, at work in an important period of Scottish and UK politics". Jim Sillars, Scottish National Party.
Tom Chidwick retweeted
I'm chairing a discussion about Blue Labour in a pub in Glasgow one evening next month. You don't have to be a Labour person to come along, you just need to be interested in Scottish politics. Maybe see you there?
More details: eventbrite.co.uk/e/can-blue-…
Tom Chidwick retweeted
Many congratulations to my wonderful colleague and friend, Tom!
Tom has chosen an excellent topic for his debut book -- the 1979 devolution referendum campaign in Scotland -- full of colour, personality, and fresh analysis. A delightful morsel of British political history.
I had the pleasure of listening to Tom present his research at @QMUL (with some great archival finds and photographs!). Now I am very much looking forward to reading the book.
We'll get Tom back on the @SAAC_Podcast to speak about his work soon!
It's two weeks today until my new book, "Now or Never!", is published!
It was lovely to get my hands on a copy for the first time yesterday and to celebrate with my wonderful editor @AtifaJiwa.
You can pre-order NOW on @BloomsburyBooks website: bloomsbury.com/uk/now-or-nev…
ALT The author looking even more smug than he usually does ...
It's two weeks today until my new book, "Now or Never!", is published!
It was lovely to get my hands on a copy for the first time yesterday and to celebrate with my wonderful editor @AtifaJiwa.
You can pre-order NOW on @BloomsburyBooks website: bloomsbury.com/uk/now-or-nev…
ALT The author looking even more smug than he usually does ...
It’s being launched at @MileEndInst with a stellar cast on 18 November at 6.30pm.
I'll be joined by @carolynquinncq, Ben Jackson and Annabel Goldie to ask what we might learn from Scotland’s first referendum.
All welcome! eventbrite.co.uk/e/now-or-ne…
Tom Chidwick retweeted
This piece came with the enjoyable experience of finding excellent ITV archive of Denis Healey
A politician who was not afraid of the camera
Ahead of the budget, I looked back at the first Chancellor Healey and what @JohnHealey_MP can learn from him
Contributions from @NickTorfaen and @jon_trickett
Tom Chidwick retweeted
It's 10:16am, is John Healey still in bed?
On the one and only occasion Harold Macmillan delivered a Budget, he was. Here's what he wrote in his diary for 17 April 1956:
"Budget Day. I stayed in bed most of the morning..."
A mini-thread. 🧵
Tom Chidwick retweeted
Best anecdote in Carol Thatcher's book about her father is when Sir Denis boarded a train at Paddington in which the only empty compartment was reserved for Rosewood Psychiatric Hospital.
Denis travelled alone and in comfort as far as Reading when "all these chaps piled in", accompanied by a male nurse, who counted them before the train moved off.
'One, two, three, four ... who are you?"
"I'm the Prime Minister's husband."
"Six, seven, eight, nine..."
Tom Chidwick retweeted
Well this is jolly exciting! The Wipers Times, which I wrote witn @PrivateEyeNews Ed # InaHislop, is returning to @WatermillTh to launch its 60th anniversary celebrations! Tin hats off to @WatermillTh #WW1 #WipersTimes
Tom Chidwick retweeted
Great to be at the launch of @LeeDavidEvansUK “Coronations and Defenestrations” - the definitive modern guide to Tory leadership election
There’s no vacancy currently but would be plotters ought to pick up a copy…
This episode of @LordSpeaker's Corner with @MileEndInst’s Peter Hennessy is delightful.
As the King said of the Queen Mother, one of Peter's great heroes, Peter and Enid are "life enhancers". Their stoicism and good cheer in the face of Parkinson's should be a model to us all.
Family and friends form a powerfully supportive community when someone close has Parkinson’s.
Historian Lord Hennessy, joined by his wife Enid, tells me about his personal experience of the condition, after retiring from @UKHouseofLords.
@ParkinsonsUK @CarersUK
Tom Chidwick retweeted
Ted Heath modestly naming his favourite dish after himself in the 1987 Commons cookery book. And Jim Callaghan’s rather exotic choice of moussaka.
Tom Chidwick retweeted
We are delighted to announce that @anandMenon1
will take over from @CER_Grant as director of @CER_EU
in the new year.
Look out for more news soon on how Anand will ensure that some of the best bits of UK in a Changing Europe are maintained at the CER.
📢 The @CER_EU appoints a new director: @anandMenon1 will succeed @CER_Grant as director, taking over at the start of 2027.
I'm over the moon that Annabel Goldie, former Scottish Tory Leader, has agreed to speak at my @MileEndInst book launch on 18 November!
We've got a fabulous line-up including the voice of Radio 4 @carolynquinncq and the author of THE book on Scottish nationalism so do join us!⬇️
Now or Never! The First Scottish Referendum and its Legacy, 1976-2026.
Book your place to join us at the @MileEndInst to celebrate my new @BloomsburyBooks book now!
eventbrite.co.uk/e/now-or-ne…
It's a month today until my new book is published by @BloomsburyAcad!
Thanks to @MileEndInst, I'll be launching "Now or Never!" at @QMUL with a stellar panel featuring @carolynquinncq, @po_qu's Ben Jackson and others to be announced soon.
All are welcome so please do join us!
Next month, I'm going to be launching my new @BloomsburyAcad book, "Now or Never!", at my beloved @MileEndInst.
Speakers include the voice of Radio 4 @carolynquinncq, @po_qu's Ben Jackson and a MYSTERY Scottish politician. Do join us if you can!
eventbrite.co.uk/e/now-or-ne…
Tom Chidwick retweeted
A rather sad announcement from @anandmenon.bsky.social on the future of UK in a Changing Europe.
ukandeu.ac.uk/announcement/s…
Tom Chidwick retweeted
A recent interview with Richard Rose, who at 93 has just published his 61st book -- on the next UK general election.
He reflects on his long life in British politics, arriving at Oxford in 1957 from St Louis. He travelled the country with David Butler during the 1959 general election! And he interviewed Clement Attlee for his thesis.
politics.ox.ac.uk/news/meet-…
Tom Chidwick retweeted
Not to be missed 👇
Next month, I'm going to be launching my new @BloomsburyAcad book, "Now or Never!", at my beloved @MileEndInst.
Speakers include the voice of Radio 4 @carolynquinncq, @po_qu's Ben Jackson and a MYSTERY Scottish politician. Do join us if you can!
eventbrite.co.uk/e/now-or-ne…
Next month, I'm going to be launching my new @BloomsburyAcad book, "Now or Never!", at my beloved @MileEndInst.
Speakers include the voice of Radio 4 @carolynquinncq, @po_qu's Ben Jackson and a MYSTERY Scottish politician. Do join us if you can!
eventbrite.co.uk/e/now-or-ne…
Tom Chidwick retweeted
The time Jerffery Archer got the HIGNFY treatment.
