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
Keeping covered in the Lords 10th July 2017 Sartorial traditions recently discarded in the House of Commons are stoutly maintained in the Lords chamber –though it is not entirely immune from change where... Articles
Understanding Northern Ireland's history 9th July 2017 It is widely believed that the historical background to Ulster’s troubles is so complicated that it cannot be readily understood. In fact, its principal... Articles
Book Review - The History of Hansard 6th July 2017 Lord Lexden finds much to enjoy about this concise account of the battle to publish parliamentary debates – and the sometimes violent confrontations that ensued... Articles
A Bill to help brothers and sisters who make a home together 4th July 2017 On 3 July, Alistair Lexden introduced a short Private Member’s Bill in the Lords where it was given its formal First Reading. The Bill would extend the Civil... Recent News
Nick Timothy - the reckoning 24th June 2017 Mrs May’s notorious former chief of staff, Nick Timothy, did great damage before and during the election campaign. The scale of it is now clear. Writing in The... Articles
A long-serving minister in the Lords 23rd June 2017 On 23 June, The Daily Telegraph carried an obituary of the 4th Viscount Long who had died ten days earlier. This affable man from a strong Tory family had a... Articles
Kings dress up 23rd June 2017 Having dealt with dress-down Queen Victoria in a letter to The Times (below), Alistair Lexden explained in a letter in The Daily Telegraph on 24 June how the... Articles
Dress-down Queen 22nd June 2017 The Queen’s decision to dispense with much of the customary ritual at the State Opening of Parliament on 21 June prompted the following letter from Alistair... Articles
MPs with silent forebears 21st June 2017 Opening the debate on the Queen’s Speech in the Commons on 21 June, Richard Benyon MP mentioned that an ancestor in the 19th century failed to utter a single... Articles