Peter Just
@expremiers.bsky.social
Peter Just posting about UK former prime ministers.
Author of 'Margaret Thatcher: Life after Downing Street' - coming via @bitebackpublishing.bsky.social in July 2025.
#ThatcherAfterDowningStreet #ExPremiers #AfterDowningStreet
Author of 'Margaret Thatcher: Life after Downing Street' - coming via @bitebackpublishing.bsky.social in July 2025.
#ThatcherAfterDowningStreet #ExPremiers #AfterDowningStreet
Pinned
Peter Just
@expremiers.bsky.social
· Oct 5
🧵 What do Prime Ministers do once out of office?
🚨 It's often not what you think.
📘 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' explodes the myths that have surrounded her ex-premiership.
🔍 It also provides a framework in which to study the Office of Former Prime Minister.
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🚨 It's often not what you think.
📘 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' explodes the myths that have surrounded her ex-premiership.
🔍 It also provides a framework in which to study the Office of Former Prime Minister.
1/
🚨 January 2026 update on ex-PMs' parliamentary activity.
💥 History made!
👑 Rishi Sunak takes Jim Callaghan's crown and now averages the most interventions per session since 1955: 27 to Callaghan's 26.
👀 Helped by this long session, but still impressive!
💥 History made!
👑 Rishi Sunak takes Jim Callaghan's crown and now averages the most interventions per session since 1955: 27 to Callaghan's 26.
👀 Helped by this long session, but still impressive!
February 1, 2026 at 9:26 AM
🚨 January 2026 update on ex-PMs' parliamentary activity.
💥 History made!
👑 Rishi Sunak takes Jim Callaghan's crown and now averages the most interventions per session since 1955: 27 to Callaghan's 26.
👀 Helped by this long session, but still impressive!
💥 History made!
👑 Rishi Sunak takes Jim Callaghan's crown and now averages the most interventions per session since 1955: 27 to Callaghan's 26.
👀 Helped by this long session, but still impressive!
🚨 January has been a historic month in relation to 'The Office of Former Prime Minister'.
👀 Check back tomorrow for why.
💥 Exciting!
👀 Check back tomorrow for why.
💥 Exciting!
a globe is surrounded by the letters r and h
ALT: a globe is surrounded by the letters r and h
media.tenor.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:55 PM
🚨 January has been a historic month in relation to 'The Office of Former Prime Minister'.
👀 Check back tomorrow for why.
💥 Exciting!
👀 Check back tomorrow for why.
💥 Exciting!
🗣️ 'He's getting awfully bossy.'
📰 So Margaret Thatcher said about Tony Blair (🤭 yes, really), in a report published on this day, 31 January, in 1999.
💎 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' is stuffed full of such gems of Lady Thatcher being entirely herself.
📰 So Margaret Thatcher said about Tony Blair (🤭 yes, really), in a report published on this day, 31 January, in 1999.
💎 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' is stuffed full of such gems of Lady Thatcher being entirely herself.
January 31, 2026 at 9:25 AM
🗣️ 'He's getting awfully bossy.'
📰 So Margaret Thatcher said about Tony Blair (🤭 yes, really), in a report published on this day, 31 January, in 1999.
💎 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' is stuffed full of such gems of Lady Thatcher being entirely herself.
📰 So Margaret Thatcher said about Tony Blair (🤭 yes, really), in a report published on this day, 31 January, in 1999.
💎 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' is stuffed full of such gems of Lady Thatcher being entirely herself.
🚨 Perhaps Margaret Thatcher's greatest legacy of all: still able to wind people up (to dizzying heights), 35 years after she left office and 13 years after she died.
✍🏻 A brilliant illustration from @iaindale.bsky.social of how even now she's still the one we can and do debate most of all.
✍🏻 A brilliant illustration from @iaindale.bsky.social of how even now she's still the one we can and do debate most of all.
