There are a large and intriguing number of ‘Nearly Men’ from the 18th century to the present day.
We shall look at their lives and the reasons they reached to within touching distance of No 10 but ultimately failed. Regrettably there are no ‘Nearly Women’ in the list despite us having had two female Prime Ministers.
Those in the list include those who died before their moment would have come, such as John Smith and Randolph Churchill, those who perhaps could never quite believe they didn’t make it, from RAB Butler to Charles James Fox, as well as a host of others from Lord Halifax to Michael Foot.
William Tyler MBE is freelance educator, lecturing, public speaking, writing and consultancy with a main focus on History. He was the Principal of The City Lit, Britain’s largest college of adult education. He was his awarded his MBE for services to education.
Week 1 Oct 15th Introduction: The nature of Britain’s political greasy pole and the ways to No 10
Week 2 Oct 22nd Prelude: Before the Office of PM – Bolingbroke, Harley, and Shrewsbury, 1714
Week 3 Oct 29th CJ Fox and Edmund Burke
Week 4 Nov 5th Randolph Churchill and Austen Chamberlain
Week 5 Nov 12th Lord Halifax and RA Butler
Week 6 Nov 19th Clynes and Morrison
Week 7 Nov 26th Gaitskill and Foot
Week 8 Dec 3rd Heseltine and Kinnock
Week 9 Dec 10th Changing nature of the Premiership in 20th and 21st centuries
