Sue MacGregor presents a special programme marking a milestone in British constitutional history.

During the course of the Civil War, the Putney Debates were the most profound public discussions ever held in Britain on the rights of man and the nature of the state. The issues raised over 350 years ago still resonate today. How accountable are our politicians? Should we ignore unjust laws? Who should vote in elections and how often should they be held? And how should the House of Lords be reformed? Actors re-create the passionate arguments between Cromwell and his soldiers, while a distinguished panel of historians and politicians, including Tony Benn and Eric Forth, debate their crucial importance for political discussion today.
Dramatist Peter Goodchild Director Martin Jenkins Producer Jane Greenwood Repeated Sunday 5pm