Josephine Carew, The Countess of Strathmore
The Right Honourable The Countess of Strathmore LG GCB DCVO CH PC LHC KC LLB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Portrait commissioned and painted by her husband The Earl of Devon.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 1 January 2025 (110 days) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | George VII | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | The Earl of Durham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 March 2024 – 12 June 2024 (104 days) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Charles III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | The Baron Stafford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Durham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the Whitehall Foreign Affairs Council | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 13 November 2024 (159 days) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | The Duke of Somerset The Earl of Devon The 2nd Duke of Cambridge Herself The Viscount Kirkwall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Josephine Mary Anne Hyacinth Somerset 8 December 2023 (1 year, 134 days) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Unionist Party (until 26 March 2025) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | British Liberal Party (until 1 May 2024) British Constitutionalist & Unionist Party (until 17 January 2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | The Earl of Devon (m. 7 January 2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | The Viscount Clare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | George VII | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence(s) | Knightstone Estate Mamhead House | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | University of St Andrews (LLB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title | Countess of Strathmore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Josi, Cabbage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service | Royal Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 2023 - 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Air Vice Marshal Wing Commander | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Josephine Mary Anne Hyacinth Carew, The Countess of Strathmore (née Somerset; 8 December 2023) is a British jurist, writer, educator, stateswoman, parliamentarian, and civil servant who currently serves as the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office, and Member of the Whitehall Foreign Affairs Council. Additionally, she works on the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Preservation Institute of which George VII is Royal Patron and in the Church of England as Lector of Chester Cathedral.
Lady Strathmore came onto the scene when she was hired to represent the Crown (Edward IX) in the Judicial Review, Ex parte Mr. Romefeller and Lord Somerset in which the Crown had been named a respondent. The fledgling barrister was successful in petitioning the Court to remove the Crown as a respondent and proceeded to make a name for herself in a series of legal actions within the justice system. Strathmore would go on to found the British Constitutionalist & Unionist Party in late December and became a loud voice during The Duke of Warwick Affair which neccesitated the dissolution of the 29th Parliament. She would successfully contest the January 2024 General Election, in coalition with the Heron Party, becoming the Member of Parliament for Queen's Park and Maida Vale.
She was tapped to become the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Second Lord of the Treasury for the Second Douglas Ministry, though she would later resign from that role, serving from 10-22 January 2024. During that time, her party merged with the British Renewal Party and formed the British Liberal Party, trading in the soft blue and grey tones for maroon and beige. Despite intitially losing her bid for the Speakership, she was unanimously elected Speaker of the House of Commons, after the resignation of Sir Llywellyn Lleyton, on 23 January 2024.
A British noblemwoman, following her marriage to Sir Thomas Carew and his elevation as the Baron Knightstone, she took her hand to writing, making a name for herself with the publications of "Charting the Political Landscape" and "His Majesty's Government: The Sick Man of Great Britain" in the British Broadcasting Corporation. This would be the first time she took a hard look at the continuity and change of the Empire's institutions with the later article setting the stage for what would later be called the Recruitment and Retention Crises. She would go to be elected Chairwoman of her party, following the resignation of Miann Somerset-Grey, 2nd Duke of Edinburgh, on 18 February 2024 and assumed the role on 29 February when the latter's resignation came into force.
With the Accession of Charles III, Lady Strathmore was appointed Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain for the first time, as well as being created King's Counsel for her services to the legal profession and Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for her service as Speaker of the House of Commons. She would later petition the Royal Court of Justice in Ex parte Lord High Chancellor, re: Enforceable Timeframe. Her party formalised its partnership with the Herons with the Concorde Coalition and together they successfully contested the March 2024 General Election, which saw Thomas Carew, The Earl of Devon appointed for the first time as Prime Minister of Great Britain. During the election, she published "The Ivory Tower of Westminster" in The Times as a successor to "Sick Man" on 2 March 2024, this time taking aim at the institution of the House of Lords which had for some time been a target of upset and criticism.
During the First Knightstone Ministry, she served as Secretary of State for the Home Office, the first time for a woman since Firentia Somerset-Howard-Campbell, The Countess of Clare. During her tenure at 2 Marsham Street, she published the Marsham White Paper and made it the first government to declare a recruitment and retention crisis. Her efforts were well-rewarded with an increase in nation count and significant progress in the Home Office, but was rebuffed when the Dot Bot, a tool used for manual recruitment, permanently suspended its manual recruitment functions as well as a several week downtime with NationStates servers. Lady Strathmore would resign near the end of the term, however, as the Concorde Coalition collapsed on 22 April 2024.
