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Prime Ministers and Divided Parties

Jonathan Freedland compares Theresa May's woes now with those of Arthur Balfour in 1903-06, taking the long view of prime ministers confronted with deep divisions in their party.

Jonathan Freedland compares Theresa May's woes now with those of Arthur Balfour in 1903-06, taking the long view of prime ministers confronted with deep divisions in their own party.

In the early 1900s Prime Minister Arthur Balfour was faced with a seemingly irreconcilable split in his party. Back then, Balfour鈥檚 Conservatives were tearing themselves apart over Imperial Preference - a proposal for a free trade zone within the British Empire. Advocates of Imperial Preference saw it as vital to maintaining Britain's place in the world. Opponents saw it as a dangerous folly.

Jonathan Freedland looks at what lessons can be drawn from Balfour's experiences.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

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28 minutes

Last on

Tue 8 Jan 2019 21:30
大象传媒 Radio 4

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  • Tue 8 Jan 2019 09:00
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Tue 8 Jan 2019 21:30
    大象传媒 Radio 4

Podcast

  • The Long View

    History series in which stories from the past shed light on current events