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
Asquith's 400 new peers - a precedent for Brexit? 19th May 2018 The House of Lords has been strongly criticised in certain quarters for amending the EU Withdrawal Bill in a number of significant respects. Some people are... Articles
Would Britain's pets vote Conservative? 11th May 2018 In a debate on animal welfare last December, Alistair Lexden spoke in light-hearted vein about what the political parties would have to do in order to attract... Speeches
Enoch Powell and conservatism 4th May 2018 The recent 50th anniversary of Enoch Powell’s ‘rivers of blood’ speech brought out his critics in force. What is insufficiently appreciated is that... Articles
Poor quality special advisors 3rd May 2018 Nearly 90 temporary civil servants, known as Special Advisers, work directly for government ministers, assisting them with the party political aspects of their... Articles
The Fawcetts - a unique tribute 2nd May 2018 On 24 April, Dame Millicent Fawcett, leader of the highly successful, law-abiding women’s suffragist campaign, became the first woman to be commemorated by a... Articles
60th anniversary of life peerages 30th April 2018 On 30 April 1958, Harold Macmillan’s Bill to create peers for life became law. Alistair Lexden marked the 60th anniversary of this major constitutional reform... Articles
Council for Independent Education Awards 24th April 2018 At the House of Lords on 18 April, Alistair Lexden, President of the Council for Independent Education(CIFE), and its Chairman, Sally Powell—shown together here... Recent News
Justice denied to Ted Heath 19th April 2018 Grave damage has been done, quite disgracefully, to the reputation of Ted Heath by Operation Conifer, the name given to the investigation by Wiltshire police of... Speeches
Neville Chamberlain - the unappreciated merits 13th April 2018 This article stems from a lecture which I gave at the Carlton Club in March. I have for long been deeply interested in the career of Neville Chamberlain, the... Articles