Life after death: Premiers Emeritus in British Politics

When at The National Archives be at the table

2025-02-23T01:01:00.000-08:00

The National Archives currently has an exhibition, just round the corner from its library. It is a replica of the Cabinet table. It features documents from the prime ministerships of Lord Salisbury to Tony Blair.

Winston Churchill at 150: the post-prime ministership

2024-11-29T23:37:00.000-08:00

Sir Winston Churchill was born 150 years ago today. Rather like his (eventual) successor, and great admirer, Margaret Thatcher, there is a wealth of material about one of the most understudied aspects of his career: his life after Downing Street.

For any student of Churchill's post-prime ministership, these three books are an essential source. Sir Martin Gilbert's magisterial official biography, Lord Moran's controversial book (which at this distance seems a work of homage, shedding new light on a heroic personality), and the recollections of Anthony Montague Browne, Churchill's last Private Secretary.

There is material in The National Archives and there is Churchill's own archive. We visited Churchill's papers in 1997 while doing our postgraduate research on ex-premiers. The extent of the material revealed an important fact of life about former prime ministers: however much they may seem or be seen - or be claimed, sometimes by themselves - to be retired from politics, they're not really. They maintain correspondence with political contacts, they meet them, they speak with them. This is often away from the public gaze, but it happens and it matters.

There was also much media coverage of Churchill after 1955 and even if little parliamentary activity (he intervened only four times after resigning), there was parliamentary presence. Of his life in Parliament, we have previously written:

The purpose of two of Churchill's interventions was to thank the House for its greetings on the occasion of his birthday. Beyond that, Churchill was, within Parliament, an icon of past glories. The image of the great war leader never faded. He was, in modern parlance, an A-list parliamentary celebrity, as much a legend as a person. His mere entry to the Commons Chamber was greeted with something akin to rapture and was effusively reported, in almost Helloesque style, in the press. Of Churchill's first appearance in the Commons after the 1955 election, The Times' parliamentary corespondent wrote: 'His entrance was a signal for a great burst of cheering from both sides of the House, and as he came into view of the public up aloft they broke into the loudest round of applause - strictly out of order - which the oldest hands could remember. The tumult went on as he made his way to [his seat].' Some three years later, The Times reported: 'A sudden tumult of cheering burst on the Chamber in the middle of question hour to-day. It was the Commons' spontaneous, affectionate welcome to Sir Winston Churchill.' When he entered the Chamber in May 1963, 'the Commons rose from their seats as one man, as they seldom do, and roared their approval'.

What was also fascinating from our research was how young, newish MPs would chaperone Churchill on his visits to Parliament. A number of them shared their experiences with us of him, experiences which reinforced his iconography. All of this illustrates the earlier point: when it comes to former prime ministers, what matters as much as the measurable and the observable - if not even more than the measurable and the observable - is the unseen and the nuance, even with such an iconic former prime minister as Churchill.

Former prime ministers and Parliament: their 'maiden' interventions

2024-11-16T03:18:00.000-08:00

This week Rishi Sunak has made his first intervention in the Commons as a backbencher. It was during Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Questions. Sunak asked about the annual food security index.

Other former prime ministers have made their 'maiden' interventions on a range of issues.

Liz Truss

Liz Truss' first intervention after her resignation was in a debate on Ukraine in February 2023.

Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson's was a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, just three days after his resignation.

Theresa May

Theresa May's was on the Second Reading of the Domestic Abuse Bill in October 2019.

David Cameron

David Cameron's first intervention as a backbencher had to wait until September 2024, when he spoke on the Second Reading of the Holocaust Memorial Bill.

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown's was in November 2010, on a constituency matter, aircraft carriers. His speech features in our study of Margaret Thatcher's life after Downing Street. More news on that coming soon.

Tony Blair

Resigning as an MP on the day he resigned as Prime Minister, and not having been elevated to the Lords, Tony Blair is yet to make a 'maiden' intervention as a former prime minister.

John Major

John Major's was on a ministerial statement on Iraq in February 1998.

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher's was on a prime ministerial statement on The Gulf in February 1991. This also features in our study of her life after Downing Street.

James Callaghan

James Callaghan's was during a Queen's Speech debate in November 1980 on industry and the economy. Edward Heath also spoke during the debate.

Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson's was on the Second Reading of the Scotland and Wales Bill in December 1976.

