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<div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">UK political crisis</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Harold_Macmillan_in_1961.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Harold_Macmillan_in_1961.jpg/220px-Harold_Macmillan_in_1961.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="298" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Harold_Macmillan_in_1961.jpg/330px-Harold_Macmillan_in_1961.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Harold_Macmillan_in_1961.jpg/440px-Harold_Macmillan_in_1961.jpg 2x" data-file-width="991" data-file-height="1342" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Harold_Macmillan" title="Harold Macmillan">Harold Macmillan</a>, whose Cabinet reshuffle, precipitated by a leak to the press, became known as the "Night of the Long Knives"</figcaption></figure> <p>British prime minister <a href="/wiki/Harold_Macmillan" title="Harold Macmillan">Harold Macmillan</a> carried out a major <a href="/wiki/Cabinet_reshuffle" title="Cabinet reshuffle">cabinet reshuffle</a> of his premiership on 13 July 1962. Macmillan dismissed seven members of his Cabinet, a third of the total. </p><p>The reshuffle took place against a backdrop of declining Conservative popularity in Britain. Conservative candidates had fared poorly in several by-elections, losing ground to <a href="/wiki/Liberal_Party_(UK)" title="Liberal Party (UK)">Liberal</a> candidates. Concerned that traditional Conservative voters were expressing their disapproval with the government's economic policies by switching to the Liberals, Harold Macmillan planned to replace his <a href="/wiki/Chancellor_of_the_Exchequer" title="Chancellor of the Exchequer">Chancellor of the Exchequer</a>, <a href="/wiki/Selwyn_Lloyd" title="Selwyn Lloyd">Selwyn Lloyd</a>, with <a href="/wiki/Reginald_Maudling" title="Reginald Maudling">Reginald Maudling</a>. Lloyd had already clashed with Macmillan over economic strategies, and Maudling was considered to be more amenable to the economic policies Macmillan wished to implement. The reshuffle was also an attempt to reinvigorate the party, bringing in younger and more dynamic figures and replacing some of the older and less capable ministers. After discussions with <a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_chairman" class="mw-redirect" title="Conservative Party chairman">Conservative Party chairman</a> <a href="/wiki/Iain_Macleod" title="Iain Macleod">Iain Macleod</a> and <a href="/wiki/Home_Secretary" title="Home Secretary">Home Secretary</a> <a href="/wiki/Rab_Butler" title="Rab Butler">Rab Butler</a>, a reshuffle was planned for autumn 1962. </p><p>Macmillan was overtaken by events when Butler leaked the details of the reshuffle to press baron <a href="/wiki/Esmond_Harmsworth,_2nd_Viscount_Rothermere" title="Esmond Harmsworth, 2nd Viscount Rothermere">Lord Rothermere</a> over lunch on 11 July. The newspapers reported the impending changes on 12 July, and Macmillan made the decision to press ahead with the reshuffle at once. Lloyd was called to a meeting that evening and dismissed. The remaining six were informed the following day, 13 July. Macmillan faced sharp criticism over the scale of the changes, and his political opponents both within the Conservative Party and in the <a href="/wiki/His_Majesty%27s_Most_Loyal_Opposition" title="His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition">Opposition</a> characterised him as ruthless and opportunistic. Despite an initial sharp drop in his approval ratings, opinion eventually swung back in his favour and the Party recovered. Macmillan regretted the way the reshuffle was carried out, and was particularly concerned about his treatment of Lloyd, who was a loyal confidant. Despite the dramatic changes in the Cabinet, the Conservatives were rocked by a series of scandals in 1963 and Macmillan retired in October of that year, citing ill health. He was replaced as prime minister by <a href="/wiki/Alec_Douglas-Home" title="Alec Douglas-Home">Alec Douglas-Home</a>, who was defeated in the <a href="/wiki/1964_United_Kingdom_general_election" title="1964 United Kingdom general election">1964 general election</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Background">Background</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Night_of_the_Long_Knives_(1962)&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Background"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Conservatives won a convincing majority at the <a href="/wiki/1959_United_Kingdom_general_election" title="1959 United Kingdom general election">1959 general election</a>, increasing their lead over their nearest rivals, <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" title="Labour Party (UK)">Labour</a>. The Labour party were further weakened by internal disputes, but the Conservatives' economic policies unveiled in the 1960 Budget proved damaging. The tax cuts of 1959 were reversed, decreasing the government's popularity while the <a href="/wiki/Liberal_Party_(UK)" title="Liberal Party (UK)">Liberals</a> began a revival.