TONY BLAIR

Tony Blair (1953-) is a former British Prime Minister, credited with repositioning the Labour Party in the latter end of the 20th century, leading to one of the biggest landslide election victories in British history in 1997. Throughout his political career, he contributed articles to newspapers, including The Times, both before and during his time as Prime Minister. Despite positive work on peace in Northern Ireland, his popularity declined after his support for the War on Terror following the 9/11 attacks, especially after it emerged he had exaggerated information to justify the decision. After the cash for favours scandal, he resigned in July 2007.

DAVID CAMERON

David Cameron (1966-) is a former British Prime Minister, who guided the Conservative Party to victory in the 2010 General Election, ending 13 years of Labour government. During his tenure, several major challenges emerged, including the fallout from the 2008 global recession, terrorism, and Scotland moving for independence. Much like Tony Blair, he regularly contributed to The Times before and during his time as Prime Minister. After allowing a referendum to decide the UK’s future in Europe, his plan backfired: he had anticipated a vote to remain, but the United Kingdom voted to leave. His misjudgement in the Brexit vote prompted him to step down in July 2016.

Barack Obama, and David Cameron. “Not just special, but an essential relationship.” Times, 24 May 2011

David Cameron. “The NHS will sicken unless we modernise.” Times, 31 Jan. 2011

Cameron, David. “Two lessons from Iraq—be honest, be realistic.” Times, 1 Dec. 2006

David Cameron. “We will always fight the bias towards men.” Times, 29 Apr. 2009

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL

Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) is a former British Prime Minister, who held the position from 1940 to 1945, and again from 1951 to 1955. He is regarded as one of the greatest statesman in history, who had varied relationship with the British press. He contributed a range of content to several notable newspapers, especially during his years before becoming Prime Minister as his reputation as a politician grew. His contributions include articles, letters, and extracts from his memoirs published in The Times and The Telegraph, and The Telegraph acquired the rights to publish extracts his official biography shortly before his death in 1965.

Churchill, Winston. “Lawrence Of Arabia.” Times, 5 Oct. 1936

Churchill., Winston. “The Aftermath.” Times, 5 Mar. 1929

Churchill., Winston S. “The Dangers Of Socialism.” Times, 18 Jan. 1924

Churchill., Winston S. “The Home Rule Fight.” Times, 12 Aug. 1912

MARIE COLVIN

Marie Colvin (1956-2012) was an award-winning and highly respected war correspondent, covering many major international conflicts during her career. She worked for the Sunday Times for 26 years, focusing her strongest journalism on the consequences and hardships of conflicts for civilians. She became the Middle East correspondent in 1986, and subsequently covered conflicts in Indonesia, Kosovo, Chechnya, and the Persian Gulf War, and her refusal to abandon refugees in East Timor is credited with saving many lives. She lost her left eye to a shrapnel wound in Sri Lanka in 2001, and was killed during a rocket Attack in Syria whilst reporting from the conflict in Syria in 2012.

Colvin, Marie. “Desperately seeking answers in the Arafat slipstream.” Times, 5 June 1990

Colvin, Marie. “Fury in Iraq as dead are buried.” Times, 15 Feb. 1991

Colvin, Marie. “Saddam calls on Iraqis to fight to the death.” Times, 25 Feb. 1991

SIR HAROLD EVANS

Sir Harold Evans (1928-) is a journalist and newspaper editor who has worked for many of Britain’s leading newspapers. He served as the editor of the Sunday Times from 1967 until 1981, during which time he instigated and encouraged the development of investigative journalism, a style and approach the newspaper became famous for. After Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of Times Newspapers Limited in 1981, Evans was appointed editor of The Times, but resigned after a year due to pressure from journalists claiming that editorial standards had slipped and a difference of opinion with Murdoch over editorial independence.

Evans, Harold. “Censored.” Times, 3 Dec. 1999

Evans, Harold. “Clinton: my trials and triumphs.” Times, 11 Nov. 2000

Harold Evans. “How far can the press go in the public interest?” Times, 27 Sept. 2011

Evans, Harold. “New ideas in education.” Times, 16 Nov. 1964

ROBERT FISK

Robert Fisk (1946-) is a journalist who has covered the Middle East for over thirty years. After joining The Times in 1972, he initially covered the troubles in Northern Ireland, before becoming Middle East correspondent in 1988. His coverage from Lebanon during this time was risky, and he has been praised for his ability to get difficult interviews with figures such as Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. After a story was altered, he left to join The Independent in 1988, where he covered a range of conflicts including the Bosnian and Kosovo Wars, the Arab Spring, and the Syrian Civil War.

Fisk, Robert. “Armagh prison hostages freed after siege.” Times, 17 Oct. 1974

Fisk, Robert. “Cairo turns to Russia for help on Lebanon.” Times, 19 Oct. 1976

Fisk, Robert. “Hopes of ceasefire by Provisional IRA after talks in Belfast.” Times, 21 June 1972

Lisbon., Robert Fisk. “Justice emerges from chaos in Portugal.” Times, 19 May 1976

WILLIAM REES-MOGG

William Rees-Mogg (1928-2012) was a journalist and newspaper editor, who began his journalistic career at the Financial Times in 1952 where he remained until 1960. In 1960 he joined the Sunday Times, working up to deputy editor, before becoming editor of The Times in 1967. After the sale of Times Newspapers Ltd. to Rupert Murdoch, he was replaced by Harold Evans. He contributed a comment column to The Independent from its beginning in 1986 until 1992, before returning as a columnist to The Times until his death. He also served as chairman of the Arts Council in Britain, and sat on the Board of Governors for the BBC.

Rees-mogg, William. “Egypt and Israel: the bargain that could bring peace.” Times, 7 Dec. 1971

Rees-mogg, William. “If Scotland got its vote, then so should we.” Times, 17 Sept. 2007

Rees-mogg, William. “Is Barack Obama the new Kennedy?” Times, 28 Jan. 2008

Rees-mogg, William. “What happens when house prices collapse?” Times, 27 Nov. 2006

MARGARET THATCHER

Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013), a former British Prime Minister, the first to win three consecutive terms in over 160 years, and the originator of Thatcherism. She implemented many initiatives that gained her the nickname ‘The Great Dismantler’, systematically taking apart Britain’s socialist infrastructure. Although economic results were positive, high unemployment, especially in the North of Britain, brought social discontent and strong divisions between north and south emerged. After her resignation in 1990, she toured the world as a speaker before a stroke. After suffering from dementia for several years, she died in 2013, her legacy one of the most divisive in British history.

Margaret, and Thatcher. “Building on the new realism.” Times, 26 Mar. 1984

Thatcher, Margaret. “Halt the vendetta against success.” Times, 12 Nov. 1976

Thatcher, Margaret, and Simon jenkins. “I have not finished yet.” Times, 19 Nov. 1990

Thatcher, Margaret. “The morality of Tory ideals.” Times, 18 July 1977

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