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
A cricket captain's electoral disaster 31st August 2021 Ted Dexter, a memorable England cricket captain in the early 1960s, had an unfortunate encounter with the electorate in a Cardiff seat at the 1964 general... Articles
Churchill defeats the historians 20th August 2021 Around a thousand books have been written about him, and yet Churchill still lacks a really satisfactory biography. That is partly because his life had so many... Articles
Stop knocking independent schools 13th August 2021 When this year’s A-level results were published on 10 August, the success of independent schools was greeted sourly in the Daily Mail. ‘Fury over Grade Gap’, it... Articles
Sir Henry Wilson: the MP the IRA assassinated - and the Commons forgot 9th August 2021 There are memorial shields in the House of Commons commemorating MPs who have been killed in action or by terrorists. One is missing. A campaign has been... Articles
Our first Olympic medal-winner 9th August 2021 As the Olympic Games in Tokyo ended after many memorable British successes, Alistair Lexden recalled the very first medals won for Britain in the modern Games... Articles
A famous historian with a remarkable sex life 6th August 2021 One of the most widely read historians of his time, Arthur Bryant, continued to write successful books in old age, and to enjoy a very active sex life with a... Articles
Getting more young people registered to vote 22nd July 2021 We need more of our young people on the electoral registers, ready to cast their votes at general elections. If they are not fully involved, the outcome of... Speeches
On this day, 22nd July, 180 years ago - Sir Robert Peel's great election victory 22nd July 2021 Politics proceeded at a leisurely pace in the first eight months of 1841. That suited the lethargic Whig government under Lord Melbourne, whose chief... Articles
Playing pass the parcel with a dead statesman's reputation 16th July 2021 It is often necessary to return to serious issues several times in order to drive home their importance. A week after reminding the House of Lords on 8 July of... Speeches