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995443_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995443-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Conservatives were forced into third place in several by-elections, culminating in the loss of the previously safe seat of <a href="/wiki/Orpington_(UK_Parliament_constituency)" title="Orpington (UK Parliament constituency)">Orpington</a> (neighbouring Macmillan's <a href="/wiki/Bromley_(UK_Parliament_constituency)" title="Bromley (UK Parliament constituency)">Bromley</a> seat) in <a href="/wiki/1962_Orpington_by-election" title="1962 Orpington by-election">a March 1962 by-election victory</a> for the Liberal candidate, <a href="/wiki/Eric_Lubbock" class="mw-redirect" title="Eric Lubbock">Eric Lubbock</a>. The by-election result, announced on 14 March, came one day after the <a href="/wiki/1962_Blackpool_North_by-election" title="1962 Blackpool North by-election">Blackpool North by-election</a>, another former Conservative safe seat; though the Conservative candidate <a href="/wiki/Norman_Miscampbell" title="Norman Miscampbell">Norman Miscampbell</a> succeeded in holding the Blackpool North seat, the previous majority of 15,587 was reduced to just 973 by the Liberal candidate, <a href="/wiki/Harry_Hague" title="Harry Hague">Harry Hague</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995443_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995443-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Conservatives were struggling with deep unpopularity over their economic policies. A pay-pause and rising prices, together with discontent at high taxation that was demonstrably inequitable, drove voters to protest against government policies by switching their votes to the Liberals, or by abstaining from voting Conservative.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995444_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995444-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Macmillan saw in the by-election results evidence that former Conservative voters would abandon their candidates in support of the Liberals, who were well placed in Conservative safe seats. In instances where the Liberals had no candidate standing, such as the Labour safe seat of <a href="/wiki/Pontefract_(UK_Parliament_constituency)" title="Pontefract (UK Parliament constituency)">Pontefract</a>, the Conservatives maintained their share of the vote. When a Liberal candidate was fielded, such as at the <a href="/wiki/1962_Stockton-on-Tees_by-election" title="1962 Stockton-on-Tees by-election">Stockton-on-Tees by-election in April</a>, in a seat Macmillan himself formerly held, the Conservatives saw large numbers of voters desert them for the Liberals.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995444_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995444-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Later by-elections confirmed the trend. By July the <a href="/wiki/Chairman_of_the_Conservative_Party" title="Chairman of the Conservative Party">Chairman of the Conservative Party</a> <a href="/wiki/Iain_Macleod" title="Iain Macleod">Iain Macleod</a> warned that a government reshuffle was necessary to revitalise flagging support, a view confirmed by <a href="/wiki/Martin_Redmayne" class="mw-redirect" title="Martin Redmayne">Martin Redmayne</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Conservative_Chief_Whip" class="mw-redirect" title="Conservative Chief Whip">Conservative Chief Whip</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995445_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995445-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Macmillan met with <a href="/wiki/Rab_Butler" title="Rab Butler">Rab Butler</a> on 21 June. With Conservative unpopularity stemming from economic issues, they discussed replacing <a href="/wiki/Selwyn_Lloyd" title="Selwyn Lloyd">Selwyn Lloyd</a> as <a href="/wiki/Chancellor_of_the_Exchequer" title="Chancellor of the Exchequer">Chancellor of the Exchequer</a> with <a href="/wiki/Reginald_Maudling" title="Reginald Maudling">Reginald Maudling</a>. Lloyd and Macmillan had already clashed over economic policy: Lloyd was opposed to an <a href="/wiki/Incomes_policy" title="Incomes policy">incomes policy</a> and <a href="/wiki/Reflation" title="Reflation">reflation</a>, and his austerity measures were causing discontent.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEvansTaylor1996125_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEEvansTaylor1996125-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Cabinet was also relatively elderly, and with younger political leaders on the world scene, like American President <a href="/wiki/John_F._Kennedy" title="John F. Kennedy">John F. Kennedy</a>, at a time of dramatic social changes, Macmillan resolved to bring some younger men into important posts. The seven ministers earmarked for replacement averaged 59 years of age. The incoming seven would have an average age of 50.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTE"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTE"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Butler was in favour of the move, and together with Macleod, they worked out an orderly reshuffle of several Cabinet posts, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTE"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTE"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In all, seven ministers were to be replaced, amounting to one third of the total Cabinet of twenty-one.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995445_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995445-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="12/13_July"><span id="12.2F13_July"></span>12/13 July</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Night_of_the_Long_Knives_(1962)&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: 12/13 July"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Macmillan intended to carry out the reshuffle in autumn 1962 after parliament returned from its summer recess. Events overtook him when, on 11 July, Butler lunched with <a href="/wiki/Esmond_Harmsworth,_2nd_Viscount_Rothermere" title="Esmond Harmsworth, 2nd Viscount Rothermere">Lord Rothermere</a>, proprietor of several newspapers, including the <i><a href="/wiki/Daily_Mail" title="Daily Mail">Daily Mail</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEvansTaylor1996125_4-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEEvansTaylor1996125-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Butler let slip the details of the impending reshuffle, and the following day the <i>Daily Mail</i> broke the plans to the public with the <a href="/wiki/Headline" title="Headline">headline</a> "Mac's Master Plan".