promoting access to White Rose research papers
Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York
http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/
This is an author produced version of a paper published inPolitical Quarterly
White Rose Research Online URL for this paper:
http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/78537
Paper:
Theakston, K (2006)After number ten: What do former prime ministers do? Political Quarterly, 77 (4). 448 - 456. ISSN 0032-3179
After Number 10: What Do Former Prime Ministers Do?
Kevin Theakston
‘ Wonde rful t hin g, yo u kno w, to b e a former p r i m e m i n i s t er’, J a m es C a l l a g ha n said t o D e n i s T h a t c h e r, h u s b a nd o f t h e t h e n -p ri me m i n i s t e r, i n 1 9 84 . ‘Y o u go w h e r e y o u l i k e. Y o u h a v e a w o n d e r f u l t i m e. R e a l l y g o o d.’ D e n i s T h a t c h e r l o o k e d s t r a i g h t a he a d. ‘C an’t wai t’, he re pli ed. ‘C a n’t wa it.’ It c annot be s aid t hat his wi fe a gre ed: o ne of h e r c l o s e s t a i d e s , L o r d ( C h a r l e s ) P o w e l l , s a i d t hat a f t e r M a r g a r e t T h a t c h e r l e f t Nu mber 10 ‘she never h ad a happ y da y.’[1]
Fo rme r pri me mi nisters a re me mb ers of a s mall , ex clu siv e c lub . Wi t h t he d eaths i n 2 0 0 5 o f L o r d C a l l a g h a n a n d S i r E d w a r d H e a t h , t h e r e a r e c u r r e n t l y o n l y t w o m e m b e r s - L a d y T h a t c h e r a nd S i r J o h n M a j o r - t h o u g h T o n y B l a i r w i l l j o i n s o o n . T h e r e i s n o f i x e d o r p r e d e t e r m i n e d r o l e f o r f o r m e r p r i m e m i n i s t e r s. Wh a t t h ey d o a ft e r t he y l e av e office d ep ends ve ry mu ch on pe rsonal ch oi ces and on ci rc umst ance s. R e v i e w i n g t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f f o r m e r p r i m e m i n i s t e r s i n t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y s u g g e s t s l i ttl e in the wa y o f a c ommon patt ern.
‘I t i s t e m p t i n g, p e r h a p s , b u t u n r e w a r d i n g t o h a n g a b o u t t h e g r e e n r o o m a f t e r fi n al re ti reme nt from t h e s t a ge’, was Haro l d Ma c mi l l a n’s vi ew. [2] So me fo rme r pri m e m i n i s t e r s d o l a r g e l y d i s a p p e a r f r o m t h e p o l i t i c a l s t a g e a f t e r t h e y r e t i r e , s u c h a s B a l d w i n , A t t l e e , E d e n , W i l s o n a n d M a j o r . T h o s e w h o s t a y o n a s L e a d e r o f t h e Op po si t i o n a ft e r a n e l ec t i on de f e a t of t e n d o n o t l a s t l on g i n t h at ro l e o r i m pre s s wi t h t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e i n i t . S o m e d r e a m o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a c o m e - b a c k a s p r i m e m i n i s t e r: A s q u i t h , L l o yd G e o r ge , C h a m b e r l a i n , M a c m i l l a n , Wi l s o n a n d H e a t h a l l r e p o r t e d l y e n t e r t a i n e d h o p e s / f a n t a s i e s ( h o w e v e r f l e e t i n g o r i m p l a u s i b l e i n s o m e c a s e s ) o f t h i s n a t u r e . T h e r e m a y b e m i n o r, l o w k e y g o v e r n m e n t a s s i g n m e n t s -c h a i r i n g a n i n q u i ry for inst ance (li ke Wi ls on ’s Commi tt ee on the Cit y of Londo n o r Attl ee ’s revi e w o f ‘t he bu rden on minist ers’ for Ma cmi lla n) – or s omethin g si mi lar fo r the pa rt y (at different ti mes Dou gl as-Ho me ch aire d group s on devol ution pol i c y, Lords ’ re form, an d part y-l ea de rs hip rul es fo r the C ons e rva tive s). Invit ati ons back i nto Nu mber 10 ma y be reli shed: Mac mill an deli ght ed in advis ing Th at che r ho w to set up a ‘ War C abi n et’ and run t he Fa l kl an ds ca mpai gn; Bl ai r ou tra ged Labour l o ya li sts b y a skin g That ch er for priv at e advi c e on how to ha ndl e EU su mmits, ke epi ng in t ouch with h er reas ona bl y regul a rl y t o tap he r experi ence ove r i ntern ati onal is sue s such as Kosovo .
t he po we r to do an yt hing an ymore.’ [3]
In t he 1920s and ‘3 0s Llo yd George cont rolle d su bst ant ial pol i tical fun ds of his own, used fo r or ga ni sati on, ca mpai gn ing and propa ga nd a (fun din g t e ams o f a d v i s e r s a n d e x p e r t s ). H e w a s o n e o f t h e m o s t c r e a t i v e p o l i t i c i a n s o f t h e p e r i o d , and was in man y wa ys a crit ic al pla ye r i n the p oliti c s of the 1920s, b u t n e v e r again hel d offi ce a f te r h i s f a l l i n 1 9 2 2. T h a t c h e r s e t u p t h e T h a t c h e r F o u n d a t i o n t o t r y t o s e c u r e h e r l e ga c y a n d p r o m o t e T h a t c h e r i t e i d e a s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , b u t t h o u g h s h e p e r s o n a l l y c o u l d c o mm a n d h u ge p r e s t i ge a n d r e a d y a u d i e n c e s, t h e Fo u n d a t i o n i t s e l f s t r u ggl e d t o ma ke an i mpa c t . In 2 00 5, wi t h fu nd i ng al l -b ut d ri e d up, i t cl o se d d own i n t he U K a nd t h e f o c u s s w i t c h e d t o t h e U S A w h e r e t h e r i g h t - w i n g H e r i t a g e F o u n d a t i o n s e t u p a Margare t That che r Cen te r.
