Rogues, scallywags, fraudsters and criminals have all trodden the corridors of the UK Houses of Parliament. In this conversation with Philippa Lacey, Debbie Kilroy discusses the themes of her new book ‘Members Behaving Badly.’
The discussion covers political misbehaviour over the past 4 centuries, exploring various scandals, notorious figures, and the evolution of public perception regarding politicians. We talked about the patterns of corruption and sexual scandal seen throughout all the periods of history covered by Debbie in her book, as well as the importance of engaging with politics, and what happens when people feel disillusioned with their leaders.
The discussion highlights the need for understanding historical context and the human nature of politicians, emphasising that while many have committed egregious acts, they can also possess redeeming qualities.
Buy 'Members Behaving Badly' - click here
Find Debbie on Instagram 'debbiekilroyauthor' and her website debbiekilroy.com and gethistory.co.uk
Chapters
00:00 The Book's Inspiration and Themes
08:24 Historical Figures and Their Misdeeds
14:20 Patterns of Political Misbehaviour
20:23 Cultural Reflections in Political Behaviour
24:46 The Legacy of Lord Thomas Cochrane
29:18 Understanding Historical Morality
31:29 The Nature of Political Power
36:14 Public Tolerance for Political Scandals
43:12 The Evolution of Political Systems
49:12 Engaging with Political Discourse
Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more historian interviews here for you to enjoy including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Castor, Helen Carr and many more.
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