NEW SUBSTACK: Fisking Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on Margaret Thacther.
In this long article I critique Yasmin's iNewspaper defenestration line by line.
Read
iaindale.substack.com/p/fisking-ya...
In this long article I critique Yasmin's iNewspaper defenestration line by line.
Read
iaindale.substack.com/p/fisking-ya...
'Fisking' Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on Margaret Thatcher
Iain Dale explains why Yasmin has for the Iron Lady all wrong...
iaindale.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:13 AM
🚨 Perhaps Margaret Thatcher's greatest legacy of all: still able to wind people up (to dizzying heights), 35 years after she left office and 13 years after she died.
✍🏻 A brilliant illustration from @iaindale.bsky.social of how even now she's still the one we can and do debate most of all.
✍🏻 A brilliant illustration from @iaindale.bsky.social of how even now she's still the one we can and do debate most of all.
🗣️ 'I quite agree you get independent-minded Members in all Parties; they are generally regarded as a nuisance by the Whips but they do enliven the Parties'.
🗓️ So said Clement Attlee on this day, 30 January, in 1958 in a debate on life peerages.
🗓️ So said Clement Attlee on this day, 30 January, in 1958 in a debate on life peerages.
January 30, 2026 at 7:17 AM
🗣️ 'I quite agree you get independent-minded Members in all Parties; they are generally regarded as a nuisance by the Whips but they do enliven the Parties'.
🗓️ So said Clement Attlee on this day, 30 January, in 1958 in a debate on life peerages.
🗓️ So said Clement Attlee on this day, 30 January, in 1958 in a debate on life peerages.
🎉 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' was published 6 months old today.
🙏🏻 A massive thank you to everyone who's bought it.
🔗 If you don't have a copy yet, or wanted to gift one, it currently has a 36% discount on Amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178590920...
🙏🏻 A massive thank you to everyone who's bought it.
🔗 If you don't have a copy yet, or wanted to gift one, it currently has a 36% discount on Amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178590920...
January 29, 2026 at 7:39 AM
🎉 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' was published 6 months old today.
🙏🏻 A massive thank you to everyone who's bought it.
🔗 If you don't have a copy yet, or wanted to gift one, it currently has a 36% discount on Amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178590920...
🙏🏻 A massive thank you to everyone who's bought it.
🔗 If you don't have a copy yet, or wanted to gift one, it currently has a 36% discount on Amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178590920...
🗣️ 'Increasingly over the past 18 years the Government have behaved in an arrogant manner to most people who are concerned with public affairs, whether it be the Civil Service or either House.'
🗓️ So said Jim Callaghan on this day, 28 January, in 1997, when speaking on the Police Bill.
🗓️ So said Jim Callaghan on this day, 28 January, in 1997, when speaking on the Police Bill.
January 28, 2026 at 6:23 AM
🗣️ 'Increasingly over the past 18 years the Government have behaved in an arrogant manner to most people who are concerned with public affairs, whether it be the Civil Service or either House.'
🗓️ So said Jim Callaghan on this day, 28 January, in 1997, when speaking on the Police Bill.
🗓️ So said Jim Callaghan on this day, 28 January, in 1997, when speaking on the Police Bill.
✍🏻 'The Iron Lady is back in style with fashion gurus' was the headline of a Daily Telegraph article on this day, 27 January, in 2000.
👚 Margaret Thatcher's wardrobe was a key part of her life after Downing Street.
📰More from Hilary Armstrong below.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic...
👚 Margaret Thatcher's wardrobe was a key part of her life after Downing Street.
📰More from Hilary Armstrong below.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic...
Margaret Thatcher: style, Aquascutum and the original power dresser
From the hair to the handbags, Margaret Thatcher styled herself as she led her country – with confidence, conviction and unshakeable belief.
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 7:02 AM
✍🏻 'The Iron Lady is back in style with fashion gurus' was the headline of a Daily Telegraph article on this day, 27 January, in 2000.
