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
Baldwin the builder 4th October 2018 It is widely thought, particularly in the Conservative Party, that Disraeli made life significantly better for ordinary people in the late nineteenth century... Articles
Address at the unveiling of the statue of Stanley Baldwin in Bewdley 28th September 2018 On 27 September, Alistair Lexden, historian of the Conservative Party, recalled the character and the achievements of Stanley Baldwin, three times Prime... Recent News
Death rather than dishonour 26th September 2018 A letter published in The Times on September 26 contained the amusing story of a Tory MP, Sir Walter Bromley-Davenport, who, when taken ill in the Commons... Articles
One Nation - yet another correction 23rd September 2018 People constantly get the origin of the term ‘one nation’ wrong. Alistair Lexden has corrected the mistake in the press on many occasions. He did so again in a... Articles
The Presbyterian Queen 6th September 2018 There was a reference in The Daily Telegraph on 3 September to the connection between the Royal Family and Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral which Queen Victoria... Articles
No prospect of democratically accountable government in Northern Ireland 5th September 2018 Since the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive nineteen months ago, the Province has been run by civil servants. They are accountable to no one. The... Speeches
An unloved Tory 28th August 2018 Lord Liverpool (1770-1828) was prime minister for longer than all but two of his predecessors, and longer than all his successors. He had to wait a long time... Articles
Peterloo myth 24th August 2018 Left-wing actors and film-makers love to distort history. A new film about the tragic incident that came to be known as Peterloo is attracting a great deal of... Articles
Justice for Bishop Bell - the Church's shameful silence 8th August 2018 Alistair Lexden is one of a number of lawyers, clerics, academics and others in the George Bell Group, formed to get the investigation of the allegations—grave... Articles