CHJ issue 5-2007.qxd 20/9/07 17:25 Page i The journal of the Conservative History Group | Autumn 2007 | £7.50 Conservative History Journal Helen Szamuely on a very Conservative crisis SUEZ fifty years on ALISTAIR COOKE HOW MISS BRANT SAVED THE PRIME MINISTER: THE CAREER OF A REMARKABLE LADY Plus: Charles Dudgeon examines the Earl of Bute; Mark Coalter Interviews Jonathan Aitken; Nick Powell looks at the life of Stefan Terlezki; Ian Pendlington on Sir Anthony Eden CHJ issue 5-2007.qxd 20/9/07 17:25 Page ii Contents The Conservative History Journal is published twice yearly by the Conservative History Group Contents ISSN 1479-8026 Editorial 2 Advertisements Helen Szamuely To advertise in the next issue call Helen Szamuely on 07733 018999 How Miss Brant saved the Prime Minister 3 Alistair Cooke Editorial/Correspondence Contributions to the Journal – letters, articles Reclaiming Jane 7 and book reviews are invited. The Journal is a Helen Szamuely refereed publication; all articles submitted will be reviewed and publication is not guaranteed. A Scottish Prime Minister 10 Contributions should be emailed or posted to Charles Dudgeon the addresses below. All articles remain copy- right © their authors “Waiting for Winston” 13 Ian Pendlington Subscriptions/Membership An annual subscription to the Conservative What Jonathan did next 15 History Group costs £15. Copies of the Journal Mark Coalter are included in the membership fee. The Conservative from Ukraine 19 The Conservative History Group Nick Powell Chairman: Keith Simpson MP Deputy Chairman: Professor John Charmley Conservative Scottish Secretaries 22 Director: Iain Dale David Torrance Treasurer: John Strafford Secretary: Martin Ball Journal Editor: Helen Szamuely Obituaries Committee: Lord Rawlinson of Ewell 25 Christina Dykes Ronald Porter Lord Norton of Louth Lord Brooke Lord Harris of High Cross 26 Jonathan Collett Ronald Porter Simon Gordon Mark Garnett Lord Biffen of Tanat 26 Ian Pendlington Colin Baillieu David Ruffley MP Quentin Davies MP Book reviews William Dorman Nothing Like a Dame – The Scandals of Shirley Porter 27 Graham Smith by James Bartholomes Jeremy Savage reviewed by Mark Coalter Lord Henley William McDougall Very Deeply Dyed in Black: Sir Oswald Mosley and the 29 Tricia Gurnett Resurrection of British Fascism after 1945 by Graham Macklin reviewed by Nicholas Hillman Conservative History Group PO Box 42119 Alec Douglas-Home (Great Statesman) by D. R. Thorpe 30 London reviewed by Harshan Kumarasingham SW8 1WJ Telephone: 07768 254690 Email: [email protected] The forgotten crisis 31 Website: www.conservativehistory.org.uk Helen Szamuely weblog:http://conservativehistory.blogspot.com Conservative History Journal | issue 7 | Autumn 2007 | 1 CHJ issue 5-2007.qxd 20/9/07 17:25 Page 1 EditorialHelen Szamuely s usual, I have to start with an apology obituary, partly because there was no space and partly for the late appearance of the Journal and because we did not want to turn the whole Journal into a promise that the second issue of 2007, a necropolis. which will deal with the concept of the The article about Eden ties in well with another sub- A Anglosphere, will, in fact, be published ject, shown in the cartoon on the front and an article at before the end of the year. the back – the fiftieth anniversary of the Suez Crisis The intention of this issue was to concentrate on the that finished off Sir Anthony’s political career. It is, subject of Conservative women but it is a larger theme perhaps, ironic that Eden, whose strength was supposed than any of us realized, though not covered particu- to be foreign affairs was destroyed by his maladroit larly well by historians, who seem to accept the handling of them. Helen Szamuely is the assumption that women were more likely to be We are particularly pleased to have an article on a co-editor of the Conservative involved in left-wing politics. This is completely very unusual Conservative MP, the Ukrainian born History Journal. Email her on [email protected]. untrue, as G. E. Maguire showed in her 1998 book Stefan Terlezki, a man whose right-wing opinions grew “Conservative Women”. However, as far as the out of his own experience of the Communist system. Journal is concerned, we are publishing Alistair Interestingly enough, the author of the article, Nick Cooke’s article about a formidable lady, an early Powell, who is Head of Politics at ITV Wales, though Conservative organiser, who is, I am delighted to say, he finds Terlezki fascinating, is also a little uneasy still alive at the age of 101. about his political views, finding it necessary to assure The other themes are related to present circum- the readers that these grew out of his personal experi- stances – prime ministers in waiting, Scottish prime ence and are, therefore, acceptable. ministers