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011521_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011521-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A horrified Macmillan, suspecting that the plans were deliberately leaked by Butler to further his political career, felt compelled to act.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTE"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012_5-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTE"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He summoned Lloyd to a meeting that evening and informed him that he was to be replaced as chancellor. He attempted to mollify Lloyd by suggesting that he consider a career in <a href="/wiki/City_of_London" title="City of London">the city</a> as chairman of <a href="/wiki/Martins_Bank" title="Martins Bank">Martins Bank</a>, and hinted at the possibility of a peerage. Lloyd refused both.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011521_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011521-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The remaining six officeholders were informed the following day, 13 July. <a href="/wiki/Percy_Mills,_1st_Viscount_Mills" title="Percy Mills, 1st Viscount Mills">Mills</a>, <a href="/wiki/John_Maclay,_1st_Viscount_Muirshiel" title="John Maclay, 1st Viscount Muirshiel">Maclay</a> and <a href="/wiki/Harold_Watkinson,_1st_Viscount_Watkinson" class="mw-redirect" title="Harold Watkinson, 1st Viscount Watkinson">Watkinson</a> were reported to have gone quietly, as did <a href="/wiki/Charles_Hill,_Baron_Hill_of_Luton" title="Charles Hill, Baron Hill of Luton">Hill</a>, though he expressed his disapproval on the way the reshuffle was handled. <a href="/wiki/David_Eccles,_1st_Viscount_Eccles" title="David Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles">Eccles</a> and <a href="/wiki/David_Maxwell_Fyfe,_1st_Earl_of_Kilmuir" title="David Maxwell Fyfe, 1st Earl of Kilmuir">Kilmuir</a> were the most disappointed, Eccles having hoped to succeed as chancellor, and Kilmuir later writing that Macmillan appeared to have lost his 'nerve and judgement'.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEvansTaylor1996125_4-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEEvansTaylor1996125-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The reshuffle was completed three days later with the removal of nine junior ministers.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas199817_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThomas199817-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Macmillan suggested on several occasions, including at his meeting with Lloyd to dismiss him as chancellor, that he felt there was a conspiracy within the party to replace him as prime minister. While the run of poor Conservative results led to informal talk among party MPs and ministers, no such conspiracy existed.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995446_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995446-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> His intimations of party disloyalty and the speed and surprise of the sackings were particularly hurtful to Lloyd, who was loyal to Macmillan, and remained so even after his dismissal.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995447_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995447-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Cabinet_positions">Cabinet positions</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Night_of_the_Long_Knives_(1962)&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Cabinet positions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%"> <tbody><tr> <th>Position</th> <th>Outgoing minister</th> <th>Party</th> <th>Incoming minister</th> <th>Party </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Lord_Chancellor" title="Lord Chancellor">Lord Chancellor</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Kilmuir, Lord"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/David_Maxwell_Fyfe,_1st_Earl_of_Kilmuir" title="David Maxwell Fyfe, 1st Earl of Kilmuir">Lord Kilmuir</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Dilhorne, Lord"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Reginald_Manningham-Buller,_1st_Viscount_Dilhorne" title="Reginald Manningham-Buller, 1st Viscount Dilhorne">Lord Dilhorne</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Chancellor_of_the_Exchequer" title="Chancellor of the Exchequer">Chancellor of the Exchequer</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Lloyd, Selwyn"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Selwyn_Lloyd" title="Selwyn Lloyd">Selwyn Lloyd</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Maudling, Reginald"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Reginald_Maudling" title="Reginald Maudling">Reginald Maudling</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Secretary_of_State_for_Education" title="Secretary of State for Education">Minister of Education</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Eccles, David"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/David_Eccles,_1st_Viscount_Eccles" title="David Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles">David Eccles</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Boyle, Bt, Sir