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
Churchill as Home Secretary in a Liberal government 17th April 2023 His brief stint at the Home Office in 1910-11 was not an unqualified success. There were setbacks as well as achievements. Alistair Lexden assessed some of the... Articles
Nigel Lawson's first job in the Conservative Party 14th April 2023 Nigel Lawson, widely regarded as Britain’s finest post-war Chancellor, died in early April. Alistair Lexden, Conservative Party historian, recalls how he first... Recent News
Queen Camilla's footnote 9th April 2023 The following letter was published in The Times, after one or two editorial excisions, on April 8. Sir, Queen Camilla has contributed an interesting footnote to... Articles
The Prime Minister's Northern Ireland achievement 31st March 2023 Alistair Lexden has, on many occasions, condemned Boris Johnson’s Northern Ireland Protocol of 2019. It created an intolerable trade barrier within the UK and... Speeches
A police misconduct scandal: a little Home Office progress? 22nd March 2023 In the Lords on 20 March, Alistair Lexden returned to an issue which has concerned him greatly for a long time. He said: “I remind the House that for many... Speeches
Harold Macmillan and his wife's lover 17th March 2023 The long-running affair between Dorothy Macmillan and the bisexual Bob Boothby was widely known at the time, and initially caused Macmillan much pain; but it... Articles
Improve Northern Ireland air services to strengthen the union 14th March 2023 That was the theme of comments made by Alistair Lexden in the Lords on 13 March. He said: “ Does not a strong Union require good, efficient and reliable air... Speeches
Alistair Lexden's new book 8th March 2023 In Horace Farquhar: A Bad Man Befriended by Kings, published on 8 March, Alistair Lexden uncovers the misdeeds of a scandalous figure, now largely forgotten... Recent News
Northern Ireland: reversing Johnson's betrayal 28th February 2023 On 27 February, the Lords debated and passed legislation to defer elections in Northern Ireland that are now due since there is no immediate prospect of... Speeches