Wh e n B a l d wi n r et i r e d i n 1 93 7 he i s s a i d t o h a v e re s o l v e d t o m a k e n o p o l i t i c al s p e e c h e s , n e i t h e r t o s p e a k t o t h e m a n a t t h e w h e e l n o r t o s p i t o n t h e d e c k . ( I n t h e e ve nt , B aldwi n’s rep ut a t ion re ma i ne d hi gh an d h e kep t s ome pol it i ca l i nflu en ce for th e l a s t t w o y e a r s o f p e a c e b u t c a m e i n f o r c o n s i d e r a b l e c r i t i c i s m , a b u s e a n d s c a p e -goa t ing a ft e r 19 40 , and his l ast yea rs were rath er d isma l and unh app y.) ‘It is us efu l t o h a v e a fe w e x - P ri m e Mi ni s t e rs a rou nd wh o h av e e x p e ri e n c e, p r ov i de d t ha t t h e y d on’t k e e p i n t e r f e ri ng a n d s a yi n g h o w e ve r yt h i n g s h oul d b e do ne wh e n t he y a r e n ot s e ei n g a l l t h e [ o f f i c i a l ] p a p e r s’ , i s h o w H a r o l d W i l s o n p u t i t . [4] W i l s o n a n d C a l l a g h a n o c c a si o n a l l y e mb a r r a s s e d La b o u r l e ad e rs i n t h e e a rl y 1 9 8 0s by c r i t i c i s i n g t he p a r ty’s l u r c h t o t h e l e f t , t h e p o w e r o f t h e u n i o n s o r ( i n C a l l a g h a n’ s c a s e ) i t s u n il a t e r a l i s t d efe nc e pol i c y. B ut t h e y di d no t se ri ou sl y a t t ac k o r un de rmi n e t h ei r s uc ce s so rs i n t h e wa y t ha t Heath a nd That che r di d.
I n gove r nment offi ce af ter b ein g p ri me mi nis ter
‘A n y o n e w h o h a s p l a ye d t h e m a i n s t a g e o f t h e a t r e l a n d s h o u l d n ’ t a t t e m p t t o c o m e b ac k i n p rovi n ci al repe rt ory’, Haro l d Mac mi l l an onc e sa i d. In th e wh ol e hi st or y of t h e o f fi c e , ba c k i nt o t he 1 8 t h c en t u r y, fo u rt e e n f or m e r pri m e mi n i st e r s h a v e ‘ co me ba c k’ a n d s e r v e d i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t s o f l a t e r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s a n d u n d e r o t h e r p r i m e m i n i s t e r s , f i v e o f t h e s e i n t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y : B a l f o u r , B a l d w i n , M a c D o n a l d , C h amb erl ai n a nd Dougl a s-Home . (In t h e c a se of B al dwin - as wi t h R us sel l i n the 19 t h c e n t u r y a n d P o rt l a n d i n t h e l a t e - 1 8 t h c e n t u r y - t h i s s e r v i c e oc c u r r e d b e f o r e c o mi n g b a c k t o b e p r i m e m i n i s t e r f o r a f i n a l t i m e , a f t e r w h i c h n o o t h e r p o s t s w e re h e l d ) . A f u r t h e r f o u r 2 0 t h c e n t u r y e x - P M s w e r e o ff e r e d mi n i s t e r i a l p o s t s b y s u c c e s s o r p r i m e m i n i s t e r s , w i t h v a r y i n g d e g r e e s o f s e r i o u s n e s s , b u t r e f u s e d t h e m : A s q u i t h , L l o y d Ge orge, C h urchil l a nd Wi l s on . Ano the r - Hea t h - s e eme d at one t i me t o b e a ngl i ng for a nd may ha ve acc epte d a n o ffe r of a C abin et p ost, but one ne ve r came .
B al fo ur’ p ost -Number 10 rec ord i s an ex trao rdin ary one , involvin g e l even ye a rs i n m i ni s t e r i a l o f f i c e . Fi r s t Lo r d o f t h e Ad m i r a l t y u n d e r A s q u i t h (1 9 15 - 1 6 ) , h e we n t o n t o s e r v e a s Fo r e i gn S e c r e t a r y ( 1 9 1 6 - 1 9 ) a n d t h e n Lo r d P r e s i d e n t o f t h e C o u n c i l ( 1 9 1 9 - 2 2 ) u n d e r L l o y d G e o r g e , r e t u r n i n g a s L o r d P r e s i d e n t a g a i n u n d e r B a l d w i n (1 92 5-29 ). S uc c es s i ve pri m e m i n i st e rs wa nt e d h i s ‘e l de r st a t es man’ p re s t i ge , po l i t i c al w e i gh t a n d e x p e r i e n c e t o b o l s t e r t h e i r g o v e r n m e n t s . H e s e e m e d t o h a v e a n u n u s u a l p o s i t i o n ‘ a b o v e p a r t y p o l i t i c s’ , p a r t i c u l a r l y o n m a t t e r s o f d e f e n c e a n d i m p e r i a l re l a t i ons . As qu i t h h a d brou gh t hi m i n t o C omm i t t ee o f Imp e ri a l De fen c e de l i b era t i ons b efo re 1 914 a nd , on ce war b roke o ut , h e jo i ne d t h e Li be ral go v ern me nt’s War C o un ci l e v e n t h o u g h t h e C o n s e r v a t i v e s w e r e s t i l l a t t h a t s t a g e i n O p p o s i t i o n . B u t B a l f o u r’ s g r e a t p o l i t i c a l fl ex i bi l i t y wa s a l s o a f a c t o r i n ke e p i n g h i m i n t h e po l i t i c a l ga m e - h e p as s e d f ro m s er vi n g o ne pri m e mi n i st e r t o a n o t he r , fro m on e c oa l i t i on go ve rn men t t o a n o t h e r , a n d e v e n t u a l l y b a c k i n t o a C o n s e r v a t i v e g o v e r n m e n t , ‘ l i k e a p o w e r f u l g r a c e f u l c a t w a l k i n g d e l i c a t e l y a n d u n s o i l e d a c r o s s a r a t h e r m u d d y s t r e e t ’, a s C h u r c h i l l m e m o ra bl y p u t i t . S o m e o f hi s m o s t i m p o rt a nt a c h i e v e me nt s c a m e i n t h e s e p o s t - p r e m i e r s h i p y e a r s : t h e f a m o u s ‘B a l f o u r D e c l a r a t i o n’ o f 1 9 1 7 a b o u t a J e w i s h homel an d i n Pal est ine; n egoti ati ng a t t he Wa sh ingt on Nav al Co nferen ce in 1921; wo rk a t t h e Le a g u e o f N a t i o n s a n d o n C o m m o n w e a l t h r e l a t i o n s ; a n d p r o mo t i n g s c i e n t i f i c re s ea rch in Whi te hal l. Ba lfou r was a bett er ex-p ri me minist e r tha n as pri me mini ste r.