Edward"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Edward_Boyle,_Baron_Boyle_of_Handsworth" title="Edward Boyle, Baron Boyle of Handsworth">Sir Edward Boyle, Bt</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Minister_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)" title="Minister of Defence (United Kingdom)">Minister of Defence</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Watkinson, Harold"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Harold_Watkinson,_1st_Viscount_Watkinson" class="mw-redirect" title="Harold Watkinson, 1st Viscount Watkinson">Harold Watkinson</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Thorneycroft, Peter"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Peter_Thorneycroft,_Baron_Thorneycroft" class="mw-redirect" title="Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft">Peter Thorneycroft</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Secretary_of_State_for_Scotland" title="Secretary of State for Scotland">Secretary of State for Scotland</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Maclay, John"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/John_Maclay,_1st_Viscount_Muirshiel" title="John Maclay, 1st Viscount Muirshiel">John Maclay</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#d8ffff"><a href="/wiki/National_Liberal_Party_(UK,_1931)" title="National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)">National Liberal</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Noble, Michael"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Michael_Noble,_Baron_Glenkinglas" title="Michael Noble, Baron Glenkinglas">Michael Noble</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Minister_of_Housing_and_Local_Government" class="mw-redirect" title="Minister of Housing and Local Government">Minister of Housing and Local Government</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Hill, Charles"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Charles_Hill,_Baron_Hill_of_Luton" title="Charles Hill, Baron Hill of Luton">Charles Hill</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#d8ffff"><a href="/wiki/National_Liberal_Party_(UK,_1931)" title="National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)">National Liberal</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Joseph, Bt, Sir Keith"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Keith_Joseph" title="Keith Joseph">Sir Keith Joseph, Bt</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Minister_without_portfolio_(United_Kingdom)" title="Minister without portfolio (United Kingdom)">Minister without portfolio</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Mills, Lord"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Percy_Mills,_1st_Viscount_Mills" title="Percy Mills, 1st Viscount Mills">Lord Mills</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a></td> <td align="center"><span data-sort-value="Deedes, Bill"><span class="vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="/wiki/Bill_Deedes" title="Bill Deedes">Bill Deedes</a></span></span></span></td> <td align="center" style="background:#def;"><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Party_(UK)" title="Conservative Party (UK)">Conservative</a> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Aftermath">Aftermath</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Night_of_the_Long_Knives_(1962)&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Aftermath"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The speed and size of the reshuffle was unprecedented in British political history, and would not be exceeded until the formation of the <a href="/wiki/First_Johnson_ministry" title="First Johnson ministry">Johnson ministry</a> in 2019.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWoodcock2019_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWoodcock2019-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The sackings were mockingly named after the 1934 <a href="/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives" title="Night of the Long Knives">Night of the Long Knives</a>, when <a href="/wiki/Adolf_Hitler" title="Adolf Hitler">Adolf Hitler</a> had many <a href="/wiki/Sturmabteilung" title="Sturmabteilung">Sturmabteilung</a> supporters of <a href="/wiki/Ernst_R%C3%B6hm" title="Ernst Röhm">Ernst Röhm</a> either executed or arrested.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWilson2011_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWilson2011-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (February 2018)">page needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Macmillan was accused of having acted hastily and of being ungrateful in sacking his party's most loyal officials.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas199817_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThomas199817-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> His reputation of being calm and unflappable in a crisis was badly tarnished, and his ratings in opinion polls fell sharply. His political opponents made capital from this: Liberal MP <a href="/wiki/Jeremy_Thorpe" title="Jeremy Thorpe">Jeremy Thorpe</a>, in a humorous twist on a biblical phrase, observed that "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his life."<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas199817_7-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThomas199817-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Lloyd was cheered on his next appearance in the House on 17 July, while Macmillan was faced with silence from his own benches, and jeers from the opposition.