Blue Labour: We Need to Talk About Maurice

Blue Labour: We Need to Talk About Maurice

From Origin Story by Podmasters

February 4, 2026 · 1h 30m · Season 8 · Episode 17

About this episode

This episode explores the origins and influence of Blue Labour and its founder Maurice Glasman within the context of British politics.

Origin Story is live at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London on Weds 15th April 2026 - tickets selling fast, get yours here Welcome to a between-season bonus episode of Origin Story. We’ve missed you! This one emerged from our three-parter on the history of the Labour Party and one of the burning obsessions of British politics: the faction known as Blue Labour and its ubiquitous founder Maurice Glasman. As Keir Starmer’s government continues to alienate its base in order to chase the same socially conservative voters as Reform UK, fingers are pointing at chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and his connections to Blue Labour, turning Glasman into the party’s eminence grise. But how influential is Glasman really? And where did Blue Labour come from? The story begins in 2008, when the financial crisis coincides with the death of Glasman’s mother. The jazz-loving, City-hating, chain-smoking academic and community organiser invents Blue Labour: blue as in sad and blue as in “conservative socialism”. As New Labour falls to pieces, Glasman’s maverick vision of Labour’s long history and possible future intrigues heavyweights from across the party. He’s elevated from obscurity to the House of Lords…

Topics covered

  • Blue Labour
  • Maurice Glasman
  • Labour Party history
  • British politics
  • social conservatism

Keywords

  • Blue Labour
  • Maurice Glasman
  • Labour Party
  • Keir Starmer
  • British politics
  • social conservatism
  • Morgan McSweeney

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Labour Party, Reform UK, Ed Miliband, Blue Labour

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