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7.9-3.5.7-9-1.8-13.5-11.2 2.5.1 4.7 1.3 7.5 3.3l-4.7-15.4c-1.2 4.4-2.7 7.2-4.3 8.7-1.1-3-.9-5.3 0-10.2l-9.5 3.4c5 6.9 9.9 16.7 14 33.5 14.8-2.1 30.8-3.2 47.7-3.2z"></path> <image src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/themes/gds-blogs/build/node_modules/govuk-frontend/govuk/assets/images/govuk-logotype-crown.png" xlink:href="/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/" class="govuk-header__logotype-crown-fallback-image" width="36" height="32"></image> </svg> <span class="govuk-header__logotype-text"> GOV.UK </span> </span> </a> </div> </div> </header> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <header class="header" aria-label="blog name"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <h1 class="blog-title govuk-heading-xl"> <span class="blog"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://www.blog.gov.uk/">Blog</a></span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/">History of government</a> </h1> <div class="bottom blog-meta"> <dl> <dt>Organisations:</dt> <dd><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/the-national-archives">The National Archives</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/prime-ministers-office-10-downing-street">Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street</a></dd> </dl> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third"> <div class="bottom search-container"> <form role="search" method="get" id="searchform" class="form-search" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/"> <label class="govuk-visually-hidden" for="s">Search for:</label> <div class="search-input-wrapper"> <input type="search" value="" name="s" id="s" class="search-query" placeholder="Search blog"> <input type="submit" id="searchsubmit" value="Search" class="btn"> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-full"> <article class="featured post-6012 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-prime-ministers-and-no-10 category-researcher-in-residence"> <div class="featured-wrapper"> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m entry-title visible-tablet"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/26/the-art-of-delivery-the-prime-ministers-delivery-unit-2001-2005/">The Art of Delivery: The Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit 2001-2005</a></h2> <div class="image"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/26/the-art-of-delivery-the-prime-ministers-delivery-unit-2001-2005/"><img width="620" height="413" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Tony-Blair-Strand-Group-event-6745.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Tony Blair and Sir Michael Barber speaking at the Strand Group, Policy Institute at Kings event at the Great Hall, Strand Campus, KCL, London on the 11/06/2015." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Tony-Blair-Strand-Group-event-6745.jpg 900w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Tony-Blair-Strand-Group-event-6745-300x200.jpg 300w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Tony-Blair-Strand-Group-event-6745-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px"></a> </div> <div class="text"> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m entry-title visible-desktop hidden-tablet"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/26/the-art-of-delivery-the-prime-ministers-delivery-unit-2001-2005/">The Art of Delivery: The Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit 2001-2005</a></h2> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>This blog post examines the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit 2001 to 2005, which was created during Tony Blair’s premiership. The Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit acted as a nexus of power between No.10 and Whitehall.</p> </div> <a class="read-more" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/26/the-art-of-delivery-the-prime-ministers-delivery-unit-2001-2005/">Read more <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of The Art of Delivery: The Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit 2001-2005</span></a> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <main id="content" class="govuk-grid-row" role="main"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds main-content"> <article class="post-6067 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-cabinet-secretaries category-fcdo-historians category-intelligence-services-defence-and-conflict category-intelligence-services category-past-prime-ministers tag-gchq tag-margaret-thatcher tag-mi5 tag-mi6 tag-prime-ministers tag-secret-intelligence"> <header> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/21/visiting-the-secret-state-margaret-thatcher-and-intelligence/">Visiting the secret state: Margaret Thatcher and Intelligence</a></h2> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/author/dr-dan-lomas/" title="Posts by Dr Dan Lomas" class="author url fn" rel="author">Dr Dan Lomas</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2022-12-21T09:35:08+00:00" pubdate>21 December 2022</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/cabinet-secretaries/" rel="category tag">Cabinet Secretaries</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/fcdo-historians/" rel="category tag">FCDO Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/defence-and-conflict/intelligence-services-defence-and-conflict/" rel="category tag">Intelligence Services</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/intelligence-services/" rel="category tag">Intelligence Services</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/past-prime-ministers/" rel="category tag">Past prime ministers</a></div> <img width="620" height="850" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/AH79-Director-and-Thatcher-PM-10-April-1980-2-747x1024.