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524_10-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The opposition tabled a motion of censure against Macmillan, which was debated on 26 July. Macmillan also faced divisions within his own party. Conservative MP <a href="/wiki/Gilbert_Longden" title="Gilbert Longden">Gilbert Longden</a>, employing a similar humorous twist on <a href="/wiki/Rudyard_Kipling" title="Rudyard Kipling">Rudyard Kipling</a>'s "<a href="/wiki/If%E2%80%94" title="If—">If—</a>", congratulated him on keeping his head, while all around him were losing theirs.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWilson2011_12-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWilson2011-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (February 2018)">page needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Former prime minister <a href="/wiki/Anthony_Eden" title="Anthony Eden">Anthony Eden</a> and former Minister <a href="/wiki/Nigel_Birch" class="mw-redirect" title="Nigel Birch">Nigel Birch</a> also voiced their disapproval.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011525_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011525-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Despite these voices of dissent, the reaction from most Conservative MPs was positive.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995451_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995451-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The damage was relatively short-lived. Macmillan's position improved within a few months of the affair.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995447_9-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995447-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Butler was moved from the position of <a href="/wiki/Home_Secretary" title="Home Secretary">Home Secretary</a> and appointed <a href="/wiki/First_Secretary_of_State" title="First Secretary of State">First Secretary of State</a>. Macmillan made out that it was the equivalent of <a href="/wiki/Deputy_Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom">Deputy Prime Minister</a>, a post that had lapsed after 1955. It was in actuality a demotion.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995449_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995449-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Butler was tasked with overseeing the Central African Office, which moved him away from the more powerful state offices.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011523_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011523-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> With Lloyd replaced as chancellor by Maudling, Macmillan pushed ahead with <a href="/wiki/Reflation" title="Reflation">reflation</a>. The more cautious Lloyd had rejected reflation because of the risk of ultimately damaging the economy with a balance of payments crisis. Maudling however was prepared to accept the devaluation of sterling and the placement of controls on imports to stave off this eventuality.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995450_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995450-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> By the time of the party conference Macmillan's popularity within his party had largely recovered. Maudling reversed Lloyd's austerity measures that November, following this up with cutting the tax on motor cars, and reducing the <a href="/wiki/Bank_rate" title="Bank rate">bank rate</a> and <a href="/wiki/Purchase_tax" class="mw-redirect" title="Purchase tax">purchase tax</a>. In the Spring 1963 budget he abolished the Schedule A tax, one of the main causes of dissatisfaction with the Conservatives, and a move which Lloyd had resisted.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995452_18-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995452-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Liberal fortunes, which rested largely on the unpopularity of these policies, declined thereafter. Labour recovered by early 1963 as <a href="/wiki/Winter_of_1962%E2%80%931963_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Winter of 1962–1963 in the United Kingdom">the exceptionally harsh winter</a> that year drove up unemployment and the economy unexpectedly faltered.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995452_18-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995452-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Macmillan regretted the way the reshuffle was carried out, and was particularly guilt-ridden over how he treated his former confidante, Lloyd.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524_10-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He arranged a meeting with Lloyd on 1 August 1962, before which Macmillan's private secretary, <a href="/wiki/Tim_Bligh" class="mw-redirect" title="Tim Bligh">Tim Bligh</a>, informed Lloyd that "He [Macmillan] is spending all the time thinking of how to bring you back."<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995448_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995448-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Macmillan apologised to Lloyd, saying that he had made a mistake in not discussing it with him beforehand, and that he was rushed, his hand was forced. He again mentioned a conspiracy, suggesting that "Butler had been plotting to divide the party on the Common Market, and bring him [Macmillan] down."