Edward Heath

Edward Heath's was a speech on a debate on membership of the European Community in April 1975. He also made three debating interventions during the debate. There were in Enoch Powell's speech.

Alec Douglas-Home

Alec Douglas-Home's, as Lord Home of the Hirsel, was in March 1975 on an Oral Question on the assassination of King Faisal.

Harold Macmillan

Harold Macmillan's was in November 1963, during tributes to President Kennedy.

Anthony Eden

Anthony Eden's, as The Earl of Avon, was made in October 1961 in a debate on the international situation. Earl Attlee also spoke.

Clement Attlee

Clement Attlee's, as Earl Attlee, was in March 1956 in a debate on the Middle East. He also made four debating interventions during the debate. The debate was on a motion of his own. Earl Attlee is interesting amongst the post-war ex-premiers. Although it seems he did not have a formal role on the Labour front bench in the House of Lords from 1956 onwards, he did speak from there on occasion. He himself made this point in a November 1964 speech, commenting, 'I am speaking to-day as a Back-Bench Member. For the first time for 41 years I am completely free from responsibility. I am neither a Minister, nor one of the official Opposition, but merely an old, Back-Bench Member.'

Winston Churchill

The first recorded words that Winston Churchill uttered in the Chamber of the House of Commons after his resignation were in November 1959 when he thanked the House for its greetings on his birthday. He had, however, indicated his support for the Government during a speech by Hugh Gaitskell on Suez in November 1956.

‘A little delicate’: the 1975 Cenotaph Service

2024-11-11T03:08:00.000-08:00

One of the most arresting images of former prime ministers is the annual National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. This year’s was no exception, with some of the coverage highlighting the record number of living former prime ministers, eight in total. That's captured in this image from Sky.

1975: ‘a little delicate’

As revealed by a file released by The National Archives in 2007, there had also been press interest in the 1975 National Service of Remembrance, with the New Statesman enquiring in what capacity Edward Heath had attended that year’s service. An official in the Home Office advised the Press Office that he had been invited in his capacity as a former prime minister and that such invitations had been extended to former prime ministers for many years.

It was not just Heath’s capacity that excited work for officials. So did the question of whether he would lay a wreath or not. He did not. This was in line with a decision in 1966 that former prime ministers should not lay wreaths. Also in 1966, The Queen had agreed that she would receive any former prime ministers who attended the remembrance services.

But, for students of ex-premiers, and of Heath, and of his relationship with Margaret Thatcher, the most important issue with which officials grappled in 1975 was where he would stand. Or more particularly next to whom he would stand. One official described the situation as ‘a little delicate’.

The ‘delicate’ issue related as to whether he would stand next to then prime minister, Harold Wilson, or whether he would stand next to the leader of the Liberal Party, Jeremy Thorpe. If he did the former, he would, of course, take precedence over the Leader of the Opposition, Margaret Thatcher. If he did the latter, it would set a new precedent. Previously, former prime ministers who attended the service, the last being Earl Attlee in 1964, had stood next to the prime minister.

The memo of 20 October

On 20 October 1975, officials working on the matter noted that if Heath were given precedence over Thatcher it ‘might provoke some adverse comment.’ They also noted that if the previous precedent were remembered ‘there may be adverse comment if it is not followed.’ It was also noted that if Heath were to be stood next to Thorpe, he would need to be told; and that if the previous precedent were followed ‘then it would seem advisable for the position to be explained to Mrs Thatcher before she receives the programme and her instructions.’

The memo of 23 October

The issue was escalated with a memo of 23 October noting ‘the sensitiveness of the situation’. The official who wrote the memo recognised it was effectively a ‘no-win’ situation, ‘This is one of those situations where, whichever course one takes, there is the likelihood of difficulty. It is all the more important, therefore, that we found our decision on some seemingly valid principle so that we have some defence against the criticisms.’ Their advice was to stick with the existing precedent on the grounds that ‘we should be better able to ward off any criticisms and justify the arrangement if we did this’. They noted too that ‘there are some good reasons why former Prime Ministers should stand next to the present Prime Minister whatever difficulties that might create as regards the Leader of the Opposition’, arguing that former prime ministers were ‘persons who have been the head of Her Majesty's Government in the past’.

