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
Book review: Back from historical oblivion 24th December 2017 The 5th Marquess of Lansdowne had a long and important career at home and abroad which ended abruptly a century ago in November 1917. A sudden fall from grace... Articles
Questions in the House 21st December 2017 Every day proceedings in the Lords begin with four oral questions. They are submitted in advance by members and answered by government ministers or... Recent News
Who got women the vote? 21st December 2017 The standard answer is Mrs Pankhurst and her law-breaking suffragettes. The credit really belongs elsewhere, as Alistair Lexden explained in the main letter... Articles
Boarding schools - a lifeline for children without family homes 19th December 2017 All the statistics show that children in care trail behind other pupils in academic and other qualifications for the world of work. Some, but by no means all... Speeches
Churchill's fascist friend 15th December 2017 Writing in The Spectator on 2 December, Charles Moore referred to a most cordial meeting between Churchill and Mussolini in 1927. In a letter published in the... Articles
Bishop Bell: a reputation restored 15th December 2017 George Bell (1883-1958), Bishop of Chichester from 1929 until shortly before his death, was one of the greatest figures that the Church of England has ever... Recent News
If cats and dogs could vote 8th December 2017 On 7 December, the Lords debated the natural environment and animal welfare. Alistair Lexden spoke about domestic pets. What, he asked, would they want to see... Speeches
Women and hereditary titles 5th December 2017 The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 introduced gender equality in the monarchy: males no longer take automatic precedence over females in inheritance rights to... Articles
Another young prince whose bride had a husband living 28th November 2017 Prince Harry’s father made a second marriage in middle age to a woman in the lifetime of her previous husband. Centuries have elapsed, however, since the last... Articles