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/AH79-Director-and-Thatcher-PM-10-April-1980-2-747x1024.jpg 747w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/AH79-Director-and-Thatcher-PM-10-April-1980-2-219x300.jpg 219w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/AH79-Director-and-Thatcher-PM-10-April-1980-2-768x1052.jpg 768w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/AH79-Director-and-Thatcher-PM-10-April-1980-2-1121x1536.jpg 1121w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/AH79-Director-and-Thatcher-PM-10-April-1980-2-1495x2048.jpg 1495w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px"> </header> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>An early task of any new Prime Minister is to familiarise themselves with the UK's intelligence agencies – the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS/MI6), Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and the Security Service (MI5). Yet, for all the interest they may have …</p> </div> <footer class="govuk-body-s"> <a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/21/visiting-the-secret-state-margaret-thatcher-and-intelligence/"><strong>Read more</strong> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of Visiting the secret state: Margaret Thatcher and Intelligence</span></a> - <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/21/visiting-the-secret-state-margaret-thatcher-and-intelligence/#comments" class="govuk-link">1 comment</a> </footer> </article> <article class="post-6051 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-fcdo-historians category-foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy category-whats-the-context-series tag-abadan tag-fo-planning-staff tag-foreign-office tag-iran tag-middle-east-policy tag-oil-refinery"> <header> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/07/what-the-butler-saw-britain-and-the-abadan-crisis-1950-51/">What the Butler saw: Britain and the Abadan Crisis, 1950-51</a></h2> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/author/dr-richard-smith/" title="Posts by Dr Richard Smith" class="author url fn" rel="author">Dr Richard Smith</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2022-12-07T11:41:49+00:00" pubdate>7 December 2022</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/fcdo-historians/" rel="category tag">FCDO Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/" rel="category tag">Foreign affairs and diplomacy</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/whats-the-context-series/" rel="category tag">What's the context? series</a></div> <img width="620" height="438" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Abadan-the-city-of-Oil-1024x724.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Abadan-the-city-of-Oil-1024x724.jpg 1024w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Abadan-the-city-of-Oil-300x212.jpg 300w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Abadan-the-city-of-Oil-768x543.jpg 768w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Abadan-the-city-of-Oil.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px"> </header> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>In March 1962 a secret report landed on the desks of senior officials in the Foreign Office. Written by Foreign Office Historian Rohan Butler it was a forensic and critical account of the loss in 1951 of Britain’s single biggest …</p> </div> <footer class="govuk-body-s"> <a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/07/what-the-butler-saw-britain-and-the-abadan-crisis-1950-51/"><strong>Read more</strong> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of What the Butler saw: Britain and the Abadan Crisis, 1950-51</span></a> </footer> </article> <article class="post-6037 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy category-whats-the-context-series tag-balkans tag-first-world-war tag-lausanne-treaty tag-lord-curzon tag-mustafa-kemal-pasha tag-ottoman-empire tag-peace-talks tag-sevres-treaty tag-turkish-nationalism tag-turkiye"> <header> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/11/25/curzons-comeuppance/">Curzon's comeuppance</a></h2> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/author/professor-jonathan-conlin/" title="Posts by Professor Jonathan Conlin" class="author url fn" rel="author">Professor Jonathan Conlin</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2022-11-25T12:31:42+00:00" pubdate>25 November 2022</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/" rel="category tag">Foreign affairs and diplomacy</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/whats-the-context-series/" rel="category tag">What's the context? series</a></div> <img width="620" height="604" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Curzon-and-Ismet-1923-1024x998.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Cartoon of Curzon and Ismet" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Curzon-and-Ismet-1923-1024x998.jpg 1024w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Curzon-and-Ismet-1923-300x292.jpg 300w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Curzon-and-Ismet-1923-768x748.jpg 768w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Curzon-and-Ismet-1923-1536x1497.jpg 1536w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Curzon-and-Ismet-1923-2048x1996.