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
Who invented One Nation Conservatism? 8th October 2017 Disraeli is widely believed to have originated it. Several years ago, however, Alistair Lexden established that he had never used the famous phrase which first... Articles
Capitalism and conservatism 2nd October 2017 Successful Conservative economic policies have always been based on the principles of capitalism. Those principles have not been given much prominence recently... Articles
Chris Patten's Ulster errors 22nd September 2017 Chris Patten’s first job in government was a junior post at the Northern Ireland Office which he held from 1983 to 1985. A year after returning from Hong Kong... Articles
Our future King 18th September 2017 A leading article in The Times on September 16 expressed concern that the Prince of Wales might seek to bring undue influence to bear on ministers when he... Articles
Stephen Ward: Scapegoat in the Profumo scandal? 17th September 2017 On 31 July 1963, Dr Stephen Ward, a well-known osteopath and artist, was convicted on two counts alleging that he lived on the earnings of a prostitute. The two... Articles
A flawed study of Parliament during the First World War 15th September 2017 Nothing could be more welcome, as we commemorate the centenary of the First World War, than an account of what happened in Parliament during the period... Articles
Police misconduct 14th September 2017 At oral question time in the Lords on 13 September, Alistair Lexden returned to a serious issue about which he has been greatly concerned since the beginning of... Speeches
Boarding school places for children in care 8th September 2017 Some children—a relatively small percentage of the total number—placed in care can thrive in boarding schools. There was a time when local councils recognised... Speeches
The 1922 committee 6th September 2017 Every Wednesday afternoon when the House of Commons is in session, backbench Conservative MPs meet in the well-known 1922 Committee. When important political... Articles