John Smith, Labour Leader and Tribune of the People

John Smith enjoyed the shortest of periods as Labour Leader (1992-1994), yet within two years he transformed the Labour Party, after its disastrous defeat in the 1992 general election, to one with a more than 20 per cent lead in the opinion polls.

This dramatic change in fortunes was partly a product of his witty exposure of Tory sleaze, his control of trade unions, and his move towards rethinking social justice through an examination of Labour's new policies, which were probably more Old Labour than New Labour. However the platform for these developments was his own integrity and commitment to democracy and justice which made him popular with the electorate.

To many, he was Labour's lost Prime Minister and the Tribune of the People.