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px"> </header> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>Professor Jonathan Conlin of The Lausanne Project explains how that "most superior person" (as he was described by contemporaries at Oxford) met his match at Lausanne 100 years ago. Of all the treaties negotiated in the wake of World War 1, …</p> </div> <footer class="govuk-body-s"> <a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/11/25/curzons-comeuppance/"><strong>Read more</strong> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of Curzon's comeuppance</span></a> - <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/11/25/curzons-comeuppance/#comments" class="govuk-link">2 comments</a> </footer> </article> <article class="post-5973 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-no-10-guest-historian-series category-past-prime-ministers category-the-monarchy tag-monarchy tag-prime-ministers tag-queen-elizabeth-ii"> <header> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/06/01/the-queen-and-her-prime-ministers/">The Queen and her Prime Ministers</a></h2> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/author/dr-michelle-clement/" title="Posts by Dr Michelle Clement" class="author url fn" rel="author">Dr Michelle Clement</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2022-06-01T11:45:06+01:00" pubdate>1 June 2022</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/no-10-guest-historian-series/" rel="category tag">No 10 guest historian series</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/past-prime-ministers/" rel="category tag">Past prime ministers</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/the-monarchy/" rel="category tag">The Monarchy</a></div> <img width="512" height="334" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/Queen-PMs.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/Queen-PMs.jpg 512w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/Queen-PMs-300x196.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px"> </header> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>By Dr Michelle Clement, Researcher in Residence at No.10 Downing Street Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, celebrates her Platinum Jubilee this week. Festivities will be held across the country to mark the Queen’s incredible …</p> </div> <footer class="govuk-body-s"> <a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/06/01/the-queen-and-her-prime-ministers/"><strong>Read more</strong> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of The Queen and her Prime Ministers</span></a> - <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/06/01/the-queen-and-her-prime-ministers/#comments" class="govuk-link">3 comments</a> </footer> </article> <article class="post-5950 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-atomic-weapons category-defence-and-conflict category-fcdo-historians category-foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy category-foreign-office-historians category-past-prime-ministers category-whats-the-context-series tag-atomic-bomb tag-clement-attlee tag-ernest-bevin"> <header> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/01/07/whats-the-context-the-decision-to-build-a-british-atomic-bomb-8-january-1947/">What’s the Context? The decision to build a British atomic bomb, 8 January 1947</a></h2> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/author/gill-bennett/" title="Posts by Gill Bennett" class="author url fn" rel="author">Gill Bennett</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2022-01-07T16:48:49+00:00" pubdate>7 January 2022</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/defence-and-conflict/atomic-weapons/" rel="category tag">Atomic Weapons</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/defence-and-conflict/" rel="category tag">Defence and conflict</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/fcdo-historians/" rel="category tag">FCDO Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/" rel="category tag">Foreign affairs and diplomacy</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/foreign-office-historians/" rel="category tag">Foreign Office Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/past-prime-ministers/" rel="category tag">Past prime ministers</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/whats-the-context-series/" rel="category tag">What's the context? series</a></div> <img width="620" height="474" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/Atomic-Bomb.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="A 1947 decision of the Attlee Government led to the develop of an independent atomic weapon for the UKemnt" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/Atomic-Bomb.jpg 944w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/Atomic-Bomb-300x229.jpg 300w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/Atomic-Bomb-768x587.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px"> </header> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>We’ve got to have this thing over here, whatever it costs. We’ve got to have the bloody Union Jack on top of it. “This thing” as British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin put it, was the Atomic Bomb. Bevin was quoted …</p> </div> <footer class="govuk-body-s"> <a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2022/01/07/whats-the-context-the-decision-to-build-a-british-atomic-bomb-8-january-1947/"><strong>Read more</strong> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of What’s the Context? The decision to build a British atomic bomb, 8 January 1947</span></a> </footer> </article> <article class="post-5928 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-defence-and-conflict category-fcdo-historians category-foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy category-foreign-office-historians category-whats-the-context-series tag-alec-douglas-home tag-andrei-gromyko tag-berlin tag-cold-war tag-east-germany tag-edward-heath tag-west-germany tag-willi-brandt"> <header> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/09/03/whats-the-context-occupying-powers-sign-quadripartite-agreement-on-berlin-3-september-1971/">What’s the Context? Occupying Powers sign Quadripartite Agreement on Berlin, 3 September 1971</a></h2> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/author/gill-bennett/" title="Posts by Gill Bennett" class="author url fn" rel="author">Gill Bennett</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2021-09-03T09:59:16+01:00" pubdate>3 September 2021</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/defence-and-conflict/" rel="category tag">Defence and conflict</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/fcdo-historians/" rel="category tag">FCDO Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/" rel="category tag">Foreign affairs and diplomacy</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/foreign-office-historians/" rel="category tag">Foreign Office Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/whats-the-context-series/" rel="category tag">What's the context? series</a></div> <img width="620" height="374" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/Plenipotentiaries-arrive-to-ratify-the-protocol-on-3-June-1971-2.