77. Lord Hain on growing up in crisis, letterbombs and a Kafka-esque plot
Former Secretary of State Lord Peter Hain’s remarkable life was forged in crisis. His parents’ peaceful but determined activism against apartheid – and the drama that surrounded his family as a result – was the backdrop to Peter’s upbringing in South Africa. The Hains were constantly harassed – and at one stage jailed by the South African security services.When a close family friend was convicted and executed for the bombing of a railway station – an attack which his family condemned – it was Peter, aged just 15, who spoke at the funeral. Peter’s parents moved to the UK in 1966 … exiled from the country they loved. He joined the British anti-apartheid movement and aged just 19 became the Chairman of the infamous Stop the 70 Tour which organised direct action against South Africa’s proposed cricket tour of England. A major success for the anti-apartheid movement. Peter’s campaigning led to him being followed and bugged by Mi5, receiving death threats and becoming the subject of an assassination attempt. A life in British politics beckoned for Peter … but not before more extraordinary drama and crisis. As a Labour politician he held office as Welsh Secretary, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Northern Ireland Secretary, playing a key role in negotiating the power sharing settlement in 2007.His time in politics also brought more personal crisis – a donations scandal that he described as a ‘soul searing experience’ Now in the Lords, Peter continues to campaign and as an author he’s written 29 books including biographies of Mandela, his own brilliant biography A Pretoria Boy and a series of novels focused on the crisis of animal conservation. The latest, The Elephant Conspiracy (see link below) has just been released. A fascinating conversation with someone who has lived, breathed and experienced crisis from so many different angles.Links:Stream/Buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bmSome Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.ukYour Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682Buy Peter’s latest book, The Elephant Conspiracy: Volume 2 – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elephant-Conspiracy-Peter-Hain/dp/1739966058 Also read his earlier book, A Pretoria Boy: The Story of South Africa's 'Public Enemy Number One' – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pretoria-Boy-Africas-Public-Number/dp/1785787632 Host – Andy CoulsonCWC production team: Louise Difford and Jane SankeyWith special thanks to Global For all PR and guest approaches please contact – podcast@coulsonpartners.com