Category: Factions

Stuart, 17th Century history, Factions, Interregnum, Welsh History

St David’s Day: The First Welsh Republican

For those of you who have been waiting with bated breath for another blog from our resident Welshman and History of Parliament Trust Director, Dr Stephen Roberts, the wait is over. Last March for St David’s Day, Stephen explored the development of the relationship between Parliament and the Welsh language (Part One and Part Two). Today he explains the journey of the first Welsh republican, from his humble beginnings in the countryside … Continue reading St David’s Day: The First Welsh Republican

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James I to Restoration, 17th Century history, Factions, Interregnum, Military history, Stuart

Peace at Last?

Earlier this autumn saw the 80th anniversary of the Munich agreement, marked by a ‘Peace for our Time’ blog from our assistant director, Dr Emma Peplow.  As the first of a series from the House of Commons 1640-1660 section looking at events over the winter of 1648-1649, Dr Vivienne Larminie examines another occasion on which lasting peace seemed within the grasp of politicians at Westminster.  … Continue reading Peace at Last?

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Elections, Factions, Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd earl of Liverpool, Social history, Victorian

The General Election of 1818

Today’s blog from Editor of the Commons 1832-1868 Section, Dr Philip Salmon details the significance of the contentious and rather lengthy 1818 election, and the way it shaped constituency voting in the lead up to the Great Reform Act, 1832… This month marks the 200th anniversary of the 1818 general election, the first of a series of elections held after the Napoleonic wars that began … Continue reading The General Election of 1818

Philip Salmon2 Comments
Modern, 20th century history, Factions, Parties, Ramsay MacDonald

Labour Unrest: Ramsay MacDonald and the Labour party, 1931

Our series this summer has taken a look at historical cases of division within political parties.  In our last post of the series, this week we discuss the Labour party of the 1930s, and how Ramsay MacDonald came to be reviled by the party he led for many years… The wartime split in the Liberal party and the increase in suffrage in 1918 and 1928 … Continue reading Labour Unrest: Ramsay MacDonald and the Labour party, 1931

Emma Peplow2 Comments
Modern, 20th century history, David Lloyd George, Factions, Herbert Asquith, Military history, Parties

David Lloyd George and Herbert Asquith: Liberals at war

Inspired by the political upheaval in many of our political parties after the Brexit vote, we’ve been looking this summer at some historic party splits. In today’s blog we move into the 20th century, and the personal and political rivalry between two Liberal Prime Ministers that pulled their party apart… At the declaration of war in August 1914, Herbert Asquith had been Liberal Prime Minister … Continue reading David Lloyd George and Herbert Asquith: Liberals at war

Emma Peplow1 Comment
Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Factions, Parties, Victorian

Party splits and political change in the 19th century

This summer, following the internal wrangling that occurred in most parties following the Brexit referendum, we’ve been taking a look at historic cases of party division. In today’s blog, Dr Philip Salmon, Editor of the Victorian Commons, discusses the impact of two major splits within the Tory and Conservative parties during the 19th century… In modern Britain we are not used to political parties splitting … Continue reading Party splits and political change in the 19th century

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18th Century history, Factions, Georgian Lords, Military history, Parties

‘At whose door must this resentment be laid?’ The Whig Schism of 1717

The fall-out from Brexit has caused considerable disarray in the British party system, and over the course of this summer four parties either have new leaders or are holding leadership contests. Over the summer we’ll take a look at some past examples of party tensions, and the dramatic splits that they can lead to. First in this series, Dr Robin Eagles, Senior Research Fellow in … Continue reading ‘At whose door must this resentment be laid?’ The Whig Schism of 1717

Robin Eagles2 Comments
20th century history, Contemporary History, Diplomacy and International Relations, Factions, John Major, Modern, Oral history, Parties

The parties and Europe 2: Conservatives and Maastricht

Earlier this week we delved in to our oral history archive to discover the divisions within the Labour Party over Britain’s entry into the European Economic Community (EEC) in the 1970s. In today’s blogpost, we’ve returned to our archive to uncover memories of the struggle to ratify the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, and the resulting impact on the Conservative Party. The Maastricht Treaty was agreed in … Continue reading The parties and Europe 2: Conservatives and Maastricht

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Diplomacy and International Relations, Edward Heath, Factions, Harold Wilson, Modern, Oral history, Parties

The Parties and Europe 1: Labour and the 1975 Referendum

The European Referendum campaign is now in full swing, creating heated political debate and causing some unusual alliances. In British politics, however, the issue of Europe and Britain’s role in it has been long-running and divisive for both the Labour and Conservative parties. The issue features prominently in our interviews with former MPs for our oral history archive. In the first of two blogs on … Continue reading The Parties and Europe 1: Labour and the 1975 Referendum

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20th century history, Contemporary History, Factions, Modern, Oral history, Parties

Labour leadership elections through the years

The Labour party’s leadership contest comes to a close this week, with the winner announced at a special conference on Saturday. Our oral history project features many former Labour MPs’ recollections of leadership contests, and the consequences of them, particularly in the 1980s as the party grappled with life in opposition and internal divisions between left and right. Former MP for Ipswich, Ken Weetch, described … Continue reading Labour leadership elections through the years

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