A great Prime Minister's early death Thursday, 11 July, 2024 Prime minister at the age of 24, the Younger Pitt died when he was 46 in 1806 after serving in the highest political office for eighteen years, a term exceeded in length only by Walpole. His health was never robust. It is well-known that he added to his problems by drinking heavily, and it is often said that drink killed him. Far from that being the case, the illness that proved fatal to him can... Articles
Biographer of Gladstone and Conservative Party Historian 5th May 2022 Alistair Lexden looks back on the career of an outstanding scholar. His tribute was drawn on by The Times, which published a long and full obituary on May 4... Articles
Book review: The man who loathed Sir Robert Peel 21st April 2022 The man in querstion was the fourth Duke of Newcastle. He poured his venom into his diary, which has just been published. Alistair Lexden’s review is attached... Articles
A great asset to the Lords 20th April 2022 On 13 April, Lord (David) Wolfson of Tredegar QC, a highly regarded barrister, resigned as Justice Minister in Lords. In a letter to Boris Johnson, he said that... Articles
The duchess who cared more for wildlife than for jewels 19th April 2022 On 12 April, The Daily Telegraph reported the trial of a gang who stole jewellery that had once belonged to Winifred, Duchess of Portland. The prize item was a... Recent News
A very rotten apple 7th April 2022 On 7 March ( see below), Alistair Lexden told the House of Lords that Mike Veale, the former Wiltshire police constable who tried to smear Ted Heath as a child... Speeches
Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom 7th April 2022 On 7 April, Alistair Lexden introduced a short debate about Northern Ireland in the House of Lords. The text of his speech follows. It was altered slightly in... Speeches
More music needed in our schools 30th March 2022 An all-party Commons report in 2019 sounded a note of alarm about “the crisis facing music education”. It pointed out that “the overall picture is one of... Speeches
A disgraced Commons Speaker and a jailed Peer 18th March 2022 The following letter was published in The Daily Telegraph on 18 March. SIR - The most appropriate way of registering strong disapproval of people in public life... Articles
A close friend of the Queen with a sense of fun 11th March 2022 The following obituary written by Alistair Lexden was published anonymously — as is the custom – in The Daily Telegraph on 10 March, with some editorial... Articles