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James Callaghan

62 quotes

“Never let me hear anyone say again that a Socialist State cannot provide outlets for those with initiative. The rewards given to ability in the U.S.S.R. at all levels are far greater than those given to the employed in capitalist Britain. I have seen it and it works.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1946 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reynolds News (17 March 1946)
“Peace-or-war, not cost-of-living, was the most important issue at the election. He did not believe that peace with Stalin would be easy to achieve. Some delegates seemed to think it was all a matter of “getting together with Joe.” Had they forgotten their Marxism, and its interpretation of history. That was what they were dealing with, not Uncle Joe.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1951 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in Scarborough (2 October 1951), quoted in The Times (3 October 1951), p. 7
“There could be no democratic and independent Socialist Party in this country unless they aligned themselves with others against the insidious attempts of Communism to break the Socialist movement.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1952 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in Morecambe (1 October 1952), quoted in The Times (2 October 1952), p. 2
“I have not the slightest doubt that the economic measures and the Socialist measures which one will find in countries of Eastern Europe, will become increasingly powerful against the uncoordinated, planless society in which the West is living at present.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1960 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (15 December 1960)
“We should be aiming in the latter part of the 1960s for a 5 per cent. and then a 6 per cent. growth rate. Only then shall we attain the programme of social expenditure that is both necessary and desirable.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1964 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (20 July 1964)
“I hate putting up taxes.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1965 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interview on BBC television (20 May 1965)
“We have had a tremendous battle over the past 12 months. Sterling is safe. That battle is won.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1965 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (30 September 1965), quoted in The Times (1 October 1965), p. 16
“If we achieve our target, 1967 will be a different year from the last two, a year in which we will begin to move forward again, and 1968 to 1970 will be the years of achievement in which the fruit of the work now being done will be shown.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1966 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to a constituency Labour Party dinner in Swindon (28 January 1966), quoted in The Times (29 January 1966), p. 8
“I sum up the prospects for 1967 in three short sentences. We are back on course. (Loud Ministerial cheers and Opposition laughter.) The ship is picking up speed. (More Ministerial cheers.) Every seaman knows the command at such a moment: "Steady as she goes". (Laughter and cheers.)”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Budget speech in the House of Commons (11 April 1967), quoted in The Times (12 April 1967), p. 7
“Those who advocate devaluation are calling for a reduction in the wage levels and the real wage standards of every member of the working class.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Chancellor stands by three per cent growth and no devaluation", The Times (25 July 1967), p. 13
“I think that it came as a surprise, if not a shock, to most people, when that notorious advertisement appeared in The Times in 1967, to find that there is a lobby in favour of legalising cannabis. ... The existence of this lobby is something that the House and public opinion should take into account and be ready to combat, as I am. It is another aspect of the so-called permissive society, and I am glad if my decision has enabled the House to call a halt in the advancing tide of so-called permissiveness. I regard it as one of the most unlikeable words that has been invented in recent years.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1969 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (27 January 1969)
“Millions of people in Britain must have been very surprised to hear that the language of Chaucer, of Shakespeare and of Milton must in future be regarded as an undesirable American import from which we have to protect ourselves if we are to build a new Europe. We can agree that the French own the supreme prose literature in Europe. But if we are to prove —if we have to prove—our Europeanism by accepting that French is the dominant language in the Community, then my answer is quite clear, and I will say it in French in order to prevent any misunderstanding: Non, merci beaucoup.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in Southampton (25 May 1971)
“[Callaghan] said that President Pompidou had made it clear that where differences existed between Britain and the French-dominated EEC, "Britain must subordinate them to the extent of a complete rupture with our identity". He asked if Mr. Heath's offer to participate in a European spirit, which signified a French spirit, meant that "we are honour bound not to try to upset the principles of the common agricultural policy?" Had Mr. Heath made it clear that no one believed it made sense to give up buying cheap food from New Zealand to buy dear food from France?”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in Southampton (25 May 1971), quoted in The Times (26 May 1971), p. 5
“The Treaty of Rome was tailor-made to support French agriculture and German manufactures. It is by no means ideal for Britain's future trading arrangements. It was not designed for this purpose. The question is whether it is worth joining on the terms that are on offer or, as I believe, whether we would do better for ourselves by waiting.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Cardiff South East Labour Party (23 July 1971), quoted in The Times (24 July 1971), p. 2
“Too much stress is being put on the soldiers and the RUC to solve problems which politicians have failed to solve for so many years. There must be a political solution if the gunmen are to be divided from the rest of the population.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in Belfast (11 November 1971), quoted in The Times (12 November 1971), p. 1
“[D]espite the indignation and horror with which most of us regard the actions of the Provisionals, we must not allow our policy to be dictated by revenge or by passion. If we do, we shall not only behave in an immoral way; we shall lose the battle.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (17 November 1971)
“The power structure in Britain is changing. Authority is no longer obeyed for its own sake. There are severe limits on what government can do, so the way to win the battle against inflation and unemployment is not to try to dragoon the country. If we do we shall fail. We must secure its consent. We are playing for high stakes. In a real sense, adherence to the social contract puts on trial whether our society has the will and determination to solve its problems by democratic means.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1974 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in London (27 November 1974), quoted in The Times (28 November 1974), p. 6
“First of all, please make sure that you go and vote in the Common Market referendum on Thursday. And secondly, the Government asks you to vote 'Yes', clearly and unmistakeably.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Referendum broadcast (2 June 1975).
