Macmillan’s ‘Night of the Long Knives’ was political genius (1962)
Sixty years ago today, Harold Macmillan carried out a cabinet reshuffle which became known as the ‘Night of the Long Knives’. He dismissed seven ministers – one-third of the cabinet – and replaced them with men who would soon become political heavyweights, such as Reg Maudling, Sir Keith Joseph and Bill Deedes. The Spectator’s leader that week said ‘the new administration is strong in intellect, experience, and vigour, with far more weight placed on younger men, and no concessions offered to those who think that a move to the right would save the day for the party and damn the consequences’.
