David Owen Interviewed by Louise Richardson

Former foreign secretary Lord David Owen discusses the mental and physical condition of political leaders past and present, reflects on the state of Brexit, and talks about his life in politics, in the third lecture in an annual series in which the vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, Professor Louise Richardson, invites an eminent figure to be in conversation with her.

Owen is a former neuroscientist and has written extensively on hubris syndrome – an exaggerated pride, extreme self-confidence and contempt for others seen in powerful leaders. He says there is compelling evidence that the course of world history has been changed by the ill health of world leaders. His latest book, Hubris: The Road to Donald Trump, looks at how the mental and physical condition of past leaders paved the way for the narcissistic Donald Trump.

Owen voted to take Britain into the Common Market against the Labour party line in the early 1970s. However, he campaigned in the referendum for leave, arguing a federalist Europe was moving away from us. He has recently argued for the UK to move into the European Economic Area before transitioning to a ‘Canada Plus Plus Plus’ deal.

Owen served in Labour governments as Navy minister, health minister and foreign secretary. He co-founded the SDP in 1981, was its leader from 1983-90, and now sits in the House of Lords as an independent social democrat.

The first two Vice-Chancellor’s Lectures were delivered by terrorism expert Professor Richard English and novelist Anne Enright.