👚 Margaret Thatcher's wardrobe was a key part of her life after Downing Street.
📰More from Hilary Armstrong below.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic...
👚 Margaret Thatcher's wardrobe was a key part of her life after Downing Street.
📰More from Hilary Armstrong below.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic...
🥳 This is me with my grandmother, Ivy Mary Just, who would have been 120 today.
📘 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' is dedicated to her, one reason being that is thanks to Grandma that I first learnt of Margaret Thatcher's unrivalled ability to irritate men.
📘 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' is dedicated to her, one reason being that is thanks to Grandma that I first learnt of Margaret Thatcher's unrivalled ability to irritate men.
January 26, 2026 at 8:16 AM
🥳 This is me with my grandmother, Ivy Mary Just, who would have been 120 today.
📘 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' is dedicated to her, one reason being that is thanks to Grandma that I first learnt of Margaret Thatcher's unrivalled ability to irritate men.
📘 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' is dedicated to her, one reason being that is thanks to Grandma that I first learnt of Margaret Thatcher's unrivalled ability to irritate men.
🗓️ On this day in 1956, 25 January, Clement Attlee took his seat in the House of Lords as the first Earl Attlee.
🚨 One of his supporters was Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, Stanley Baldwin's son.
🗣️ The new Earl became one of the most parliamentary active ex-PMs.
🚨 One of his supporters was Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, Stanley Baldwin's son.
🗣️ The new Earl became one of the most parliamentary active ex-PMs.
January 25, 2026 at 7:12 AM
🗓️ On this day in 1956, 25 January, Clement Attlee took his seat in the House of Lords as the first Earl Attlee.
🚨 One of his supporters was Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, Stanley Baldwin's son.
🗣️ The new Earl became one of the most parliamentary active ex-PMs.
🚨 One of his supporters was Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, Stanley Baldwin's son.
🗣️ The new Earl became one of the most parliamentary active ex-PMs.
Reposted by Peter Just
It's #PMQs at Westminster. But is being Prime Minister now an impossible job?
Historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social of the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social explores why PMs burn out so fast, broken leadership pipelines, and why leaders should trust voters more.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6
Historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social of the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social explores why PMs burn out so fast, broken leadership pipelines, and why leaders should trust voters more.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6
January 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM
It's #PMQs at Westminster. But is being Prime Minister now an impossible job?
Historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social of the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social explores why PMs burn out so fast, broken leadership pipelines, and why leaders should trust voters more.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6
Historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social of the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social explores why PMs burn out so fast, broken leadership pipelines, and why leaders should trust voters more.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6
💥 'SURELY HE WAS THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL.'
✍🏻 So wrote Margaret Thatcher in the Finchley Press following the death of Sir Winston Churchill on this day, 24 January, in 1965.
🔗 You can read her article on the Margaret Thatcher Foundation website: www.margaretthatcher.org/document/101...
✍🏻 So wrote Margaret Thatcher in the Finchley Press following the death of Sir Winston Churchill on this day, 24 January, in 1965.
🔗 You can read her article on the Margaret Thatcher Foundation website: www.margaretthatcher.org/document/101...
January 24, 2026 at 5:13 PM
💥 'SURELY HE WAS THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL.'
✍🏻 So wrote Margaret Thatcher in the Finchley Press following the death of Sir Winston Churchill on this day, 24 January, in 1965.
🔗 You can read her article on the Margaret Thatcher Foundation website: www.margaretthatcher.org/document/101...
✍🏻 So wrote Margaret Thatcher in the Finchley Press following the death of Sir Winston Churchill on this day, 24 January, in 1965.
🔗 You can read her article on the Margaret Thatcher Foundation website: www.margaretthatcher.org/document/101...
🗓️ On this day in 2024, Theresa May asked Rishi Sunak about diabetes during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs).
