Season 2, Episode 4: Labour of Time [1959 CE] (ft. special guest Tom GK)

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Comedian and writer Tom GK returns to the PastMaster studio, taking the hot seat as a player and heading to the Labour Party conference in Blackpool in 1959. There he plans to alter the course of British politics and improve life for everyone in the country for decades to come.

After an initial display of hopeless incompetence from our AI GameMaster, Tom finally gets to take the microphone. With a deft surgical incision into the Labour Party’s home ownership policy, Tom sets the backdrop for a shift in political power and pulls the rug out from under Thatcherism.

But it’s not all hard work. While in the north-west Tom makes time to head Liverpool and catch a Quarrymen gig, seeing John, Paul and George on stage.

Also pesky fellow time traveller Napolean Bonaparte turns up and, inspired by Blackpool’s culinary delights, creates his own ice cream empire.

You can see Tom performing with the Oxford Imps at The Jericho Tavern every Monday at 8pm in Oxford University term time.

On the march

Oh yeah, watch out for Napoleon

How Labour could have dominated British politics (according to Claude)

In 1959, Labour could have pivoted to embrace technological modernization and economic pragmatism while maintaining strong social welfare principles.

By proposing comprehensive industrial innovation strategies, investing heavily in education and skills training, and developing a forward-looking economic model that balanced market dynamism with worker protections, they might have presented a more compelling alternative to Conservative governance.

Emphasising meritocratic opportunities, digital infrastructure development, and a nuanced approach to global economic integration could have positioned Labour as the party of progressive, practical change, attracting broader middle-class support and transforming Britain's political landscape.

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