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/Plenipotentiaries-arrive-to-ratify-the-protocol-on-3-June-1971-2.jpg 797w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/Plenipotentiaries-arrive-to-ratify-the-protocol-on-3-June-1971-2-300x181.jpg 300w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/Plenipotentiaries-arrive-to-ratify-the-protocol-on-3-June-1971-2-768x463.jpg 768w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/Plenipotentiaries-arrive-to-ratify-the-protocol-on-3-June-1971-2-435x263.jpg 435w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px"> </header> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>The most that we can say is that we have made the best of a bad bargain, not that we have got a fair deal (Prime Minister Edward Heath, 1 September 1971) Fifty years ago, Ambassadors representing the 4 Occupying …</p> </div> <footer class="govuk-body-s"> <a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/09/03/whats-the-context-occupying-powers-sign-quadripartite-agreement-on-berlin-3-september-1971/"><strong>Read more</strong> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of What’s the Context? Occupying Powers sign Quadripartite Agreement on Berlin, 3 September 1971</span></a> </footer> </article> <article class="post-5867 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-defence-and-conflict category-fcdo-historians category-foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy category-foreign-office-historians category-past-prime-ministers category-second-world-war category-whats-the-context-series tag-anglo-us-relations tag-franklin-d-roosevelt tag-the-atlantic-charter tag-the-special-relationship tag-winston-churchill"> <header> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/07/28/whats-the-context-signature-of-the-atlantic-charter-14-august-1941/">What's the Context? Signature of the Atlantic Charter, 14 August 1941</a></h2> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/author/gill-bennett/" title="Posts by Gill Bennett" class="author url fn" rel="author">Gill Bennett</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2021-07-28T15:50:30+01:00" pubdate>28 July 2021</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/defence-and-conflict/" rel="category tag">Defence and conflict</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/fcdo-historians/" rel="category tag">FCDO Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/" rel="category tag">Foreign affairs and diplomacy</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/foreign-office-historians/" rel="category tag">Foreign Office Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/past-prime-ministers/" rel="category tag">Past prime ministers</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/second-world-war/" rel="category tag">Second World War</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/whats-the-context-series/" rel="category tag">What's the context? series</a></div> <img width="543" height="379" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Atlantic_charter-1.jpeg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Atlantic_charter-1.jpeg 543w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Atlantic_charter-1-300x209.jpeg 300w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Atlantic_charter-1-435x304.jpeg 435w" sizes="(max-width: 543px) 100vw, 543px"> </header> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>The principles set out in the Atlantic Charter eighty years ago remain key to the global vision shared by the UK and US. But its terms also contained the roots of international tensions that persist today: for example in relation …</p> </div> <footer class="govuk-body-s"> <a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/07/28/whats-the-context-signature-of-the-atlantic-charter-14-august-1941/"><strong>Read more</strong> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of What's the Context? Signature of the Atlantic Charter, 14 August 1941</span></a> - <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/07/28/whats-the-context-signature-of-the-atlantic-charter-14-august-1941/#comments" class="govuk-link">3 comments</a> </footer> </article> <article class="post-5851 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-fcdo-historians category-foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy category-foreign-office-historians category-whats-the-context-series tag-berlin-crisis-1961 tag-berlin-wall tag-cold-war"> <header> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/07/28/when-the-wall-went-up-britain-and-the-berlin-crisis-1961/">When the Wall went up: Britain and the Berlin Crisis, 1961</a></h2> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/author/dr-richard-smith/" title="Posts by Dr Richard Smith" class="author url fn" rel="author">Dr Richard Smith</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2021-07-28T15:45:02+01:00" pubdate>28 July 2021</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/fcdo-historians/" rel="category tag">FCDO Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/" rel="category tag">Foreign affairs and diplomacy</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/foreign-office-historians/" rel="category tag">Foreign Office Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/whats-the-context-series/" rel="category tag">What's the context? series</a></div> <img width="620" height="465" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Berlin1.