The memo of 24 October

Another memo of 24 October saw another official argue, ‘On the merits of this matter, I entirely agree’. They went on, ‘I believe that the only justifiable line of action in a situation of this kind is to abide strictly by precedent. They noted, ‘Obviously, Mrs Thatcher ought to be warned, and I am not entirely certain how this would best be done; perhaps a private word from S of S or from the Prime Minister would be appropriate.’ Recognising how the matter might generate media interest, they went on, ‘We should also make certain that there is no misunderstanding by the press’. Their advice was to obtain the ‘S of S's views on the best handling’ of the issue.

The memo of 27 October

The then Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins, considered the matter. A note from his Principal Private Secretary of 27 October revealed his decision, ‘on the question of placing he inclines to the view that it would be better practice for this year and for the future were former Prime Ministers to be placed after the Prime Minister of the day and the Leaders of Opposition Parties.’ The note also revealed that Jenkins had spoken to Heath about it, ‘who accepts the position’, and that Heath had not expected to lay a wreath.

Conclusion

To quote an official on a memo about one of Margaret Thatcher’s post-prime ministerial visits abroad, ‘Relief all round!’. And another fascinating insight into the nuances of politics, and the Heath-Thatcher relationship, which was to continue throughout her time as Leader of the Opposition, Prime Minister, and as a former prime minister. On the latter, look out for more news in a couple of weeks.

And as for the current nuances of politics, the prime ministerial pairings as they departed this year's ceremony provide rich material.

Queen Elizabeth II: two years on

2024-09-07T23:50:00.000-07:00

Queen Elizabeth II died two years ago today.

At the time of her death, Her Majesty had six surviving (British) former prime ministers. They all issued statements about her. They also spoke to the media about her. Two of them - Theresa May and Boris Johnson - paid tribute to her in The House of Commons.

Sir John Major

Sir John Major posted a statement on his website.

Sir Tony Blair

Sir Tony Blair posted on Twitter and on his Institute's website.

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown posted on Twitter. He also wrote an article for the Daily Record.

David Cameron

David Cameron posted on Twitter and his website.

Theresa May

Theresa May posted on Twitter and spoke in The House of Commons.

Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson posted on Twitter and spoke in The Commons.

Funeral

They all attended The Queen's funeral, their arrival being - next to the arrival of her Ladies-in-Waiting - being some of the most visually powerful coverage of the service.

What now for Rishi Sunak?

2024-07-05T23:08:00.000-07:00

So what does the future hold for Rishi Sunak as he starts the process of becoming a premier emeritus, a former prime minister who no longer holds government or party office?

In After Number 10 Former Prime Ministers in British Politics, published in 2010, Professor Kevin Theakston identified five themes.

First, back in government office after being prime minister. If this will ever be relevant to Sunak, it seems a long way off right now.

Second, health and age factors. Theakston identified longevity and good health as being essential to a successful post-premiership. It seems that Sunak has both ahead of him.

Third, honours. Sunak's Dissolution Honours have already been announced. Will he also issue Resignation Honours? And which honours will he have bestowed on him, in time? The Garter (on which there remains a backlog, the last former prime minister to be awarded it being Tony Blair)? A peerage?

Fourth, putting pen to paper. Will Sunak write his memoirs? Or other books, like some former prime ministers have?

Fifth, money matters. Sunak will keep a car as a former prime minister and police protection. He will also, once no longer Leader of the Opposition, be able to claim the Public Duties Cost Allowance. This was introduced in 1991 following Margaret Thatcher's resignation. Beyond that, how will he earn a living?

There are also other themes relevant to the lives of former prime ministers not identified by Theakston. In our study of Margaret Thatcher's life after Downing Street, we have identified another four.

First, institutional infrastructure. Margaret Thatcher set up the Margaret Thatcher Foundation. It is a model followed, in varying ways, by Tony Blair. Will Sunak do something similar?

Second, birthdays and personal anniversaries. For example, Margaret Thatcher's 70th, 75th, 80th, and 85th birthdays were all marked. So were anniversaries from her career, including her election as Conservative leader, appointment as Prime Minister, and resignation.

Third, political anniversaries. Margaret Thatcher, for example, marked the 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th anniversaries of the Falklands War.

Fourth, explaining themselves. Former prime ministers often spend part of their post-premiership explaining their decisions as prime minister and sometimes also from earlier in their career too.

Which of these themes will feature in Sunak's ex-prime ministership, and to what extent? And will there be innovations from his time as a premier emeritus?