4⃣ She is one of only four ex-PMs since 1955 to take part in PMQs.
🥇 Only Jim Callaghan exceeds her in the number of PMQs asked.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024...
4⃣ She is one of only four ex-PMs since 1955 to take part in PMQs.
🥇 Only Jim Callaghan exceeds her in the number of PMQs asked.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024...
Engagements - Hansard - UK Parliament
Hansard record of the item : 'Engagements' on Wednesday 24 January 2024.
hansard.parliament.uk
January 24, 2026 at 7:10 AM
🗓️ On this day in 2024, Theresa May asked Rishi Sunak about diabetes during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs).
4⃣ She is one of only four ex-PMs since 1955 to take part in PMQs.
🥇 Only Jim Callaghan exceeds her in the number of PMQs asked.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024...
4⃣ She is one of only four ex-PMs since 1955 to take part in PMQs.
🥇 Only Jim Callaghan exceeds her in the number of PMQs asked.
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024...
📺 On this day, 23 January, in 1985, the House of Lords was broadcast for the first time.
🎭 Performing as Earl of Stockton, Harold Macmillan spoke.
📸 There are also glimpses of his two immediate successors as PM: Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Wilson.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CzE...
🎭 Performing as Earl of Stockton, Harold Macmillan spoke.
📸 There are also glimpses of his two immediate successors as PM: Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Wilson.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CzE...
Harold Macmillan, Earl of Stockton, speaks in first televised debate | 40 years of the Lords on TV
YouTube video by House of Lords
www.youtube.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:36 AM
📺 On this day, 23 January, in 1985, the House of Lords was broadcast for the first time.
🎭 Performing as Earl of Stockton, Harold Macmillan spoke.
📸 There are also glimpses of his two immediate successors as PM: Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Wilson.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CzE...
🎭 Performing as Earl of Stockton, Harold Macmillan spoke.
📸 There are also glimpses of his two immediate successors as PM: Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Wilson.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CzE...
🚨 Margaret Thatcher was many things, after 1990 perhaps even more than before: person, persona, practising politician, political deity.
💡 After Downing Street she was something else too: prophet.
🌎 The Manila speech is an example of her prophesying the world we now live in.
💡 After Downing Street she was something else too: prophet.
🌎 The Manila speech is an example of her prophesying the world we now live in.
📢 'It is in all our interests to keep [the United States] committed to upholding international order, which means remaining a Pacific and indeed a European power.'
🗓️ So said Margaret Thatcher 30 years ago today, 22 January 1996, in Manila:
margaretthatcher.org/document/108...
🧵 1/
🗓️ So said Margaret Thatcher 30 years ago today, 22 January 1996, in Manila:
margaretthatcher.org/document/108...
🧵 1/
January 22, 2026 at 8:03 PM
🚨 Margaret Thatcher was many things, after 1990 perhaps even more than before: person, persona, practising politician, political deity.
💡 After Downing Street she was something else too: prophet.
🌎 The Manila speech is an example of her prophesying the world we now live in.
💡 After Downing Street she was something else too: prophet.
🌎 The Manila speech is an example of her prophesying the world we now live in.
📢 'It is in all our interests to keep [the United States] committed to upholding international order, which means remaining a Pacific and indeed a European power.'
🗓️ So said Margaret Thatcher 30 years ago today, 22 January 1996, in Manila:
margaretthatcher.org/document/108...
🧵 1/
🗓️ So said Margaret Thatcher 30 years ago today, 22 January 1996, in Manila:
margaretthatcher.org/document/108...
🧵 1/
January 22, 2026 at 8:12 AM
📢 'It is in all our interests to keep [the United States] committed to upholding international order, which means remaining a Pacific and indeed a European power.'
🗓️ So said Margaret Thatcher 30 years ago today, 22 January 1996, in Manila:
margaretthatcher.org/document/108...
🧵 1/
🗓️ So said Margaret Thatcher 30 years ago today, 22 January 1996, in Manila:
margaretthatcher.org/document/108...