A f t e r C h a m b e rl a i n wa s o v e rt h ro wn i n M a y 1 9 4 0 h e s p e nt fi v e m o n t hs a s Lo r d P r e s i d e n t a n d a s a k e y m e m b e r o f C h u r c h i l l ’ s Wa r C a b i n e t b e f o r e r e s i g n i n g o n 3 0 S ep temb er and d yi ng on 9 Nov ember 1940. Pol iti c all y an d govern me nta ll y, h e a ctual l y p l a y e d a c r u c i a l r o l e i n t h a t p e r i o d . H e r e m a i n e d C o n s e r v a t i v e P a r t y l e a d e r a n d l o ya l l y su pp ort ed Chu rch ill a t a ti me when ma n y Tori e s we re d ee pl y s us pi ci ou s of t h e n e w p r i m e m i n i s t e r . H e c h a i r e d t h e W a r C a b i n e t w h e n C h u r c h i l l w a s o u t o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d h i s m a i n t a s k w a s c o o r d i n a t i n g d o m e s t i c p o l i c y o n t h e ‘ H o m e F r o n t ’ . P r e t t y s o o n , h o w e v e r , i t wa s d i s c o v e r e d t h a t h e wa s s e r i o u s l y i n d e e d , t e r m i n a l l y -i l l, though Church-il l wa s l oat h t o s ee h-i m d epa rt fro m off-i ce.
S o m e w h a t l i k e B a l f o u r , D o u gl a s - H o m e ’ s t i m e a s p r i m e m i n i s t e r w a s a b r i e f a n d un su c c e ss ful i n t e r l u de i n a l o n ge r mi n i st e ri al c a re e r wh i ch i n h i s c a s e c o nt i n ue d w i t h a fo u r - ye a r s t i nt a s Fo re i gn S e c r e t ar y u n d e r H e a t h i n 1 97 0 -74 . Ho m e a n d Hea t h w o r k e d w e l l t o ge t h e r, t h o u gh H o me w a s f r o m a d i f fe r e n t w i n g o f t h e p a r t y a n d w a s n ev er p art o f t he Hea t hit e ‘i nn er c i rc l e’. Home was re ve re d i n t h e wi de r C ons erv ati v e P a r t y a n d s o r e a s s u r e d p a r t y t r a d i t i o n a l i s t s . W h i l e H e a t h p u r s u e d h i s E u r o p e a n a m b i t i o n s , H o m e c o n c e n t r a t e d m o r e o n r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e U S A ( h e w a s h i g h l y -r e g a -r d e d i n W a s h i n g t o n D C a n d g o t o n w e l l w i t h N i x o n a n d K i s s i n g e -r ) , o n t h e C o mmo nwe al t h , an d o n t h e R h od es i a i ss ue. Ho me was mod es t a nd ami a bl e bu t sh ou l d n ot be under-esti mate d a s one o f t he ‘gre at su rvi vo rs’ o f B ritis h politi cs .
There were , in ot he r words, fo rme r p ri me mi nist ers se rv ing in othe r posts in th e i r s u c c e s s o r s’ C a bi n e t s f o r a t o t a l o f o v er 2 1 ye a r s i n t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y. A q u a rt e r o f t h e 2 0 P M s h o l d i n g o f f i c e i n t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y a c t u a l l y ‘ r e a p p e a r e d ’ i n t h i s g u i s e . T hough i t rema i ns u nus u al a nd for two-t hirds of th e t i me was as so ci at e d wit h wa rtime a n d / o r c o a l i t i o n g o v e r n m e n t s , t h i s c o l l e c t i v e e x p e r i e n c e h a r d l y b e a r s o u t L o r d R o s e b e r y’ s c o m m e n t t h a t t o h a v e a n e x -p r i m e m i n i s t e r i n a C a b i n e t w a s ‘ a f l e e t i n g a nd da nge ro us l ux ury’.[5] For t h e p ri me mi ni s t ers who mad e t h es e ap po i nt men t s, the y we re n ot l uxu ri es bu t ra t he r se en a s e s se nt i a l s t eps t o st ren gt h en t he i r go ve rnmen t s in t he circumst an ce s the y fa ce d.
I n d e e d , i f o f f e r s o f C a b i n e t p o s t s m a d e t o o t h e r f o r m e r p r i m e m i n i s t e r s h a d b e e n a c c e p t e d , t h e n t h i s p a t t e r n w o u l d h a v e b e e n m o r e c o m m o n . O n a n u m b e r o f o c c a s i o n s , f o r i n s t a n c e , L l o yd G e o r g e t r i e d t o l u r e A s q u i t h b a c k i n t o g o v e r n m e n t d u r i n g t h e f i r s t w o r l d w a r , m e e t i n g w i t h r e f u s a l s . In O c t o b e r 1 9 5 6 , a t t h e h e i g h t o f t h e S u e z c r i s i s , E d e n o f f e r e d C h u r c h i l l ( t h e n n e a r l y 8 2 y e a r s o l d a n d o u t o f t h e c ou nt r y, re c ov e ri n g fro m a mi n o r s t ro k e) a se a t i n t h e C a bi n e t w i t h out p or t fo l i o. T h e o l d m a n ’ s p r i v a t e s e c r e t a r y s a i d t h a t h e w o u l d n o t l i ke ‘t h e o p p o s i t e o f t h e h a r l o t ’s p r e r o ga t i v e’ ( i . e. r e s p o n si b i l i t y w i t h o ut p o w e r) . T we n t y ye a r s l a t e r , w h e n C a l l a gh a n s u cc ee de d Wi l s on, he offe re d hi m t he post of Fo rei gn S ec ret a r y, t h ough he ap pa rent l y d id n ot re all y e xp ect him to ac c ept it. Wi ls on h ad had e no ugh and di d not want to sta y i n offi ce in an y ca pac it y, even in a no n-dep art ment al post su ch as Lo rd President.
m a d e a n u m b e r o f de f i n i t e o f f e r s i n 1 9 4 0 . Ll o yd G e o r ge w a s t h e n 7 7 ye a r s o l d a n d mi ght b e goo d for o nl y s ix h ours work a da y, i t was sa id, ‘bu t the y wo ul d be six h ou rs o f p u r e r a d i u m ’. In t h e e n d , Ll o yd G e o r ge h e l d b a c k f r o m t a k i n g m i n i s t e ri a l o f f i c e a nd he a l so t urn ed d own t he of fe r t o be c ome A m ba s s a do r t o t h e U SA. ( Th r ee for mer p ri me m i ni s t e rs - R os e b e r y i n 190 6 , Ll o yd G eo r ge i n 1 940 , a nd He at h i n 1 9 7 9 - h av e r e f u s e d t h a t p o s t , p e r h a p s s u s p e c t i n g t h e m o t i v a t i o n b e h i n d t h e o f fe r o f a j o b 3 , 0 0 0 mi le s awa y from Wes t mi nst er!)