and, sadly, obituaries of a number of impor- As ever, we hope you will enjoy the Journal. We look tant individuals who were somehow on the conserva- forward to more articles and feed-back from our tive side. As it is, we had to leave out Bill Deedes’s readers. The Conservative History Group As the Conservative Party regroups after three general election defeats, learning from history is perhaps more vital than ever, We formed the Conservative History Group in the Autumn of 2002 to promote the discussion and debate of all aspects of Conservative history. We have organised a wide-ranging programme of speaker meetings in our first year and with the bi-annual publication of the Conservative History Journal, we hope to provide a forum for serious and indepth articles on Conservative history, biographies of leading and more obscure Conservative figures, as well as book reviews and profiles. For an annual subscription of only £15 you will receive invites to all our events as well as complimentary copies of the Conservative History Journal twice a year. We very much hope you will want to join us and become part of one of the Conservative Party’s most vibrant discussion groups. Please fill in and return this form if you would like to join the Conservative History Group Name ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Email ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Send your details with your subscription of £15 to Conservative History Group, PO Box 42119, London SW8 1WJ Or you can join online at www.politicos.co.uk 2 | Conservative History Journal | issue 7 | Autumn 2007 CHJ issue 5-2007.qxd 20/9/07 17:25 Page 2 How Miss Brant Saved the Prime Minister Alistair Cooke OBE, probably the best known and most knowledgeable writer on the history of the Conservative Party, looks at the career of a remarkable lady Sir Cuthbert did, however, have con- task was successfully accomplished. siderable respect for many of the The Prime Minister retained his seat party officials employed directly by with the help in particular of the Tory Conservative Central Office to work Seaham women whom Miss Brant for its Area Agent based in Newcastle rallied in support of their old foe who who formed part of CCO’s regional had suddenly become their ally. network established in the 1880s. The In the rough, tough, male world of Agent himself at this time, H.V. coal-mining a young, middle-class Armstrong, was a man of conspicu- Tory woman had achieved something ous ability who was held in univer- rather remarkable. Most obviously sally high regard. she had proved herself a very good It was in the Newcastle Area party official indeed, for whom Sir Office under Armstrong that Dorothy Cuthbert himself had nothing but Brant, who had been born in Gate- praise: he wrote to thank her for her shead in 1906 and brought up in ‘splendid work’.3 Even more signifi- here is no doubt Newcastle itself, began her remark- cantly her great coup, coming so everything depends able political career in 1929. Two years swiftly after the full enfranchisement ‘ on a good agent: one later she found herself at a decisive of women in 1928, demonstrated the wants an enthusiast moment in Seaham, Co. Durham, a skill and resourcefulness that this T for such a thankless seat dominated by coal-mining where new element would bring to British task and enthusiasts are very hard to the Labour Prime Minister, Ramsay politics. Miss Brant celebrated her find. A good agent can get a poor MacDonald, had had a massive candidate in: a bad agent can keep a majority at the 1929 election. But in 1 good candidate out.’ The author of 1931 the Durham miners were in In October 1931 a snap election was those words, the Tory MP Sir open revolt. They were determined to “ Cuthbert Headlam, came to be gener- punish MacDonald for what they saw called. Could the Tories of Seaham ally regarded as the leading as a gross act of betrayal. He had save MacDonald from the wrath of his Conservative in the North East of entered into a coalition to create a former supporers, now his furious England after 1930. Almost every- new National Government, which where the Party faced formidable dif- included their hated Tory opponents, Labour foes? ficulties in attracting support; few to tackle the grave economic crisis ” good candidates and agents wanted to facing the country. In October 1931 a pursue their careers in a region that snap election was called. Could the 100th birthday in August 2006. was so inhospitable to Conservatism. Tories of Seaham save MacDonald Though her life was marked by many Headlam’s own agent in his highly from the wrath of his former suppor- successes after 1931, it is not surpris- marginal constituency of Barnard ers, now his furious Labour foes? ing that that she recalls this early Castle, Co.