16: The Night Shift: William Hague's office in Opposition, 1997-2001; with Baroness Stowell

When the Conservatives suffered their landslide defeat in the 1997 General Election, they faced the sudden shock of opposition: ignored by the public, mocked by the press, and cut off from the support of the government machine after 18 years in power. As their new Leader, William Hague had to build his team for the uphill struggle ahead, which he later called "the night shift". Tina Stowell was recruited by Hague a few months later as his Deputy Chief of Staff, with responsibility for organising and running the Leader of the Opposition's office, where she sought to bring order and professionalism to Hague's inner team. In this interview, she takes us inside the Leader's Office during those challenging years and gives her assessment of the Hague Opposition. She also discusses her own later political career, when as Baroness Stowell of Beeston, she served as Leader of the House of Lords in David Cameron's Cabinet. Presented by Dr Nigel Fletcher.