A week later, in a huge upset to the political system, Strathmore and her husband, then Lord and Lady Knightstone, left both of their parties on 1 May 2024 and founded the Unionists having been slated to campaign against each other as the Leaders of their former parties. Their move was so significant, both the Heron and Liberal parties collapsed with the Unionist Party turning into one of the biggest parties in the Empire's history in just a matter of days. She was elected as Chairwoman of the Party the day of the founding by the Unionist Frontbench. Her party would go on to win the May 2024 General Election in a landslide, thus securing Lord Knightstone a second term.
For the Second Knightstone Ministry, she returned as Home Secretary and was additionally appointed Deputy Prime Minister, though her opening statement would invite a series of heated letters between her and Cameron Romefeller, The Countess of Argyll. Lady Strathmore found continued success in the Home Office and was no less deterred to find solutions for the crises which confronted the Empire in domestic areas, even reporting that the Marsham White Paper was mostly completed. On 22 May 2024, she was created a Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for her service as Lord High Chancellor and was also appointed Lord President of the Council a few days later.
Through the latter half of May, the Unionist Party had their first conference and elected Lady Strathmore as their Leader following the resignation of Lord Knightstone, who wished to step down from 10 Downing Street following the next election. Throughout June, she prepared for the General Election and worked on her first book, The Grace of Powys. On the Ides of June, she resigned as Lord High Chancellor and Lord President of the Council in preparation for the General Election. Strathmore also published "Progressive Conservative Framework", which has continued to define Unionist politics to this day, on 23 June 2024.
On 27 June 2024, Parliament was dissolved and the campaign season for the July 2024 General Election began. At the same time, she was created the Baroness Wilton for her services to the Crown, Government, and Parliament. The election saw an intense period of virtiol and heartache as the Unionist Party pitted itself against the British Federation of Labour (later the Liberal-Progressive Action Party). For the month prior to the election, there had been significant political commentary with some sources saying campaigning started as early as 4 June 2024 de facto. In the end, Strathmore's party won the election in a landslide, but not without immense mental and emotional consequences as Lady Strathmore and Lady Argyll battled it out with the latter still upset from the events that led up to the formation of the Unionist Party.
Strathmore was invited to form a government in the name of Charles III on 1 July 2024 and thus became Prime Minister of Great Britain and First Lord of the Treasury. The Premiership of the Baroness Wilton was fraught with subsequent tensions from the General Election. Despite significant advancements and success with her leadership, Strathmore was hampered by the Darkness Period, the scandal of the Burke Affair, a vitriolic Opposition, and an uncooperative House of Lords. These factors, along with personal mental and physical health, caused her to resign on 2 August 2024, about halfway through the term. Completely exhausted, her activity waned away quickly and she eventually departed the Empire on 28 August 2024 following the death of her former son Owain Carew-Grey, Lord Knightstone.
Lady Strathmore returned on 10 November 2024 and was created with special remainder The Countess of Strathmore, Viscountess Althorp, and Baroness Coleridge. She returned as Home Secretary for the third time during the Third Somerset Ministry on 13 November 2024 and through the Second Sidmouth Ministry after Matthew Somerset, The Duke of Somerset resigned as Prime Minister. She was also summoned to the House of Lords for the 36th Parliament through her Earldom, served as Senior Deputy Speaker for William Somerset, The Earl of Durham, Lord Speaker, and Member of the Whitehall Foreign Affairs Council.
During her tenure, she brought charges against James Spencer, The Baron Scarborough, the second-longest cumulatively serving Home Secretary, on two counts of poaching for New United Kingdom. Lord Scarborough left the Empire soon after the wrongdoing was announced in the region, leaving the case to be held in absentia. After New United Kingdom proscribed Lady Strathmore for her actions conducted in the pursuit of official duties, she appointed the newly-returned Elio Somerset as prosecutor to see out the case, which had at that point been ongoing for a month and still was not out of the discovery period. R v Scarborough would later be dismissed without prejudice on 21 January 2025 after over forty days without the Trial Period having commenced.
In one of the most important moves of her career, she drafted and published the lengthy white paper The Path Forward: Addressing the Recruitment and Retention Crises, which sought to replace the Marsham White Paper. The publication garnered universal acclaim and support from the Herons, Unionists, British Workers, and independents with everyone agreeing it was the right plan for the Empire domestically.
On the Accession of George VII, Lady Strathmore was appointed as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain for the second time and was sworn into the Privy Council once more, becoming a trusted advisor for the new, but aging Sovereign of the Empire of Great Britain.