“But the policies of the 1960s would not be successful today. No more would general import controls.They benefit some home industries at the expense of the livelihood of everyone working in exports. We would be robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech at Woolwich (30 January 1976)
“If we were to fail, I do not think any Government could succeed. I feel it would lead to a totalitarian government of the left or the right.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On BBC TV (30 September 1976), quoted in The Times (1 October 1976), p. 1
“I think there is a case for opening a national debate on these matters.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (14 October 1976), referring to education policy. The phrase "national debate on education" is associated with Callaghan's speech at Ruskin College on 18 October 1976 but appears nowhere i…
“It is quite clear from what has been said and written that, time after time after time, there has been a conspiracy between the Conservative Front Bench in this House and the inbuilt Conservative majority in the House of Lords to defeat legislation that has passed through the House of Commons...I warn the House of Lords of the consequences...it is our strong view that the House of Lords should recall that its role is not that of a wrecking chamber, but of a revising chamber. In recent weeks, it has been wrecking legislation passed by this House.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (9 November 1976)
“[Callaghan] said the most hateful slogan that he had heard recently, made at a protest march, was "What do we want? Everything! When do we want it? Now!" That was not socialism but fascism. There are too many of these people who have infiltrated this party already. Get them out!”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Replying to a question at the annual constituency dinner of the Leeds East Labour Party (3 December 1976), quoted in The Times (6 December 1976), p. 1
“A canting hypocrite.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On Tony Benn (16 December 1976), quoted in Bernard Donoughue, Downing Street Diary, Volume Two: With James Callaghan in No. 10 (2008), p. 122
“The PM [Callaghan] said he is 'a supporter of Brazil'. Wants immigrants to marry UK natives, 'decent white Britons', and let us have a coffee-coloured community, but one single community, not this inflow of different cultures into a so-called 'multicultural society'.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks to the committee on immigration (22 February 1977), quoted in Bernard Donoughue, Downing Street Diary, Volume Two: With James Callaghan in No. 10 (2008), p. 152
“[The first task is to beat inflation.] Until we do, every wage rise which is not met from higher production is a ticket to the dole queue. That is why it is important to reach a renewed understanding with the trade union movement for the next 12 months, an arrangement which will break decisively from the inflationary spiral that has plagued us.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the all-Wales rally of the Labour Party (2 July 1977), quoted in The Times (4 July 1977), p. 2
“[There are those in the Labour Party] whose language has become increasingly ideological and intolerant, base their politics solely on texts and creeds, and believe that the drafting of long resolutions will usher in the millennium.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the all-Wales rally of the Labour Party (2 July 1977), quoted in The Times (4 July 1977), p. 2
“[Callaghan] said the Labour Party was not built on dogma and advised his comrades to look at some of the old trade union banners. They would not read ideological texts there, but words like "fraternity, humanity, unity and comradeship".”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the all-Wales rally of the Labour Party (2 July 1977), quoted in The Times (4 July 1977), p. 2
“The dangers which some have seen of an over-centralised, over-bureaucratized and over-harmonised [European] Community will be far less with 12 member states than with nine.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Ronald Hayward, General Secretary of the Labour Party (30 September 1977), quoted in The Times (1 October 1977), p. 3
“Meantime I say to both sides of industry, 'Please don't support us with general expressions of good will and kind words, and then undermine us through unjustified wage increases or price increases. Either back us or sack us.'”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in Brighton (5 October 1977), quoted in Labour Party Annual Conference Report 1977, p. 217