In A p ri l 197 9 , a t a n e l e c t i on me e t i n g, He a t h i n d i c a t e d t h a t h e wo u l d a c c e pt a n a pp oi nt men t i n a That c he r gov e rn men t , i f offere d o ne . Fo rei gn S ec ret a r y wa s t h e post h e h a d i n m i n d . J o h n C a m p b e l l , H e a t h ’ s b i o gr a p h e r , a r g u e s t h a t h a d T h a t c h e r wo n v er y na rro wl y i n 19 7 9 sh e m i ght ha v e be e n c on st r a i ne d t o b ri n g hi m b a c k, b ut wi t h a c o m f o r t a b l e ma j o r i t y ( o f 4 3 ) s h e c o u l d f i r m l y s h u t t h e d o o r . It i s h a r d t o s e e H e a t h fit tin g i nto a Th at cher C a bin et: h e woul d ha ve found t he rev ers a l of p oliti c al senio rit y i n vo l v e d t o o d i ffi c ul t t o a c c ep t , an d t h ei r p ol i t i c al a nd p e rs o na l di ff e re n c e s we re t o o s e r i o u s . ( T h o u g h i n h i s m e m o i r s H e a t h s u g ge s t e d t h a t h e c o u l d h a v e s e r v e d l o ya l l y u nd er Wi lli e Whi tel aw, had he won t he l ea de rshi p i n 1975 .)
In 1 99 0 Ma j or, wo nd e ri ng w ha t t o d o a bo ut Th at c he r, s o on re a l i s ed t ha t ‘t he re w a s n o c r e d i b l e j o b t o o f f e r h e r ’ . L i k e s o m e o f h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s , t h o u g h t s o f t h e W a s h i n g t o n a m b a s s a d o r s h i p c r o s s e d h i s m i n d . R o w s o v e r E u r o p e r u l e d o u t t h e T re a su r y a nd t he Fo re i gn Offi ce . Fu nd am en t a ll y, a ft er e l ev en ye a rs i n po wer, s he was n o t a b l e t o t a k e a s u b o r d i n a t e p o s i t i o n i n s o m e o n e e l s e ’s C a b i n e t , b e i n g t o o s h a r p -e d g -e d a c h a r a c t -e r a n d t o o a s s o c i a t -e d w i t h c o n t r o v -e r s i a l p o l i c i -e s t h a t h a d c o s t h -e r s u ppo rt bot h wi th t he publi c and in h er own C a bi n et (most o f wh om had want ed her to re si gn ). [6]
Honour s
O n l y f o u r p r i m e m i n i s t e r s i n t h e l a s t 1 4 0 ye a r s e n d e d t h e i r d a ys a s p l a i n ‘ M r ’ a n d n e v e r a c c e p t e d a p e e r a g e o r k n i g h t h o o d ( d e s p i t e , i n s o m e c a s e s , r e p e a t e d o f f e r s ) : Gl a ds to ne , Bon ar La w, Ma cDo na l d a nd Cha mbe rl a i n. Eve n Ll o yd Ge o r ge - sc ou r ge of t h e H o u s e o f L o r d s 1 9 0 8 - 1 1 - b e c a m e E a r l L l o y d - G e o r g e o f D w yf o r a f e w m o n t h s b e f o r e h e d i ed i n 1 9 4 5 . Fr o m t h e m i d - 1 9 t h c e n t u r y, u n t i l c o m p a r a t i v el y r e c e n t l y, a n h e r e d i t a r y E a r l d o m w a s ‘ t h e g o i n g r a t e ’ f o r p r i m e m i n i s t e r s w h o w e r e n o t a l r e a d y p ee rs . Se ve n o f t he pri me mi ni st ers who se rve d i n th e 20th ce nt u ry b ec ame Earl s a fter l e a v i n g o f f i c e . T w e l v e o f t h e m a l s o a c c e p t e d t h e O r d e r o f t h e G a r t e r ( a n h o n o u r with in t he personal gi ft o f the mon arc h and li mi ted to a gro up of 24).
i n t el l i ge n t yo u n g p e o p l e a nd n o t t h e ‘o l d fo gi e s ’ i n t h e Lo rd s . [8 ] In 1 98 7 , ho w ev e r , C all a gh an j oin ed the Lo rds.
C h u r c h i l l ( w h o h a d b e c o m e a K G i n 1 9 5 3 ) w a s o f f e r e d a D u k e d o m w h e n h e r e t i r e d i n 1 9 5 5 , b u t o n l y a f t e r d i s c r e e t e n q u i r i e s b y t h e P a l a c e c o n f i r m e d t h a t h e w o u l d re fu s e i t . Th e re w a s a p p a re nt l y a l a s t - mi n ut e ‘ wob b l e’ w h e n i t s ee m ed - t o t h e Q u e e n ’ s a l a r m - t h a t h e m i gh t , a f t e r a l l , a c c e p t . ( D i s r a e l i a n d S a l i s b u r y h a d e a r l i e r b o t h re f u s e d Q u e e n V i c t o r i a ’ s o f f e r s o f D u k e d o ms . ) M a c m i l l a n w a s t h e l a s t f o r m e r p r i m e m i n i s t e r t o a c c e p t a n h e r e d i t a r y E a r l d o m, o n h i s n i n e t i e t h b i r t h d a y i n 1 9 8 4 -m o r e t h a n 2 0 y e a r s a f t e r s t e p p i n g d o w n a s P M . A l e c H o -m e , o f c o u r s e , g a v e u p a n E a r l do m t o be c o m e p r i me m i n i s t e r - e ve nt u a l l y r e t i ri n g b a c k t o t h e Lo r ds wi t h a l i fe p e e r a ge i n 1 9 7 4 . Wi l s o n ( i n 1 9 8 3 ) , C a l l a g h a n ( i n 1 9 8 7 ) a n d T h a t c h e r ( i n 1 9 9 2 ) a l s o a c c e p t e d l i f e p e e r a g e s ( a s l i f e b a r o n s ) . A f t e r a 2 0 - y e a r b r e a k , T h a t c h e r h a d r e i n t r o d u c e d h e r e d i t a r y t i t l e s i n t h e 1 9 8 0 s - f o r M a c mi l l a n a n d f o r h e r l o ya l d e p u t y Wi l l i e Whi t e l aw (ma de a Vi s count i n 1983).Th ere was spe c ul at ion t hat s he mi ght t ake o n e he rs e l f wh e n t h e t i m e c a me , b u t s he fe l t t h at s h e l a c k e d t h e re s ou rc e s t o s up po rt a n h e r e d i t a r y t i t l e a n d t h e i d e a o f h e r b e c o m i n g a l i fe C o u n t e s s w a s r u l e d o u t . B o t h H e a t h a n d M a j o r b e c a me Kn i gh t s o f t h e G a r t e r ( i n 1 9 9 2 a n d 2 0 0 5 , r e s p e c t i v e l y) b u t s e e m t o h a v e e i t h e r d e c l i n e d o r m a d e i t k n o w n t h a t t h e y d i d n o t w i s h t o g o t o t h e Lords .