<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524_10-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995448_19-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995448-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Despite the upswing in the Conservatives' fortunes which followed after the disapproval over the reshuffle abated, the Party suffered further problems. Macmillan's government was rocked by the <a href="/wiki/Vassall_Tribunal" title="Vassall Tribunal">Vassall</a> and <a href="/wiki/Profumo_affair" title="Profumo affair">Profumo affairs</a> the following year, and Macmillan decided to step down in October 1963, citing ill-health. He was replaced as prime minister by <a href="/wiki/Alec_Douglas-Home" title="Alec Douglas-Home">Alec Douglas-Home</a>, but the Conservatives were defeated in the <a href="/wiki/1964_United_Kingdom_general_election" title="1964 United Kingdom general election">1964 general election</a> by <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" title="Labour Party (UK)">Labour</a> under <a href="/wiki/Harold_Wilson" title="Harold Wilson">Harold Wilson</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas199817–18_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThomas199817–18-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Night_of_the_Long_Knives_(1962)&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995443-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995443_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995443_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLamb1995">Lamb 1995</a>, p. 443.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995444-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995444_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995444_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLamb1995">Lamb 1995</a>, p. 444.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995445-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995445_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995445_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLamb1995">Lamb 1995</a>, p. 445.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEEvansTaylor1996125-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEvansTaylor1996125_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEvansTaylor1996125_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEvansTaylor1996125_4-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFEvansTaylor1996">Evans & Taylor 1996</a>, p. 125.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTE"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTE"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTE"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTE"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012_5-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREF"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012">"The legacy of Macmillan's 'Night of the Long Knives'", 6 July 2012</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011521-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011521_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011521_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFThorpe2011">Thorpe 2011</a>, p. 521.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEThomas199817-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas199817_7-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas199817_7-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas199817_7-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFThomas1998">Thomas 1998</a>, p. 17.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995446-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995446_8-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLamb1995">Lamb 1995</a>, p. 446.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995447-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995447_9-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995447_9-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLamb1995">Lamb 1995</a>, p. 447.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524_10-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524_10-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524_10-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011524_10-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFThorpe2011">Thorpe 2011</a>, p. 524.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEWoodcock2019-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWoodcock2019_11-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFWoodcock2019">Woodcock 2019</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEWilson2011-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWilson2011_12-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWilson2011_12-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFWilson2011">Wilson 2011</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011525-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011525_13-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFThorpe2011">Thorpe 2011</a>, p. 525.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995451-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995451_14-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLamb1995">Lamb 1995</a>, p. 451.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995449-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995449_15-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLamb1995">Lamb 1995</a>, p. 449.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011523-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThorpe2011523_16-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFThorpe2011">Thorpe 2011</a>, p. 523.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995450-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995450_17-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLamb1995">Lamb 1995</a>, p. 450.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995452-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995452_18-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995452_18-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLamb1995">Lamb 1995</a>, p. 452.