“What I know is that this country will be a divided society that will not be worth living in unless there is true racial equality for every citizen who lives in it.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1978 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the local government conference in Bristol (28 January 1978), quoted in The Times (30 January 1978), p. 3
“5 per cent it is, and I have told the unions that they have all the weapons. We are naked in their presence and we need their co-operation.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks to the Cabinet on official pay policy (20 July 1978), quoted in Tony Benn, Conflicts of Interest: Diaries 1977–80 (1990), p. 326
“Well, that's a judgment that you are making. I promise you that if you look at it from outside, and perhaps you're taking rather a parochial view at the moment, I don't think that other people in the world would share the view that there is mounting chaos.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1979 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Response to Evening Standard reporter's question "What is your general approach, in view of the mounting chaos in the country at the moment?" (10 January 1979); used to justify The Sun headline "Crisis? What Crisis?" on…
“Jim said he was more depressed as a trade-unionist now about the future of this country than he had been for fifty years. He never believed it would come to this.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks to the Cabinet recorded in Tony Benn's diary (1 February 1979), quoted in Tony Benn, Conflicts of Interest: Diaries 1977–80 (1990), p. 450
“Now that the House of Commons has declared itself, we shall take our case to the country.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1979 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (28 March 1979). Following the announcement that the government had lost by 1 vote, Callaghan declared his intention to call a general election
“There are times, perhaps once every thirty years, when there is a sea-change in politics. It then does not matter what you say or what you do. There is a shift in what the public wants and what it approves of. I suspect there is now such a sea-change and it is for Mrs. Thatcher.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1979 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On the general election of 1979, quoted in Kenneth Morgan, Callaghan: A Life (1997), p. 697
“I'll tell you what happened. We lost the Election because people didn't get their dustbins emptied, because commuters were angry about train disruption and because of too much union power. That's all there is to it.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1977 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks to Tony Benn (9 May 1979), quoted in Tony Benn, Conflicts of Interest: Diaries 1977–80 (1990), p. 499
“[E]verything that we say and do shall be directed towards achieving a basis of unity and a basis of unity that will develop the thrust that is required to rid our country of a reactionary, hard-faced and incompetent Government, headed by the most self-opinionated Prime Minister since Neville Chamberlain.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1980 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in Blackpool (30 September 1980), quoted in Report of the ... Annual Conference of the Labour Party (1980), p. 62
“I do not want it to be thought that I believe the constitution is unchangeable or is perfect. It is not. We are an evolving Party. We can change it. But changes have got to be made against a different atmosphere from the present one. We have got to get away from this. For pity's sake, stop arguing. The public is crying out for unity in order to get rid of the Thatcher Government. (Applause)”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1980 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in Blackpool (30 September 1980), quoted in Report of the ... Annual Conference of the Labour Party (1980), p. 67
“Unilateral disarmament by Britain is opposed to our country's best interests, could begin the unravelling of NATO and therefore jeopardise the stability of Europe.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1982 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Guardian (19 November 1982)
“For 338 paragraphs the Franks report painted a splendid picture, delineated the light and the shade, and the glowing colours in it, and when Franks got to paragraph 339 he got fed up with the canvas he was painting and chucked a bucket of whitewash over it.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1983 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (26 January 1983) responding to the Franks Inquiry into intelligence before the Falklands War.