S o m e f o r m e r p r i m e m i n i s t e r s h a v e h a d a l o w o p i n i o n o f t h e L o r d s . A s q u i t h t h ou gh t t ha t i t was ‘an i mpos si b l e au di e nce . . . l i ke s pe aki ng b y t orc hl i ght t o co rps es i n a c h a r n e l - h o u s e ’ . T o B a l f o u r , i t w a s ‘l i k e t a l k i n g t o a l o t o f t o m b s t o n e s ’ . M a c m i l l a n c a l l e d i t ‘t h e m o r g u e ’ ; t h e L o r d s ‘w a s n o t w o r t h b e l o n g i n g t o’ , h e o n c e s ai d.
T h e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e L o r d s f o r f o r m e r p r i m e m i n i s t e r s i s t h a t i t o f f e r s a r e c o g n i s e d p l a t f o r m , e n a b l i n g t h e m t o r e m a i n i n p o l i t i c a l l i f e , a i r t h e i r v i e w s a n d c o n t r i b u t e t o p o l i t i c a l d e b a t e . S o m e - l i k e A t t l e e , H o m e a n d C a l l a gh a n - h a v e b e e n c o n s c i e n t i o u s a n d r e s p e c t e d p e e r s , a t t e n d i n g r e g u l a r l y a n d m a k i n g s o m e e f f e c t i v e i n t e rv en t i on s. Ot h e rs - l i ke B a l dwi n an d Ed en - di d no t at t e nd or s pe a k o ft e n or m ake mu ch of a mark i n t he Lo rds . Ma c mi ll a n en j oyed a re ma rka bl e p olit ic al re nai ssa nc e in t h e L o r d s . B o r e d , u n a b l e t o r e a d b e c a u s e o f f a i l i n g e ye s i gh t , a n d n o l o n g e r w o rr i e d t h at h i s so n ’s po l i t i ca l c a re e r wo u l d b e d a m a ge d b y i n h eri t i n g a p e e r a ge , h e s e i z ed a l a s t ch an c e t o st ru t t he po l i t i ca l s t a ge. ‘ In t he Hou se o f Lords i t re al l y do es n’t ma t t er i f you ’re b l i nd . . . o r de af o r dumb ’, he r emar ked . He h a d j ok ed t o He a t h t h at h e d i d n o t k n o w o n w h i c h s i d e o f t h e c h a m b e r h e w a s g o i n g t o s i t a n d , o n c e i n s t a l l e d , p r o c e e d e d t o m a k e a n u m b e r o f w i t t y , m e m o r a b l e a n d p o l i t i c a l l y - m i s c h i e v o u s s p ee ch es a tta cking the poli cie s of th e That cher gov ern ment . [9]
Se tti ng th e r eco rd str aig ht
t i m e i n D o w n i n g S t r e e t w a s 9 0 0 p a ge s , w i t h a s e c o n d 6 0 0 - p a ge v o l u m e t e l l i n g h e r v e r s i o n o f h e r ‘ p a t h t o p o w e r ’. E a r l i e r , M a c m i l l a n ’s m e m o i r s r a n t o s i x v o l u m e s t o t al li ng ne arl y 4,0 00 pa ge s. Ede n p ub li sh ed t hre e v ol u me s of p ol it i c al me mo i rs an d, i n t h e l a s t y e a r o f h i s l i f e , a m o r e p e r s o n a l b o o k a b o u t h i s e a r l y y e a r s a n d s w a r s e rvi c e. An d i n t h e 19 3 0s Ll o yd Ge or ge re - fo ugh t hi s b at t l e s w i t h t h e ge n e ra l s i n h is s i x -v ol u me s of Wa r Me moi r s an d t h en wr ot e t wo m ore bul k y v ol u me s a b ou t t he P a ri s p e a c e c o n f e r e n c e . In c o n t ra s t , A l e c H o m e ’s T h e W a y t h e W i n d B l o w s, wa s a s l i gh t e r a n d m o r e a n e c d o t a l b o o k . A l t h o u g h E d e n ’s A n o t h e r W o r l d i s a m i n o r c l a s s i c o f a ut obi o gra ph ical writi ng, no forme r prime mini st er has writt en an yt h i ng ab out po litics a s c o m p e l l i n g , r e v e a l i n g a n d f u n t o r e a d a s , s a y, A l a n C l a r k ’ s D i a r i e s. R a t h e r t h e a i m s a r e u s u a l l y d e t a i l e d h i s t o ri c a l s el f -j u s t i fi c a t i o n , s e t t l i n g o f s c o r e s , a n d ma ki n g m o n e y ( T h a t c h e r ’ s m e m o i r s b ro u gh t h e r £3 . 5 m i l l i on ; Ll o yd G e o r ge go t £ 9 0 , 0 0 0 f o r h is from the Dail y Tel egr aph in the 1930 s - equiv al ent to a bou t £3 million toda y).
