The last Lib-Lab pact, in 1977-78 during the premiership of James Callaghan, ended in tears.

ECONOMIST: Politics

In the 1970s James Callaghan, lacking a majority, had to court the Commons.

ECONOMIST: The golden age of the Commons

In 1979, 58.3% of the Welsh electorate cast their votes, to deliver a crushing rejection of devolution to James Callaghan's weakened Labour administration.

BBC: Wales referendum: Has the nation warmed to devolution?

And with Mr Cunningham gone, only one Margaret Beckett, leader of the House of Commons was a minister under Mr Blair's most recent Labour predecessor, James Callaghan.

ECONOMIST: The cabinet reshuffle

James Callaghan was a patriotic, decent man and a skilful politician.

ECONOMIST: Obituary

When Roy Jenkins was defeated by James Callaghan for the leadership of the party in 1976, and withdrew to head the European Commission, Mr Marquand followed him to Brussels.

ECONOMIST: British politics

In the end, it was the unions themselves who put her into office by smashing up the James Callaghan Labour government in the winter of 1978-79 the so-called Winter of Discontent enabling the Tories to win the election the following May with a comfortable majority.

WSJ: Paul Johnson: The World-Changing Margaret Thatcher