“The Soviet Union's propaganda clearly wishes to use public opinion in this country to get the West to reduce its own arms while doing nothing themselves. In this way they would gain nuclear superiority. This is simply not on.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1983 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech at Cardiff (25 May 1983), quoted in Tim Jones, "Callaghan defends deterrent", The Times (26 May 1983), p. 1. This was during the 1983 general election in which the Labour Party had a policy of unilateral nuclear …
“A leader must have the courage to act against an expert's advice.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1986 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Harvard Business Review (1 November 1986)
“A leader has to appear consistent. That doesn't mean he has to be consistent.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1986 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Harvard Business Review (1 November 1986)
“When I was young, we didn't discuss abortion or homosexuality. What I think most people feel is that we don't want all these particular areas to be aggressive when there is a feeling of tolerance of them which is generally understood and accepted. But if they become aggressive in minority interests...that is something I feel many people – and certainly I myself – recoil from. ... [The] nuclear family is the most loving you can have.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1987 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interview with Brian Walden (17 April 1987), quoted in The Times (18 April 1987), p. 1 and The Times (20 April 1987), p. 13
“I come to the question of the Governor of the Bank of England, who made [a] speech...[which] was, I thought, a very good exposition of the nature of this country's problems. ... When he came to the question of the rate of wage and price inflation, in which he dealt with the question of unused resources, what he said I agree with. He said: “it is impossible to manage a large industrial economy with the very small margin of unused manpower and resources that characterised the British economy in the 1940s and 1950s.” That is true. ... We must have a somewhat larger margin of unused capacity than we used to try to keep. That is the truth of the matter.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech in the House of Commons (7 November 1967)
“What would need to be reopened would be the test questions that were put to Mr Heath by M Pompidou and tamely accepted by him. To the question: “Do you agree to work for economic and monetary union?” Mr Heath had said “yes”, but the Labour movement said “no”. To the question: “Will you turn away from the open seas and mould yourself to Europe?” Mr Heath had said “yes” and the Labour movement was saying “no”. A Labour Government will seek to reopen the principles and renegotiate the details, specifically on high food prices which are part of their present policy and a reversal of Britain's food policies for over a century. We intend to have that renegotiated and to return to our traditional freedom to purchase food from other countries outside the EEC without incurring penalty.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to the Labour Party Conference in Brighton (4 October 1971), quoted in The Times (5 October 1971), p. 6
“Our place in the world is shrinking: our economic comparisons grow worse, long-term political influence depends on economic strength – and that is running out. The country expects both full employment and an end to inflation. We cannot have both unless people restrain their demands. If the TUC guidelines [on pay] are not observed, we shall end up with wage controls once more and even a breakdown of democracy. Sometimes when I go to bed at night, I think that if I were a young man I would emigrate. But when I wake up in the morning, I ask myself whether there is any place else I would prefer to go.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1973 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks to a meeting of the Cabinet held at Chequers (17 November 1974), quoted in James Callaghan, Time and Chance (Collins, 1987), p. 326 and Tony Benn, Against the Tide: Diaries 1973-1976 (Hutchinson, 1989), p. 266
“James Callaghan: ...I am not pro, nor am I anti... Robin Day: What are you doing on this programme? Callaghan: I'm here because you asked me. Day: You're here to advise people to vote 'Yes' aren't you? Callaghan: ...I am here, and the Prime Minister has taken the same line; it is our job to advise the British people on what we think is the right result. Now there are a lot of other people who've always been emotionally committed to the Market. A lot of other people have been always totally opposed to the Market. I don't think the Prime Minister or myself have ever been in either category and that is not our position today. I'm trying to present the facts as I see them and why we have come down in favour of – now Britain is in, we should stay in.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On Robin Day's phone-in (27 May 1975), quoted in David Butler and Uwe Kitzinger, The 1975 Referendum (Macmillan, 1976), p. 176.
“You know, as I do, that we face two deep-seated problems, inflation and unemployment. Both of them are still too high. ... I have to emphasize to you that if we fail to bring down inflation, we shall never succeed in overcoming unemployment. We cannot have a prosperous industry in this country if we are unable to sell our goods overseas. No one owes Britain a living, and may I say to you quite bluntly that despite the measures of the last 12 months, we are still not earning the standard of living we are enjoying. We are only keeping up our standards by borrowing, and this cannot go on indefinitely. There is no soft option. I do not promise you any real easement for some time to come. There can be no lasting improvement in your own living standards until we can achieve it without going deeper and deeper into debt as a nation.”
James Callaghan (1912–2005) first seen 1976 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: First television broadcast as Prime Minister (5 April 1976), quoted in The Times (6 April 1976), pp. 1–2