Tag: Conservative party

20th century history, Military history, Modern

MPs in World War I: Gerald Archibald Arbuthnot (1872-1916)

100 years ago yesterday the Somme claimed another MP: Gerald Archibald Arbuthnot. Dr Kathryn Rix of the Victorian Commons, blogs on his life… Gerald Archibald Arbuthnot was killed in action on 25 September 1916 while serving with the Grenadier Guards during the Battle of the Somme. Like Guy Baring, whose death we marked two weeks ago, he is buried at the Citadel New Military Cemetery, … Continue reading MPs in World War I: Gerald Archibald Arbuthnot (1872-1916)

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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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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, Margaret Thatcher, Modern, Oral history

Memories of Thatcher’s fall

25 years ago this week the Conservative Party were in the process of electing a new leader after Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister for over 11 years, stood down. The story of Thatcher’s resignation has long been a controversial one within the Conservative Party, seen by some as an ‘assassination’ and by many as high political drama. This is reflected in many of our oral history … Continue reading Memories of Thatcher’s fall

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history

‘The hero legislator of Uxbridge’: the Hon. Charles Thomas Mills (1887-1915)

100 years ago the Battle of Loos proved deadly for a third MP, as today marks the anniversary of the seventh MP who died in fighting in the First World War. Continuing our series of short biographies of these men, Dr Kathryn Rix, of the Victorian Commons, discusses the life of Lieutenant Charles Thomas Mills… On 6 October 1915, the House of Commons suffered its third … Continue reading ‘The hero legislator of Uxbridge’: the Hon. Charles Thomas Mills (1887-1915)

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history

‘One of the best’: Lord Ninian Edward Crichton-Stuart (1883-1915)

Sadly the anniversaries of MPs’ deaths in the First World War are coming at very regular intervals currently – today marks the 100th anniversary of the sixth MP who died in the fighting. Continuing our series of short biographies of these men, Dr Kathryn Rix, of the Victorian Commons, discusses the life of Lord Ninian Edward Crichton-Stuart… On 2nd October 1915, the Conservative MP for Cardiff, … Continue reading ‘One of the best’: Lord Ninian Edward Crichton-Stuart (1883-1915)

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Clement Attlee, Elections, Modern, Oral history, Parties

1945 Election: A political awakening

Seventy years ago yesterday the results of the 1945 General Election were declared. Although the poll had been held on 5 July, the results were only announced on the 26th because of the time needed to return the ballots of service men and women from overseas. The result – a Labour landslide – had a dramatic impact on British politics. The new government led by … Continue reading 1945 Election: A political awakening

Emma Peplow3 Comments
Modern, 20th century history, Elections, Electoral Reform, Parties, Social history

‘Elections and how to fight them’: electioneering a century ago

We continue our series on election campaigning through the centuries today. Dr Kathryn Rix, Assistant Editor of the Victorian Commons, gives us an insight into the campaign trail at the turn of the 20th century… The title of this post, ‘Elections and how to fight them’, comes from a handbook written in 1905 by John Seymour Lloyd. This was just one of several guides published … Continue reading ‘Elections and how to fight them’: electioneering a century ago

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

MPs’ memories of candidate selection

Today’s blogpost is from one of our Oral History Project interviewers, Emme Ledgerwood, who has used our archive to explore the experience of candidate selection… The vast majority of MPs arrive at Westminster on a party ticket, and one of the most critical junctures on that road remains getting selected as a prospective parliamentary candidate for a political party. Candidate selection is governed only by … Continue reading MPs’ memories of candidate selection

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Modern, 20th century history, Elections, Military history, Parties, Social history

Putting aside party controversy: party organisers and the First World War

One hundred years ago this month, the main British political parties decided to prioritise war in Europe over electoral battles. Dr Kathryn Rix, of the Victorian Commons, tells us more… In October 1914 the Conservative Agents’ Journal urged party organisers in the constituencies that the outbreak of war made it necessary to put aside ‘party controversy and acrimony’, and ‘Keep the Flag Flying’. A similarly patriotic note … Continue reading Putting aside party controversy: party organisers and the First World War

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