T h r e e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y p r i m e m i n i s t e r s - C a m p b e l l - B a n n e r m a n , B o n a r L a w a n d C h a m b e r l a i n - h a d l i t t l e o r n o o p p o r t u n i t y t o w r i t e m e m o i r s b e f o r e t h e y d i e d . M a c D o n a l d h a d t u rn e d d o wn a n o f fe r o f £5 0 ,0 00 fo r hi s m e mo i rs i n t h e 1 92 0s ( t he r e wa s ‘not h i n g I s hri n k f rom mo re t h an ma ki n g pub l i c pe rs o na l i mp res s i on s o f pe op l e’, h e s a i d ), b ut l a t er d i d c on t e mp l a t e a n a uto bi o gr a p h y t ho u gh he go t l i t t l e fu rt he r t ha n b e gi nn i n g wha t he h o pe d wou l d b e t he ope ni n g c ha pt e r. B a l d wi n wa s ad a ma nt t h at h e w o ul d wri t e ‘ no me m o i rs or n o ns e n s e o f t h a t ki n d ’ , b e l i e v i ng t h a t ‘no ma n c a n wr i t e t h e t r u t h a b o u t h i m s e l f ’ . H e a l s o d i s t r u s t e d b i o g r a p h e r s a n d w h a t h e c a l l e d ‘ t h e H i g h e r C a n n i b a l i s m ’ , o n l y r e l u c t a n t l y a g r e e i n g t h a t G . M . Y o u n g s h o u l d w r i t e a n o f f i c i a l l i f e t o b e p u b l i s h e d a f t e r h i s d e a t h - i n t h e e v e n t , h e w a s b a d l y s e r v e d b y Yo un g’s inadequ at e and unsympa t heti c biograp hy. [10]
B a l f o u r p r o d u c e d a n u m b e r o f h e a v yw e i g h t p h i l o s o p h i c a l e s s a ys , p a p e r s a n d l e c t ur es i n hi s p o s t -p r e mi e rs h i p ye a rs , o n s ub j ec t s l i ke ‘De c a d e n c e ’, ‘B ea ut y a n d t h e C ri t i c i s m o f B ea ut y’, an d ‘Th ei s m a nd Hu ma ni s m ’. B ut o nl y a t t h e en d o f h i s l i fe d i d h e pub li sh a n a ut obio gr a phi c a l fra gme nt , l a rge l y pul l e d toge t he r b y hi s n i ec e Bl anch e Du gd al e (who l at e r wro t e t he offi ci al b i ogra ph y) . In t he 19 20s, As q ui t h wrot e s e ve ral i mp ers on al a nd un rev ea l ing vo l umes o f remi ni s c en ce s an d memo i rs whi ch di d no t s ell a s w e l l a s h i s w i f e M a r g o t ’ s m o r e c o l o u r f u l a n d i n d i s c r e e t a u t o b i o g r a p h y . T h e p r o b l e m w a s t h a t l i k e m a n y t o p p o l i t i c i a n s , ‘ h e h a d n o d e s i re t o t e l l t h e w o r l d w h a t r e a l l y h a p p e n e d ’ , a s R o y J e n k i n s n o t e d , ‘a n d h e w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t l y i n t e r e s t e d i n h imsel f.’ [11 ]
Ev en t he a u t ho rs s o me t i me s fi nd pri me- mi ni s t eri a l m e moi rs ha rd- goi n g. At t l e e d e s c ri b e d h i s m e m oi rs , A s I t H ap p e n e d, a s ‘ n ot v e r y go o d ’. Ha r ol d Wi l s o n a d m i t t e d t hat h is book on his 1974-76 gov ern ment , Fi nal Te rm, was ‘boring’. [12]
C h u r c h i l l d i d n o t p u b l i s h a n y m e m o i r s a f t e r fi n a l l y l e a v i n g D o w n i n g S t r e e t , i ns t ea d wo rking wi th a t eam o f hi st ori ans a nd ot h er a ides t o c ompl et e his four-volume
a nd a dvi s e rs. R e l uc t a nt t o ad mi t t h a t hi s po l i t i ca l c a re er wa s o ve r, Hea t h d ra g ge d his f e e t o v e r h i s m e m o i r s , w h i c h d i d n o t f i n a l l y a p p e a r u n t i l 2 4 y e a r s a f t e r h e l e f t N u m b e r 1 0 , b u t h e h a d c o n s i d e r a b l e s u c c e s s i n t h e 1 9 7 0 s w i t h b e s t - s e l l i n g b o o k s a bout his wi de r i nt erest s in sailing, musi c and travel.
Mo ney matters
P e n s i o n s f o r f o r m e r p r i m e m i n i s t e r s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d o n l y i n 1 9 3 7 a t t h e r a t e o f £ 2 , 0 00 p e r ye a r . In 1 9 7 2 , t h e p e n si o n wa s fi x ed at 1 5 / 4 0t h s o f t h e P M s s a l a r y, a n d s i n c e 1 9 91 al l for m e r P Ms ha ve be e n e l i gi bl e for a p e n s i o n e qu a l t o ha l f o f t h e PM ’s m i n i s t e ri al s a l a r y, imm e d i a t el y t h e y l e av e o f fi c e , h o we ve r lo n g t h e y h a v e s e r ve d (s o c u r r e n t l y w o r t h £ 6 3 , 0 0 0 p e r y e a r ) . A ‘ P u b l i c D u t i e s C o s t A l l o w a n c e ’ w a s a l s o i nt rod uc ed in 1 991, now worth £8 4,000 per ye ar, t o help former PMs wi t h th e c ost s of m a i n t a i n i n g a n o f f i c e a n d s e c r e t a r i a l s u p p o r t . E a r l i e r , C h u r c h i l l h a d h a d u n i q u e o f f i c i a l s u p p o r t a s a n e x - P M , w i t h a F o r e i g n O f f i c e d i p l o m a t s e c o n d e d t o b e h i s p ri va t e s e cre t ar y aft e r 19 55 , t ho ugh C h urch i ll re i mb urs ed t he go ve rnmen t for t h e cos t o f h i s s a l a r y . A g o v e r n m e n t - p r o v i d e d c a r a n d d r i v e r f o r a l l e x - P M s w a s m a d e a va il a bl e from 19 75 - t he y, a t l e as t, do not n eed t o s hare th e sh oc k o f so me fo rme r-mi n i st ers who , it is s aid , rea l is e t h at t he y a r e o ut o f offi ce o nl y wh en t he y get i nt o the b a c k of thei r ca rs and t he y do not set o ff.
