🚨EVENT: Revolutionising Britain: The Legacy of Sir Keith Joseph We're delighted to be hosting an event with Centre for Policy Studies on the Legacy of Tory MP and Minister Keith Joseph. 🗓️ 26 February 🕕18.00 for 18.30 📍 CPS offices, SW1P 3QL Find out more. 👉 cps.org.uk/events/post/20…

The legend, Lord Salisbury was born #OnThisday in 1830.

On this day 50 years ago, Tory MPs cast their votes in the first round of the 1975 Conservative leadership election. Margaret Thatcher topped the ballot, leading to Edward Heath's resignation as party leader. This document, signed by the scrutineers, confirmed the result. 👇

Harold Macmillan, Conservative prime minister from 1957-63, was born #OnThisDay in 1894. He entered 10 Downing Street in the aftermath of the Suez crisis, with the Conservative Party in a trough, but turned things around to win a 100 seat majority in the 1959 general election.

It's 131 years since Harold Macmillan was born. Here are ten snapshots from the life of 'SuperMac', one of the 20th century's greatest Prime Ministers. A thread.🧵

Fifty years ago today, Tory MPs voted for a new leader - and the result made headlines around the world: Thatcher: 146 Whitelaw: 79 Prior: 19 Howe: 19 Peyton: 11 Earlier in the contest, Thatcher was asked whether the country was ready for a woman leader. Here's what she said.👇

4th Feb 1975 saw Margaret Thatcher defenestrate Edward Heath. But a week later - 50 years ago today - she had to defeat another four men to become the Conservative leader. Here's the story of the all-important second ballot of the 1975 Tory leadership contest. A thread.🧵

A full house for tonight’s event on the legacy of Sir Keith Joseph with Centre for Policy Studies. Thanks to Professor Sir Vernon Bogdanor and Lord Parkinson for their contributions and to the audience for their stimulating questions.

#OnThisDay in 1982, Rab Butler died. He was one of the most consequential Conservative politicians of the 20th century, serving as Chancellor, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary. On three occasions he nearly ended up Prime Minister, but failed to make it to Number 10.

In February 1952 a young Margaret Thatcher wrote an article for Sunday Graphic. It was titled, ‘WAKE UP, WOMEN’ and reflected on the role of women in the second Elizabethan age, then just a few weeks old. Here’s what the young Mrs Thatcher wrote. A thread. 🧵

Over the last week I've been at the Bodleian Library in Oxford consulting the Conservative Party Archives. I've been especially interested in what historically the Party has done to regain its intellectual self-confidence in the aftermath of electoral defeat🧵

70 years ago today, Sir Anthony Eden went to the country to secure his own mandate as prime minister. The Conservatives won 49.7% of the vote - a vote share never beaten since - and a majority of 60. Here's the moment Richard Dimbleby declared the outcome was beyond doubt.

‘We want Ted! We want Ted!’ On this day in 1970, Edward Heath became prime minister after defeating Harold Wilson’s Labour Party in the general election. Outside the front door of 10 Downing Street, the new prime minister spoke of his vision for the country. 👇🏻

On this day in 1902, A. J. Balfour became prime minister - replacing his uncle the Marquess of Salisbury. Balfour’s career got off to a slow start. He waited 2 years before making his ‘dull’ maiden speech in 1876 then did not speak again for a year. But by 1902 he was PM.

Campaigning ain’t what it used to be! (Photograph from 1951)

In 1837, Benjamin Disraeli was elected to the House of Commons for the first time. Later that year, he made a chaotic (and much barracked) maiden speech, ending with the words: ‘Though I sit down now, the time will come when you will hear me!’

#OnThisDay in 1867, Stanley Baldwin was born. Baldwin dominated British politics in the inter-war years, but afterwards his legacy was tarnished by both the left and the right. His defenders, including Dominic Sandbrook, argue 'Baldwin deserves better... He was a great man.'

I've had the opportunity to read an inordinate amount while researching for my forthcoming book. It's not exactly holiday-friendly reading(!), but I thought I'd share a few of the key texts from my conservative philosophy / political economy reading list 🧵

🚨 NEW POST: Who were the people in the ‘Labour isn't working' poster? It’s probably the most famous British political poster of all time. But who formed the queue in the 'Labour isn't working' poster? I went investigating... sinceattleeandchurchill.com/p/who-were-the…