🧵 1/
🗣️ 'We are making another move in the gradual secularisation of our people and in abandoning the old principles'.
🗓️ So said Harold Macmillan on this day, 21 January, in 1986 about the Shops Bill.
🧵1/
🗓️ So said Harold Macmillan on this day, 21 January, in 1986 about the Shops Bill.
🧵1/
January 21, 2026 at 7:25 AM
🗣️ 'We are making another move in the gradual secularisation of our people and in abandoning the old principles'.
🗓️ So said Harold Macmillan on this day, 21 January, in 1986 about the Shops Bill.
🧵1/
🗓️ So said Harold Macmillan on this day, 21 January, in 1986 about the Shops Bill.
🧵1/
📰 The Downing Street dinner featured on the front cover of
@privateeyenews.bsky.social's 1985 Christmas issue.
📰 Richard's story in the podcast about Harold Wilson during the 1983 election also featured on a Private Eye cover, along with Jim Callaghan's intervention on defence.
@privateeyenews.bsky.social's 1985 Christmas issue.
📰 Richard's story in the podcast about Harold Wilson during the 1983 election also featured on a Private Eye cover, along with Jim Callaghan's intervention on defence.
January 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM
📰 The Downing Street dinner featured on the front cover of
@privateeyenews.bsky.social's 1985 Christmas issue.
📰 Richard's story in the podcast about Harold Wilson during the 1983 election also featured on a Private Eye cover, along with Jim Callaghan's intervention on defence.
@privateeyenews.bsky.social's 1985 Christmas issue.
📰 Richard's story in the podcast about Harold Wilson during the 1983 election also featured on a Private Eye cover, along with Jim Callaghan's intervention on defence.
🚨 Interested in the role of former Prime Ministers?
🎙️ Then check out this great recent 'Since Attlee and Churchill' podcast of an event in Downing Street in 1985 which brought together Her Majesty The Queen and six of her Prime Ministers.
🧵 1/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNEp...
🎙️ Then check out this great recent 'Since Attlee and Churchill' podcast of an event in Downing Street in 1985 which brought together Her Majesty The Queen and six of her Prime Ministers.
🧵 1/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNEp...
What happened when the Queen and six of her Prime Ministers met for dinner?
YouTube video by Since Attlee & Churchill - The Podcast
www.youtube.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:17 AM
🚨 Interested in the role of former Prime Ministers?
🎙️ Then check out this great recent 'Since Attlee and Churchill' podcast of an event in Downing Street in 1985 which brought together Her Majesty The Queen and six of her Prime Ministers.
🧵 1/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNEp...
🎙️ Then check out this great recent 'Since Attlee and Churchill' podcast of an event in Downing Street in 1985 which brought together Her Majesty The Queen and six of her Prime Ministers.
🧵 1/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNEp...
🗣️ 'If we are to maintain the genuine belief of this House in the unity of the United Kingdom, a way must be found, otherwise the Union will not only be in danger it will be broken.'
🗓️ So said Ted Heath 50 years ago today, 19 January 1976.
🧵 1/
🗓️ So said Ted Heath 50 years ago today, 19 January 1976.
🧵 1/
January 19, 2026 at 6:12 AM
🗣️ 'If we are to maintain the genuine belief of this House in the unity of the United Kingdom, a way must be found, otherwise the Union will not only be in danger it will be broken.'
🗓️ So said Ted Heath 50 years ago today, 19 January 1976.
🧵 1/
🗓️ So said Ted Heath 50 years ago today, 19 January 1976.
🧵 1/
🗣️ 'like Tony Blair aping Alec Douglas Home'
☺️ A refreshing change from how British political history has largely been since 1990: 'Every Prime Minister attempting [and failing successfully] to ape Margaret Thatcher'.
