Bill Brand

Season

1976

7.7

Bill Brand is a new left-wing firebrand MP who gets involved with the political issues of the day (mid 1970s), while experiencing frustration with the remoteness of parliamentary politics and complications with his personal life.

Episode List

S1 • E1

In

While Brand's agent, Jowett, worries about potential image problems, it seems certain that his relationships with wife Mim and girlfriend Alex are not going to be made any easier by the victory.

You Wanna Be a Hero, Get Yourself a White Horse

S1 • E2

You Wanna Be a Hero, Get Yourself a White Horse

Brand settles into his parliamentary and constituency routine and finds his ideas are different from those of the whips, who make it clear that he is expected to serve the party exclusively.

S1 • E3

Yarn

Having flouted the authority of the whips, Brand faces censure from his Constituency Labour Party, but is determined to see the government intervene to save jobs.

S1 • E4

Now and in England

Mim continues with divorce proceedings; Brand's resulting depression is recognised even by Jowett. The work-in at Bryant's, meanwhile, is running out of steam.

S1 • E5

August for the Party

Brand's agent, Jowett, forces him to spend the summer recess working in his constituency in an attempt to regain his popularity.

S1 • E6

Resolution

Brand stands in as the Leighley CLP delegate to the Labour Party Conference at Blackpool.

S1 • E7

Tranquillity of the Realm

Brand chooses the Standing Committee on the Further Containment of Terrorism Bill as a platform from which to berate the government for its lack of socialist principles.

S1 • E8

Rabbles

As a resuit of the uproar he caused with his amendment in the Committee on the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Brand faces a crisis in his political career. This coincides with the end of a chapter in his personal life.

S1 • E9

Anybody's

Party schisms and the absence of clear leadership bring about the possibility of the Crown being advised to call for the Leader of the Opposition.

S1 • E10

Revisions

A new leader, Venables, is elected from the right of the Party. Brand now realises that it is no longer from within Parliament that the necessary pressure can be brought to bear, but from outside in the grassroots movements.

S1 • E11

It Is the People Who Create

Brand continues his campaign to rouse opposition to the policies that Venables is determined to incorporate into the Queen's speech, but soon finds even his most committed colleagues are not prepared to split the party.