‘Events, dear boy, events’: intriguing case studies in British political history

When Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was asked what was the greatest challenge for a statesperson, his reply was reputedly: ‘Events, dear boy, events’. He was probably thinking of the kind of vagaries that intrude from elsewhere, but there have been times in British political history when ‘events’ have centred on the politicians themselves. This course explores several such stories - including the murder of a Prime Minister, the abuse of patronage by another, and the banning of an MP from the House of Commons - to explain how they happened and to consider their broader impact on the government, politics and culture of their time.

Course details

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Start Date
19 Jul 2026
Duration
5 Sessions over one week
End Date
25 Jul 2026
Application Deadline
28 Jun 2026
Location
International Summer Programme
Code
W25Am21

Tutors

Dr Graham McCann

Dr Graham McCann

Former Lecturer in Social and Political Theory, University of Cambridge; King’s College

Aims

This course aims to:

  • provide detailed information on each case study
     
  • explain the historical and political context of each incident
     
  • explore the broader issues relating to the unpredictable exigencies of political life

Course content

You will be informed as to how and why some of the ideal hopes and plans of political life are sometimes undermined, revised or stalled by the intrusion of actual and unexpected events. Detailed case studies each day will include the death of one politician, the unintended union of two countries, the unwanted elevation to the peerage of a sitting MP, the impact of a campaign of civil disobedience on a Prime Minister, and a ‘cash for honours’ scandal on another. These discussions, while working as vivid self-contained stories, will also combine to illustrate how the challenge for any political figure or group involves not just planning policy but also reacting to sudden incidents and issues, and trying to balance principles with pragmatism.

What to expect on this course

The course will consist of lectures accompanied by PowerPoint presentations.

Course sessions

  1. Scotland, Darien and the birth of the UK (1698)
    Concerning an attempt at independence that led to its loss.
  2. The Murder of Spencer Perceval (1812)
    An account of the death of a Prime Minister and its most significant consequences.
  3. Herbert Asquith, feminism and a game of golf (1913)
    The story of how and why certain women’s suffrage activists targeted the incumbent Prime Minister.
  4. Lloyd George's price list for peerages (1921)
    A discussion of one of the most notorious cases of corruption in British political history.
  5. The banning of Tony Benn from the Commons (1960)
    How the traditional process of the hereditary peerage system challenged an elected MP and led to a change in legislation.

Learning outcomes

As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to have:

  • knowledge of certain political events
     
  • a more in-depth understanding of their impact on their particular historical periods
     
  • an appreciation of the complexity of political processes when theory gives way to practice

Required reading

There is no required reading for this course. See Course materials for supplementary reading once registered.