Archbishop Welby's unprecedented resignation Wednesday, 13 November, 2024 At the end of the 17th century an Archbishop of Canterbury resigned because he was unwilling to swear allegiance to the Dutch King William III and his English wife Queen Mary II. On November 12, Archbishop Welby became the first to do so since then. The circumstances were very different. He departed in response to heavy criticism of his handling of the most serious abuse case in church history... Articles
Balfour and Palestine 12th March 2024 The Tory Prime Minister, Arthur Balfour, is remembered above all for the famous Declaration he made as Foreign Secretary in 1917 supporting the creation of a... Articles
Ted Heath: another round with the Home Office 12th March 2024 On 11 March, Alistair Lexden continued his long campaign to get the Home Office to put an end to the injustice that has been done to the reputation of Ted Heath... Speeches
Would the Queen have smiled? 7th March 2024 “We are not amused”, Queen Victoria is supposed to have said (there is no evidence that she ever did). However, a smile might have been brought to her lips if... Articles
Labour's threat to small schools 1st March 2024 An oral Question in the Lords on 29 February drew attention to the higher costs that small charities will face because of the impending increase in the national... Speeches
Northern Ireland: Political stability at long last? 29th February 2024 On 27 January, the Lords held a general debate on Northern Ireland. It took place on what is known as an Humble Address to the King, a procedure through which... Speeches
The gay Tory who spied for the Soviets 26th February 2024 Everyone has heard of the Profumo scandal which did such damage to Harold Macmillan’s Government in 1963. It is often forgotten that his Government had been... Articles
Creativity and skills in schools 9th February 2024 A Lords cross-party select committee, of which Alistair Lexden was a member, spent several months last year looking in detail at the way pupils between the ages... Recent NewsSpeeches
Kings and cancer 7th February 2024 The following letter was published in The Times on 7 February. Sir, It is immensely poignant that the King’s cancer diagnosis should have been announced the day... Articles
No united Ireland 3rd February 2024 The appointment of a Sinn Fein first minister in Northern Ireland has led to speculation that a united Ireland is now a serious prospect. Alistair Lexden... Articles
