Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In 1964, the fallout from the Profumo Affair saw Harold Macmillan resign as Prime Minister of Britain forcing a leadership crisis within the Conservative Party. The resulting contest pitted Richard "Rab" Butler, Reginald Maudling, and Lord Hailsham against one another. However, in a controversial maneuver, the party establishment (dubbed "The Magic Circle") bypassed these candidates selecting Alec Douglas-Home, a move that failed so spectacularly that Harold Wilson's Labour government would be elected just a few months later.
On the cusp of releasing a book on tory party politics, ITN sat down with Randolph Churchill to discuss the key tenants to survival in the British political system.
#conservativeparty #labourparty #haroldmacmillan #profumo #churchill #randolphchurchill #haroldwilson #britishpolitics #1960s #1960sbritain #leadershipcrisis #keirstarmer #andyburnham
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In 1964, the fallout from the Profumo Affair saw Harold Macmillan resign as Prime Minister of Britain forcing a leadership crisis within the Conservative Party. The resulting contest pitted Richard "Rab" Butler, Reginald Maudling, and Lord Hailsham against one another. However, in a controversial maneuver, the party establishment (dubbed "The Magic Circle") bypassed these candidates selecting Alec Douglas-Home, a move that failed so spectacularly that Harold Wilson's Labour government would be elected just a few months later.
On the cusp of releasing a book on tory party politics, ITN sat down with Randolph Churchill to discuss the key tenants to survival in the British political system.
#conservativeparty #labourparty #haroldmacmillan #profumo #churchill #randolphchurchill #haroldwilson #britishpolitics #1960s #1960sbritain #leadershipcrisis #keirstarmer #andyburnham
To license the footage featured in this clip, follow the link below:
_______
To search the ITN Archive collection on Getty Images, follow the link below:
gettyimages.co.uk/footage/itn
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel (tap the bell icon and stay up to date with all the latest Frontline by videos!) - youtube.com/@FrontlinebyITN
🎥 Follow us on Twitter - twitter.com/ITNArchive
🎥 Like us on Facebook - facebook.com/ITNArchiveITNP
🎥 Check out our TikTok - tiktok.com/@itnarchive1955
