"A Very British Coup" (1988) - left-wing political thriller

[Tummler]

I recommend this prescient television mini-series to any DUers who like such fare.

Courtesy of Amazon.com, here's the description from the DVD publisher:

The taut, powerful, all-too-plausible story about a democracy attacked from within. When plain-spoken, charismatic former steelworker Harry Perkins becomes prime minister in a landslide Labour Party victory, his socialist agenda horrifies the entrenched ruling class and the right-wing media. As Perkins presses ahead with plans to close down U.S. military bases, break up newspaper monopolies and dismantle British nuclear weapons, the establishment and its American allies conspire in a brutal back-room struggle to regain control. Starring Ray McAnally (A Perfect Spy, My Left Foot), this PBS Masterpiece Theatre miniseries won an International Emmy Award, three top British television awards and the Banff Television Festival grand prize.

Perkins, the socialist PM, is a third-generation steelworker. He's smart, honest, and a true man of the people. So, of course, the landslide election of his government causes outrage among the establishment, and they immediately set forth to destroy him through any means at their disposal. His enemies include a vile Murdoch-like media baron, the British military and intelligence communities, the upper ranks of the BBC, a Lieberman-like "moderate" within his own party, and a right-wing U.S. administration. I'd like to say "you won't believe what they throw at this guy," but if you're a regular DUer, you probably will.

More info at IMDb:
http://imdb.com/title/tt0094576/

The TV mini-series is based on a 1982 novel by Chris Mullin -- the British socialist, not the sharpshooting NBA star. Mullin has since become a Labour MP and a minister in the Blair government.