T h e r e t i re m en t s o f so m e fo r m e r p ri me m i n i s t e rs h a v e b e e n c l o u d e d b y mo n e y-wo rri es. As qui t h’s fina nc i al p os it i on was s o b ad t hat s ome of h i s fri e nds o rga ni s e d a n a p p e a l f o r a f u n d t o p a y h i s d e b t s a n d g i v e h i m a p r i v a t e p e n s i o n f o r t h e l a s t f e w y e a r s o f hi s l i fe ; h e l e ft on l y £ 9 , 3 4 5 on h i s d e at h i n 1 9 2 8 . C ar e l es s m a n a ge m e n t an d b u n gl e d s p e c u l a t i v e i n v e s t m e n t s h a d d r a i n e d a w a y B a l f o u r ’ s s u b s t a n t i a l i n h e r i t e d w e a l t h b y t h e e n d . A t t l e e l i v e d m o d e s t l y o n h i s p e n s i o n , t h e H o u s e o f L o r d s a t t e nd an ce al l o wan ce a nd wh at e ve r he c o ul d mak e fro m l e c t ur es a nd j ou rn al i sm (‘pa y m e n t i s i n i n v e r s e r a t i o t o t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e p a p e r ’ , h e o n c e n o t e d ) . H e l e f t o n l y £7,295 in his will - the s mall est su m left b y a n y of th e 20th c en tury’s fo rmer PMs .
So me o t he r fo rme r P Ms h av e en j o ye d pri va t e we a l t h from b usi ne s s o r i nh erit e d p r op e rt y. S a l i s b u r y l e f t £3 0 0, 0 0 0 i n 1 90 3 ( e q u i v al e nt p e rh a p s t o £2 0 m i l l i o n t o da y) ; R os eber y l eft £1.7 mi lli on i n 1929 (the equ ival ent of n earl y £6 0 milli on t od a y). Ll o yd G e o r g e l e f t p u b l i c l i f e s u b s t a n t i a l l y w e a l t h i e r t h a n w h e n h e e n t e r e d i t . T h e L l o y d G e o r g e F u n d ( f u n d e d b y h o n o u r s s a l e s ) w a s a p o l i t i c a l w a r - c h e s t . P e r s o n a l l y, h e r e c e i v e d a n a n n u i t y o f £ 2 , 0 0 0 a ye a r f r o m A n d r e w C a r n e g i e a n d h e m a d e s e r i o u s m o n e y f r o m h i s w r i t i n g a n d j o u r n a l i s m , b e i n g p a i d £ 1 p e r w o r d f o r t h o u s a n d - w o r d a r t i c l e s g i v e n w o r l d s yn d i c a t i o n , h e l p i n g h i m t o b u i l d u p a n d f a r m o n h i s e s t a t e a t C hurt.
h o s t i n g h i s o w n T V c h a t - s h ow . C a l l a gh a n e n j o ye d h i s f a rm a n d wa s i nv o l v e d w i t h a ra nge of chari table, educ ati onal an d environ ment al goo d c auses . Ma c mil la n wa s acti ve i n t h e f a m i l y p u b l i s h i n g f i r m . H e a t h l e f t £ 5 . 4 m i l l i o n o n h i s d e a t h i n 2 0 0 5 . H i s b i g b oo k s a l es a nd e a rni n gs fro m t he i nt e rna t i on al l e ct u re c i rcu i t h el p ed , an d a l t ho ugh h e n e v e r s a t o n a B r i t i s h c o m p a n y’ s b o a r d h e w a s f o r 2 0 ye a r s a me m b e r o f t h e p u b l i c r e v i e w b o a r d o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a c c o u n t a n c y f i r m, A r t h u r A n d e r s e n . T h a t c h e r a n d M a j o r s i g n e d o n w i t h t h e Wa s h i n gt o n S p e a k e r s ’ B u r e a u w h e n t h e y l e f t Nu m b e r 1 0 , t h e f o r m e r r e p o r t e d l y r e c e i v i n g f e e s o f $ 5 0 , 0 0 0 a l e c t u r e . W i t h a s u b s t a n t i a l p ub l i sh i ng de a l a n d r e port e d f e e s o f £ 1 m i l l i o n a ye ar a s a c on su l t an t t o t h e gi a nt US t o b a c c o fi r m P h i l i p Mo r ri s , T h at c h e r s p e r s on a l w e a l t h wa s e s t i m a t e d a t £9 mi l l i o n i n 1 9 9 2 . M a j o r h a s a l s o e a r n e d v e r y l a r g e s u m s f r o m h i s b u s i n e s s a c t i v i t i e s a f t e r l e a v i n g N u m b e r 1 0 , n o t a b l y h i s w o r k f o r t h e C a r l yl e G r o u p , a p o w e rf u l b u t d i s c r e e t Ame ri can invest me nt fi rm.
‘Out l ive the ba sta rds’
A s i n t h e c a s e o f f o r m e r U S p r e s i d e n t s , l o n g e v i t y a n d g o o d h e a l t h a r e e s s e n t i a l i n g r e d i e n t s f o r a s u c c e s s f u l p o s t p r e m i e r s h i p ( ‘ I o u t l i v e d t h e b a s t a r d s ’ , t h e l o n g -l i v i n g H e r b e r t H o o v e r i s r e p o r t e d t o h a v e s a i d o f h i s c r i t i c s a n d p o -l i t i c a -l fo e s ) . T h e a v e r a g e a g e a t t h e e n d o f t h e i r p r e mi e r s h i p s o f t h o s e h o l d i n g o f f i c e s i n c e 1 9 0 0 w a s 6 5, wi t h fo u r a ge d o ve r 70 . Fi v e d i e d wi t hi n t wo - an d -a -h a l f yea rs of l ea vi n g N u m b er 1 0 . O v e r a l l , t h e a v e ra ge a g e o n d e a t h w as 8 0 ye a rs , b u t s i x o f t h e m l a st e d i n t o t h e i r e i gh t i e s a n d f o u r i n t o t h e i r n i n e t i e s . C a l l a g h a n w a s t h e l o n g e s t - l i v e d , d yi n g a d a y b e f o r e h i s 9 3 r d b i r t h d a y. T h e l o n ge s t p o s t - p re m i e r s h i p i n t h i s gr o u p wa s H e a t h ’ s a t j u s t o v e r 3 1 ye a r s , w i t h H o m e ’ s c l o s e b e h i n d . S e v e n i n a l l c l o c k e d u p 2 0 ye a r s o r mo re a ft er Numb er 10; t he average post -premi ership me as urin g a littl e over 14 yea rs .
What wil l Blai r do?
