Category Archives: Prime Ministers

Sir Robert Peel’s smile rehabilitated

Posted on August 17, 2022 by sball1832

It’s not unusual for quotations in politics to assume a life of their own. The late Simon Hoggart amusingly recorded how one particular phrase attributed to him about Lord Mandelson, of which he had no memory, appeared first in one … Continue reading →

Posted in Images of MPs, Prime Ministers | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Sir Robert Peel and the modern Conservative party

Posted on February 5, 2020 by salmonphilip

Today (5 Feb) marks the birthday of Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), the 19th century prime minister traditionally credited with founding the modern Conservative party. Peel is also subject of a new BBC ‘Prime Properties’ episode – click here to view … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Prime Ministers, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Political Prorogations: a view from the Victorian Commons

Posted on September 4, 2019 by salmonphilip

It’s been a long time since the business of suspending Parliament and starting a new session has generated so much political controversy. Throughout most of the 20th century prorogations invariably tallied with the expectations of most parliamentarians, neatly book-ending a … Continue reading →

Posted in Parliamentary life, Prime Ministers, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Lord Derby, ‘centre’ parties and minority government

Posted on December 7, 2018 by salmonphilip

150 years ago the Conservative prime minister Lord Derby retired from office, having managed to pass one of the most significant constitutional reform packages of the 19th century – despite leading a minority government. This post examines the career of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Forthcoming events, Prime Ministers | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The role and power of the House of Lords

Posted on November 13, 2018 by salmonphilip

To mark Parliament Week 2018, our editor Dr Philip Salmon looks at a key element of Parliament which we don’t usually have much opportunity to reflect on in our work on Victorian MPs and constituencies: the House of Lords. Yet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legislation, Parliamentary life, Prime Ministers | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Imagery and props: the Wellington boot, Disraeli’s novels and Gladstone’s axe

Posted on August 8, 2018 by Martin Spychal

Our research fellow Dr. Martin Spychal shares some insights from his work on the BBC Radio 4 series, Prime Ministers’ Props… I’ve recently been working with our former editorial board member, Professor Sir David Cannadine on the second series of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, Materiality, Prime Ministers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments