What’s the first political memory you have?

[ThisPlumShark]

Tony blair

1963 I think. We went to watch the train carrying his coffin passing through. There were crowds at every railway bridge.

Thatcher removing the milk we used to get in infant school, probably about 5.

Nearly four years old JFK assassination my mum was crying & my dad was visibly upset was my mum’s birthday so think that’s why i can remember.

Same. I was ten. My dad was heartbroken.

Adults voting for Ted Heath or Harold Wilson. Not sure what year that was, probably mid-1970s when I was about 14ish.

Winter of Discontent in 1978/79
Airey Neave assassinated in March 1979

Fall of the Berlin Wall and Apartheid ending. I was quite you g but they were such watershed moments.
My Dad always said hearing about JFK assassination was his.

Accompanying my parents to vote in 1979 election (them not me!). I can remember the winter of discontent as in driving past the bin bags being piled up near the swimming pool in my town, so I was probably thinking that the election would sort this out - good thing. Obviously nine year old me had no idea of the years of hell to come!
First time I cast my vote was the 1989 European Elections - not hugely memorable but I remember being very excited at making my X.

I do remember the electric cuts in the 70s inasmuch as I was really pissed off when I was half way through watching Pollyanna and it all went dark...

Before opening the thread I was coming on to say the fall of the Berlin Wall. I definitely remember images of this. But, now I also feel I was cognisant of Falklands, but I was born in 1981 so I think it was more that Simon Weston used to be on TV a lot and knew he’d sustained his injuries in the war.

Oh yes I remember that. I was so happy - I hated milk then, particularly as it was general warm and on the turn, and I still don’t drink it now 🤣

This

My mother’s terror while listening to the news of the Cuban Missile Crisis on the Home Service, in 1962. I didn’t know what it meant but she thought there was going to be a nuclear war.

Then Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963, I was 7 and watched the TV at every opportunity by then, hoping for a clip of The Beatles!

Arthur scargill was the first political figure I was aware of. And Neil Kinnock
Being involved in some sort of car accident I think? I remember it being reported on Look North. That's what's coming to mind anyway.

The Miners' Strike

JFK’s assassination. We’d just moved to Australia and were on the migrant hostel. I remember all the women standing around listening to the radio. Then Churchill’s funeral when I was 6.

The power cuts we had during the 3 day week and all the strikes. I remember sitting in the darkness on a regular basis and queuing in lines of cars to get to the tip.

Jim Callaghan, and my Dad saying ‘that bloody Thatcher’

John Smith dying

Maggie/The Falklands

Mrs T and The Falklands War. Before that, the Winter of Discontent, but as a 9 year old, power cuts, Tilley Lamps, cooking on camping gas etc was quite fun, and as both my parents worked, they were actually at home more, which was nice.

Like you OP, Tony Blair becoming PM in 1997 and then not a lot until 2002 when my parents involved Brian Mawhinney (local mp) in getting me into a secondary school.

The three-day week/power cuts and the end of the miners strike in 1974. I was 10 and actually a bit sad that my dad had to go back to work full time 🤣 I also missed the candles on saucers that we used to light every night.

Margaret Thatcher and thinking she and the Late Queen were sisters

They had the same hairstyles and talked 'posh.'

Ian Paisley speaking/shouting outside our local cinema. The hunger strikes and Bobby Sands being elected MP and then subsequently dying

The good Friday agreement