Ex - p r i me m i n i s t e r s a r e ge t t i n g yo u n ge r . M a j o r w a s o n l y 5 4 w h e n h e s t e p p e d d o w n : t h e yo u n ge s t ‘ e x ’ f o r a c e n t u r y. B l a i r w i l l b e o n l y i n h i s m i d -f i f t i e s t o o . B e c o mi n g p ri me mi nis t er at t h e age o f 47, Ma jor a dmi ts t hat h e knew t hat he woul d b e a n ex -P M b efo re h e w a s 60, un l e s s so me t hi n g e x t ra ord i na r y ha pp en e d , a nd p l an ne d a c co rd i ngl y t o b e p r e p a r e d f o r t h e d a y h e w o u l d l e a v e o f f i c e . H e c a r e f u l l y p r o t e c t e d h i s n o n -p o l i t i c a l i n t e r e s t s . A f t e r 1 9 9 7 h e k e -p t a l o w -p r o f i l e a n d s t a y e d o u t o f f r o n t - l i n e p ol i ti c s , co nc e nt rat i n g o n h i s bus i n es s ca r ee r. He h ad s ee n t h e c on s eq ue nc es of d oi n g a ‘T ha t ch er’ or a ‘Hea t h’. He ap pe are d re co nc il ed t o t h e poli t i ca l pa rt of hi s li fe b ein g i n t he p ast.
T h e r e a r e i n di c a t i o ns t h a t B l a i r w i l l no t c h oo s e t o h a n g a ro un d a s a n M P o nc e h e l e a v e s o f f i c e ( n o r w i l l h e go t o t h e L o r d s ) . H e w i l l n o t c o p y t h o s e e x - P M s wh o s t a ye d o n t h e b a c kb e n c he s l on g e no ugh af t e r l e a vi n g N u m b er 1 0 t o q u a l i f y a s Fa t h e r o f t he Hou se (Ll o yd Ge orge, C hurc hil l, Cal l a gh an an d He ath ). Hi s me moi rs an d a s tar r o l e o n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e c t u r e c i r c u i t w i l l s u r e l y b r i n g h i m i n p l e n t y o f m o n e y. T h e r e a r e s u g g e s t i o n s t h a t h e h a s n o i n t e n t i o n o f h a u n t i n g o r i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h h i s s u cc es s or - who w i l l s urel y i n a n y c as e n ot wa nt a ‘ ba c k s ea t dri v er’ h an gi n g a ro u n d. B u t t h e n a t u r e o f t h e ro l e h e w i l l p l a y i n f u t u r e La b o u r P a r t y p o l i t i c s a n d d o m e s t i c p ol i t i c al d eb at e re m a i ns t o b e s e en . Hi s fr i e nd B i l l C l i nt on h a s p ub l i cl y a d v i s e d hi m t h at ‘onc e yo u l e av e one of these [politi c al ] j obs yo u’v e got to l et them go ’. The re has b ee n pl ent y of s pe c ula ti on about a major in t ern atio nal job , perha ps with the UN or t he E U , b u t a f u l l - t i m e f i x e d i n s t i t u t i o n a l r o l e i n e i t h e r o r g a n i s a t i o n s e e m s u n l i k e l y, t h o u g h a r o v i n g U N a m b a s s a d o r s h i p f o r A f r i c a o r i n r e l a t i o n t o w o r l d p o v e r t y i s p e r h a p s p o s s i b l e . If he is not to go to t he Hou se o f Lords, Bl air will ne ed a pl at form fro m whi ch t o rema in en ga ge d wit h pol itics a nd t o t ra vel t he world . Clin ton a nd Tha tcher set up th eir own Fou nd atio ns , a nd t here ha s be en spec ul ation abou t a possi ble ‘Bl ai r Sc hool o f Governme nt ’ at the LS E, a ki n to Harva rd’s Kenne d y S chool. T he re is al so t he mod el o f t he US-ba s ed C arte r C e nt e r, se t up b y e x -pres ident J i m m y C a rt e r , t o wo rk o n i n t e rn a t i on a l c o n f l i c t m e d i a t i on . B l a i r c ou l d e v e n p e rh a p s f i n d a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y- o r i e n t e d f a i t h - f o c u s e d r o l e ? Wi t h l o t s o f e n e r g y , i d e a s a n d t i me to fill , B la ir could co nti nue to be an i nflu en ti al and i mport ant fi gu re in his post -p remi e rshi -p yea rs .
No tes
[1] T er r y C ol e ma n, M o v e r s a n d S h ak e rs, Lo n d on, An dr e D eu t s c h, 1 98 7 , p . 11 7; J oh n S ergea nt, Maggi e : He r Fatal Leg ac y, Lon don, Macmill an , 2005 , p.202.
[3] G e ra l d Fo r d , ‘Pe rso na l R e fl e ct i o ns o n M y Ex p eri e n c es a s a Fo r m e r P r es i de nt’, i n R i c h a r d N o r t o n S m i t h a n d T i m o t h y W a l c h ( e d s ) , F a r e w e l l t o t h e C h i e f : F o r m e r P re s i de nt s i n A me r i c a n Pub l i c L i f e, Wor l a nd, Wyo mi n g, Hi gh Pl a i n s P ubl i s h i n g C o., 1 99 0, p. 173.
[4] The T imes, 2 Au gu st 197 6.
[5] D.R. Th orpe, Alec Dou glas-Home, Lo nd on, Sincl air-St even son , 1996 , p. 4 04.
[6] Jo hn Maj or, The Aut obio graphy, Lo ndon, Harpe rCol lins , 19 99, pp . 206-7.
[7] Th e Gu ardi an, 14 De cember 20 05; James Margac h, Th e Abuse of Pow er, Lon do n, W.H. All en , 1978, p. 48.
[8] Kenneth O. Morgan , C all aghan, Oxford, OUP, 199 7, pp. 510 -11.
[9] E d w a r d H e a t h , T h e C o u r s e o f M y L i f e, L o n d o n , H o d d e r a n d S t o u g h t o n , 1 9 9 8 , p . 678; Horne , Macmi llan 1957-1986, pp. 6 22 -27.
[10] Phi l i p Wi l l i a m so n, ‘B al d wi n’s R e pu t a t i o n: Po l i t i cs a nd Hi s t or y 19 37-1 96 7’, Th e Hist ori cal Jour nal, vo l. 47, no. 1 , 2004, pp. 127 -168.
[11] Roy J en ki ns, Asquit h, Lo ndon, C ollin s, 197 8, p. 257 .
[12] K e n n e t h H a r r i s , A t t l e e, L o n d o n , W e i d e n f e l d a n d N i c o l s o n , 1 9 8 2 , p . 5 1 9 ;