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTELamb1995448-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995448_19-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELamb1995448_19-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFLamb1995">Lamb 1995</a>, p. 448.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEThomas199817–18-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas199817–18_20-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFThomas1998">Thomas 1998</a>, pp. 17–18.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Night_of_the_Long_Knives_(1962)&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239549316">.mw-parser-output .refbegin{margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul li{list-style:none}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{padding-left:1.6em;text-indent:-1.6em}}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%}}</style><div class="refbegin refbegin-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em"> <ul><li><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREF"The_legacy_of_Macmillan's_'Night_of_the_Long_Knives'",_6_July_2012" class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18722428">"The legacy of Macmillan's 'Night of the Long Knives'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. BBC News. 6 July 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 July</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=The+legacy+of+Macmillan%27s+%27Night+of+the+Long+Knives%27&rft.pub=BBC+News&rft.date=2012-07-06&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-politics-18722428&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANight+of+the+Long+Knives+%281962%29" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEvansTaylor1996" class="citation book cs1">Evans, Brendan; Taylor, Andrew (1996). <i>From Salisbury to Major: Continuity and Change in Conservative Politics</i>. Manchester: Manchester University Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0719042911" title="Special:BookSources/978-0719042911"><bdi>978-0719042911</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=From+Salisbury+to+Major%3A+Continuity+and+Change+in+Conservative+Politics&rft.place=Manchester&rft.pub=Manchester+University+Press&rft.date=1996&rft.isbn=978-0719042911&rft.aulast=Evans&rft.aufirst=Brendan&rft.au=Taylor%2C+Andrew&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANight+of+the+Long+Knives+%281962%29" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLamb1995" class="citation book cs1">Lamb, Richard (1995). <i>The Macmillan Years 1957–1963: The Emerging Truth</i>. London: John Murray. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7195-5392-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-7195-5392-X"><bdi>0-7195-5392-X</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Macmillan+Years+1957%E2%80%931963%3A+The+Emerging+Truth&rft.place=London&rft.pub=John+Murray&rft.date=1995&rft.isbn=0-7195-5392-X&rft.aulast=Lamb&rft.aufirst=Richard&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANight+of+the+Long+Knives+%281962%29" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFThomas1998" class="citation book cs1">Thomas, Graham P. (1998). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/primeministercab0000thom"><i>Prime Minister and Cabinet Today</i></a></span>. Manchester: Manchester University Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0719039515" title="Special:BookSources/978-0719039515"><bdi>978-0719039515</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Prime+Minister+and+Cabinet+Today&rft.place=Manchester&rft.pub=Manchester+University+Press&rft.date=1998&rft.isbn=978-0719039515&rft.aulast=Thomas&rft.aufirst=Graham+P.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fprimeministercab0000thom&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANight+of+the+Long+Knives+%281962%29" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFThorpe2011" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/D._R._Thorpe" title="D. R. Thorpe">Thorpe, D. R.</a> (2011). <i>Supermac: The Life of Harold Macmillan</i>. London: Random House. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1844135417" title="Special:BookSources/978-1844135417"><bdi>978-1844135417</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Supermac%3A+The+Life+of+Harold+Macmillan&rft.place=London&rft.pub=Random+House&rft.date=2011&rft.isbn=978-1844135417&rft.aulast=Thorpe&rft.aufirst=D.+R.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANight+of+the+Long+Knives+%281962%29" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWilson2011" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/A._N._Wilson" title="A. N. Wilson">Wilson, A. N.</a> (2011). <i>Our Times</i>. London: Random House. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1446493014" title="Special:BookSources/978-1446493014"><bdi>978-1446493014</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Our+Times&rft.place=London&rft.pub=Random+House&rft.date=2011&rft.isbn=978-1446493014&rft.aulast=Wilson&rft.aufirst=A.+N.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANight+of+the+Long+Knives+%281962%29" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWoodcock2019" class="citation news cs1">Woodcock, Andrew (25 July 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-cabinet-reshuffle-ministers-brexit-a9019726.html">"Boris Johnson dismantles cabinet in reshuffle, building government around people who delivered Brexit vote"</a>. <i>The Independent</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 July</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Independent&rft.atitle=Boris+Johnson+dismantles+cabinet+in+reshuffle%2C+building+government+around+people+who+delivered+Brexit+vote&rft.date=2019-07-25&rft.aulast=Woodcock&rft.aufirst=Andrew&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk%2Fpolitics%2Fboris-johnson-cabinet-reshuffle-ministers-brexit-a9019726.