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Berlin1.jpg 1024w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Berlin1-300x225.jpg 300w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Berlin1-768x576.jpg 768w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Berlin1-435x326.jpg 435w" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px"> </header> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>Sixty years ago simmering Cold-War tensions were dramatically brought to a head in Berlin. A new volume of documents from the FCDO Historians tells how Britain responded to the crisis brought about by the construction of the Berlin Wall. In the …</p> </div> <footer class="govuk-body-s"> <a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/07/28/when-the-wall-went-up-britain-and-the-berlin-crisis-1961/"><strong>Read more</strong> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of When the Wall went up: Britain and the Berlin Crisis, 1961</span></a> </footer> </article> <article class="post-5832 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-fcdo-historians category-foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy category-foreign-office-historians category-second-world-war category-whats-the-context-series tag-cold-war tag-fulton-missouri tag-iron-curtain-speech tag-winston-churchill"> <header> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/03/05/whats-the-context-winston-churchills-sinews-of-peace-speech-fulton-5-march-1946/">What’s the Context? Winston Churchill’s ‘Sinews of Peace’ speech, Fulton, 5 March 1946</a></h2> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/author/gill-bennett/" title="Posts by Gill Bennett" class="author url fn" rel="author">Gill Bennett</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2021-03-05T08:46:42+00:00" pubdate>5 March 2021</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/fcdo-historians/" rel="category tag">FCDO Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/" rel="category tag">Foreign affairs and diplomacy</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/foreign-office-historians/" rel="category tag">Foreign Office Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/second-world-war/" rel="category tag">Second World War</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/whats-the-context-series/" rel="category tag">What's the context? series</a></div> <img width="613" height="495" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/Churchill-and-Truman-1.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/Churchill-and-Truman-1.jpg 613w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/Churchill-and-Truman-1-300x242.jpg 300w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/Churchill-and-Truman-1-435x351.jpg 435w" sizes="(max-width: 613px) 100vw, 613px"> </header> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>Now, at this sad and breathless moment, we are plunged in the hunger and distress which are the aftermath of our stupendous struggle. Though no longer Prime Minister, Winston Churchill’s speech at Fulton on 5 March 1946 packed a formidable …</p> </div> <footer class="govuk-body-s"> <a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/03/05/whats-the-context-winston-churchills-sinews-of-peace-speech-fulton-5-march-1946/"><strong>Read more</strong> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of What’s the Context? Winston Churchill’s ‘Sinews of Peace’ speech, Fulton, 5 March 1946</span></a> </footer> </article> <article class="post-5822 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-fcdo-historians category-foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy category-whats-the-context-series"> <header> <h2 class="govuk-heading-m"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/01/20/whats-the-context-foundation-of-the-german-empire-18-january-1871/">What’s the context? Foundation of the German Empire, 18 January 1871</a></h2> <div class="govuk-body-s"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted by: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/author/professor-patrick-salmon/" title="Posts by Professor Patrick Salmon" class="author url fn" rel="author">Professor Patrick Salmon</a>, <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Posted on: </span><time class="updated" datetime="2021-01-20T22:59:25+00:00" pubdate>20 January 2021</time> - <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Categories: </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/fcdo-historians/" rel="category tag">FCDO Historians</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/" rel="category tag">Foreign affairs and diplomacy</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/category/foreign-affairs-and-diplomacy/whats-the-context-series/" rel="category tag">What's the context? series</a></div> <img width="600" height="512" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/proclamation-german-empire.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Artwork showing a large group of military men in a room" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/proclamation-german-empire.jpg 600w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/proclamation-german-empire-300x256.jpg 300w, http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415im_/https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/01/proclamation-german-empire-435x371.jpg 435w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"> </header> <div class="entry-summary"> <p>This war represents the German revolution, a greater political event than the French revolution of last century. . . . Not a single principle in the management of our foreign affairs, accepted by all statesmen for guidance up to six …</p> </div> <footer class="govuk-body-s"> <a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230314224415/https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/01/20/whats-the-context-foundation-of-the-german-empire-18-january-1871/"><strong>Read more</strong> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">of What’s the context? 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