Theakston, K (2006) After number ten: What do former prime ministers do? Political Quarterly, 77 (4). 448 - 456. ISSN 0032-3179
Abstract
The article reviews the experience of former British prime ministers in the twentieth century. There is no fixed or predetermined role for former prime ministers. What they do after they leave office depends on personal choices and on circumstances. Some have largely disappeared from the political stage. Others have become active international ‘elder statesmen’. A couple-Heath and Thatcher-were embittered ‘models to avoid’. A quarter of the former prime ministers since 1900 have served in other government posts in their successors’ Cabinets, while a handful have turned down such appointments. Most have gone to the Lords, which offers a political platform, but sometimes they do not think much of the quality of the second chamber. The retirements of some former prime ministers have been clouded by money worries, but they nowadays get substantial pensions and can make money from business directorships, international lectures and writing memoirs. The article concludes with speculation about what Tony Blair's post-premiership might hold.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Authors 2006. The Political Quarterly © The Political Quarterly Publishing Co. Ltd. 2006. This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Theakston, K (2006) After number ten: What do former prime ministers do? Political Quarterly, 77 (4). 448 - 456. ISSN 0032-3179, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2006.00817.x. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving. |
Keywords: | British prime ministers; retired leaders; Tony Blair |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Politics & International Studies (POLIS) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 23 Apr 2014 15:22 |
Last Modified: | 23 Apr 2014 15:22 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2006.00817.x |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Blackwell Publishers Ltd. |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/j.1467-923X.2006.00817.x |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:78537 |