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANight+of+the+Long+Knives+%281962%29" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> </div> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output 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href="/wiki/Template:Harold_Macmillan" title="Template:Harold Macmillan"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Harold_Macmillan" title="Template talk:Harold Macmillan"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Harold_Macmillan" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Harold Macmillan"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Harold_Macmillan,_1st_Earl_of_Stockton102" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Harold_Macmillan" title="Harold Macmillan">Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Constituencies</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Stockton-on-Tees_(UK_Parliament_constituency)" title="Stockton-on-Tees (UK Parliament constituency)">Stockton-on-Tees</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bromley_(UK_Parliament_constituency)" title="Bromley (UK Parliament constituency)">Bromley</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Family</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Daniel_MacMillan" title="Daniel MacMillan">Daniel MacMillan</a> (grandfather)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lady_Dorothy_Macmillan" title="Lady Dorothy Macmillan">Lady Dorothy Macmillan</a> (wife)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maurice_Macmillan" title="Maurice Macmillan">Maurice Macmillan</a> (son)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lady_Caroline_Faber" title="Lady Caroline Faber">Lady Caroline Faber</a> (daughter)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Julian_Amery" title="Julian Amery">Julian Amery</a> (son-in-law)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Edward_Cavendish,_10th_Duke_of_Devonshire" title="Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire">Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire</a> (brother-in-law)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Career</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1945_Bromley_by-election" title="1945 Bromley by-election">1945 Bromley by-election</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conservative_government,_1957%E2%80%931964" title="Conservative government, 1957–1964">Macmillan government</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1958_US%E2%80%93UK_Mutual_Defence_Agreement" class="mw-redirect" title="1958 US–UK Mutual Defence Agreement">US–UK Mutual Defence Agreement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1959_United_Kingdom_general_election" title="1959 United Kingdom general election">1959 United Kingdom general election</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wind_of_Change_(speech)" title="Wind of Change (speech)">Wind of Change speech</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Night of the Long Knives</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Beeching_cuts#The_Beeching_reports" title="Beeching cuts">Beeching reports</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vassall_Tribunal" title="Vassall Tribunal">Vassall affair</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Profumo_affair" title="Profumo affair">Profumo affair</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Partial_Nuclear_Test_Ban_Treaty" title="Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty">Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Depictions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Supermac_(cartoon)" title="Supermac (cartoon)">Supermac</a></i> (1958 cartoon)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Never_So_Good" title="Never So Good">Never So Good</a></i> (play, 2008)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Crown_(season_2)" class="mw-redirect" title="The Crown (season 2)">The Crown</a></i> (TV, 2017)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Birch_Grove" title="Birch Grove">Birch Grove</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Middle_Way_(book)" title="The Middle Way (book)"><i>The Middle Way</i></a> (1938)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/1960_University_of_Oxford_Chancellor_election" title="1960 University of Oxford Chancellor election">1960 University of Oxford Chancellor election</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1963_Prime_Minister%27s_Resignation_Honours" title="1963 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours">1963 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Earl_of_Stockton" title="Earl of Stockton">Earl of Stockton</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Macmillan_Publishers" title="Macmillan Publishers">Macmillan Publishers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/St_Giles%27_Church,_Horsted_Keynes" title="St Giles' Church, Horsted Keynes">St Giles' Church, Horsted Keynes</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Night_of_the_Long_Knives_(1962)&oldid=1273234254">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Night_of_the_Long_Knives_(1962)&oldid=1273234254</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Cabinet_reshuffles_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Category:Cabinet reshuffles in the United Kingdom">Cabinet reshuffles in the United Kingdom</a></li><li><a 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