Conservative Leaders

  • Revealed: “Occupation Ireland”

    The trials of Margaret Thatcher with Irish terrorists is not well documented because she didn’t want to speak about it until well after her time in office.

    The fact of her death has opened up the opportunity to delve into the records of such an important figure in UK politics as her.

    In speaking to her briefly about the matter, it came to light that she had been extremely worried by it herself, not just for the sake of the country, but for her own welfare.

    As a leader at the topmost point, she felt more exposed to the winds of hatred than most. It wasn’t just a close encounter in Brighton that made her feel so, but everyday occurrences too.

    Her primary worry had been over a group called “Occupation Ireland”, whom she described as “neo-fascistic” and too dead set on doing her harm, she related.

    She said it started as an academic troop but turned into a militant organisation feeding most of the lies believed by the IRA, principally, and other groups there.

    There were three close encounters at the gates to Downing Street that made her feel unnerved. It taught her the valuable lesson of staying safe and heeding advice.

  • Tories whittle to two

    The Tories voted out James Cleverly MP (Braintree/Conservatives) in the final phase of the MP’s ballot for leadership of the party. It turns next to the party faithful to place their online vote. They’ve got until the end of the month.

    Now left in the running are Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex/Conservatives) who won with 34.7% of the vote, and Robert Jenrick MP (Newark/Conservatives) who surged ahead to edge out Cleverly with 33.9% of the vote.

  • Profile: Boris Johnson

    Boris Johnson is a larger than life figure in UK politics. He’s occupied many political offices and has worked “behind the scenes” as it were in the journalism industry for a wide array of conservative titles.

    He began his employment at The Times in 1987 before moving to The Daily Telegraph as its reporter in Brussels to cover what was the European Commission at the time. He’s since written for and edited The Spectator, a leading conservative title in the UK.

    His television work made him a star in the UK and brought his characteristic wit and style of commentary to a wider audience. His appearances on the BBC show Have I Got News For You jettisoned a relatively new Johnson into the political stratosphere.

    In 2001 he found his first political success after winning the election for MP of Henley, a constituency in Oxfordshire. He’s since been elected Mayor of London twice, and MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. He was appointed Foreign Secretary under Theresa May in 2016 and became Prime Minister in 2019.

    He is a writer at heart and his publications extend beyond his own life and times to works of a historical nature. In particular he’s written about London, Rome, and Brussels throughout his works.

    The key moments in his life centre on controversies. He’s the author of his own due to multiple failed marriages. He was also at the centre of the storm of the Brexit referendum in 2016, having campaigned for the Leave vote. Lastly, his Premiership was beset by the Covid pandemic and brought him intense criticism and scrutiny of his style of leadership.