☺️ A refreshing change from how British political history has largely been since 1990: 'Every Prime Minister attempting [and failing successfully] to ape Margaret Thatcher'.
Quite fun that government still reliant on communication technique honed three decades ago, like Tony Blair aping Alec Douglas Home
This is why there's a whole chapter in my book about the damage the grid has done to policy making.
January 18, 2026 at 9:06 AM
🗣️ 'like Tony Blair aping Alec Douglas Home'
☺️ A refreshing change from how British political history has largely been since 1990: 'Every Prime Minister attempting [and failing successfully] to ape Margaret Thatcher'.
☺️ A refreshing change from how British political history has largely been since 1990: 'Every Prime Minister attempting [and failing successfully] to ape Margaret Thatcher'.
🗣️ 'His complete conviction that the sanctity of international treaties freely entered into is the sole foundation for world peace. That is a principle which our disorderly world finds is daily underlined.'
📅 So said Alec Douglas-Home of Anthony Eden on 18 January 1977.
🧵1/
📅 So said Alec Douglas-Home of Anthony Eden on 18 January 1977.
🧵1/
January 18, 2026 at 8:10 AM
🗣️ 'His complete conviction that the sanctity of international treaties freely entered into is the sole foundation for world peace. That is a principle which our disorderly world finds is daily underlined.'
📅 So said Alec Douglas-Home of Anthony Eden on 18 January 1977.
🧵1/
📅 So said Alec Douglas-Home of Anthony Eden on 18 January 1977.
🧵1/
🗡 'Treachery with a smile on its face' at The National Archives.
📄 And its consequence for Margaret Thatcher.
📅 The diary erased almost to blank.
📄 And its consequence for Margaret Thatcher.
📅 The diary erased almost to blank.
January 17, 2026 at 4:01 PM
🗡 'Treachery with a smile on its face' at The National Archives.
📄 And its consequence for Margaret Thatcher.
📅 The diary erased almost to blank.
📄 And its consequence for Margaret Thatcher.
📅 The diary erased almost to blank.
🗓️ On this day, 17 January, in 1977, Commons' tributes were paid to Anthony Eden.
🗣️ They included a speech by Ted Heath (sadly, for many reasons, Harold Macmillan was not in Parliament).
🙏🏻 Margaret Thatcher thanked Jim Callaghan for flying Eden home.
🧵 1/
🗣️ They included a speech by Ted Heath (sadly, for many reasons, Harold Macmillan was not in Parliament).
🙏🏻 Margaret Thatcher thanked Jim Callaghan for flying Eden home.
🧵 1/
January 17, 2026 at 9:18 AM
🗓️ On this day, 17 January, in 1977, Commons' tributes were paid to Anthony Eden.
🗣️ They included a speech by Ted Heath (sadly, for many reasons, Harold Macmillan was not in Parliament).
🙏🏻 Margaret Thatcher thanked Jim Callaghan for flying Eden home.
🧵 1/
🗣️ They included a speech by Ted Heath (sadly, for many reasons, Harold Macmillan was not in Parliament).
🙏🏻 Margaret Thatcher thanked Jim Callaghan for flying Eden home.
🧵 1/
🗓️ On 15 January 1993, Julian Seymour, the Director of Margaret Thatcher's office, spoke to Christopher Prentice, a Foreign Office official, about Lady Thatcher's travel plans that year.
📝 The memo was shared with John Major and Alex Allan, his PPS.
🧵 1/
📝 The memo was shared with John Major and Alex Allan, his PPS.
🧵 1/
January 16, 2026 at 6:05 AM
🗓️ On 15 January 1993, Julian Seymour, the Director of Margaret Thatcher's office, spoke to Christopher Prentice, a Foreign Office official, about Lady Thatcher's travel plans that year.
📝 The memo was shared with John Major and Alex Allan, his PPS.
🧵 1/
📝 The memo was shared with John Major and Alex Allan, his PPS.
🧵 1/