Together with the Unionist Party and Heron Party, she successfully returned to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for East Devon, having taken up the constituency after he retired from elected politics. After the January 2025 General Election provided a hung Parliament, the Earl of Durham was elected as compromise candidate for a coalition agreement between the opposing Unionist-Heron Parliamentary Coalition and the British Workers' Party. As such, she continued as Home Secretary during the Durham Ministry and became the longest cumulatively-serving Home Secretary on 3 January 2025.
During the Durham Ministry, she saw to the drafting and proposal of the Governance Act 2025 and The Territory and Borders Act 2025, landmark bills which endeavoured to fulfil the biggest objectives of the Cinque Ports Initiative of The Path Forward. The initiative was also supported by the Mental Health Awareness and Leave Protections (Repeal) Act 2025, proposed by Henry Somerset, The Duke of Cambridge and the Evidence Provision Alteration (Reasonable Evidencing Limitations Amendment) Act 2025, proposed by William Somerset, The Earl of Durham. For her efforts, she was awarded the Prime Minister's Performance Bonus on 25 January 2025.
On 25 January 2025, Lady Strathmore proposed the Expulsion (St Albans-Welwyn-Hatfield) Resolution 2025 to the House of Commons in a move that sent shockwaves through the political spectrum. Noa de Carteret, who served as Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of the British Workers' Party, and Member of Parliament for St Albans-Welwyn-Hatfield, had been nearly completely absent within His Majesty's Government and the House of Commons. With de Carteret's case for his absence unconvincing, the Commons voted in favour of the expulsion with mostly bipartisan support. Due to this, he resigned before the vote could be tallied and the resolution was tabled. The composition of the House of Commons moved in favour of the Heron-Unionist Parliamentary Coalition as de Carteret and Charles Wright, The Viscount Kirkwall resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer. During Lord Durham's Cabinet Reshuffle two days later, on 27 January 2025, Lady Strathmore was appointed First Secretary of State. At Dissolution Honours, she was created Lady of the Manor of Durness and Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, while the special remainder on her titles were also removed, for her service.
During the February 2025 Conference of the Unionist Party, Lady Strathmore made a surprise bid to be Leader on 8 February 2025. She was formally nominated by Thomas Carew, The Earl of Devon and supported by August Carew, The Baron Calder. She was unanimously elected the next day and thanked the party for their support and "hope[d] to do [them] all justice with [their] confidence." On 16 February 2025, the 37th Parliament of Great Britain was dissolved early on the advice of the Prime Minister, William Somerset, 2nd Duke of Cambridge. Lady Strathmore led her party in campaigning with "The Eastbourne Plan" based on the Six R's, which would "have a critical role in waking UP the Empire from its golden slumbers." The Unionist Party won the election with a majority and she was invited by George VII to form a government in his name, becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain. When Lord Clare resigned as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, she stepped into the role herself. However, despite her best efforts and experiencing burn out, she resigned as Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and Member of Parliament on 20 March 2025. She later retired from elected politics on 26 March 2025 in a speech delivered from the front steps from Mamhead House.
Lady Strathmore resides on the Knightstone Estate, a large country estate in Devon, comprising mainly of four English manor houses: The Chanters House, Knightstone Manor, Cadhay, and Escot House. Her family owns Mamhead House, also in Devon, as their holiday home. On 4 January 2024, she became engaged to Thomas Carew, The Earl of Devon and they married on 7 January 2024. Together, they are the parents of August Carew, The Viscount Clare.
When she was elevated to the peerage on 23 June 2024, she became Baroness Wilton, styled as Lady Wilton. [1] After taking a several-month holiday, her son, Lord Calder, succeeded to her peerage. When she returned, she was created The Countess of Strathmore, Viscountess Althorp, and Baroness Coleridge, styled as Lady Strathmore. [2] She is known as Cabbage to Lord Devon, M. to the Unionist Party, and Josi to the rest of the Empire.
Early Career and Education
On 8 December 2023, Josephine Mary Anne Grey entered the Empire of Great Britain and was that same day granted British citizenship by the Secretary of State for the Home Office, Thomas H. Wright, during the Premiership of the 2nd Viscount Douglas — a period marked by constitutional uncertainty and quiet reform.
She undertook her legal studies at United College, University of St Andrews, where she read for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). Her academic focus lay in constitutional and administrative law, with a particular interest in the legal traditions of the Crown and the evolving architecture of British governance. She graduated with distinction and was later appointed Lecturer in Political Science and Law at her alma mater, under the chancellorship of Miann Somerset-Grey, 2nd Duke of Edinburgh. Her lectures, often centred on the balance between legislative supremacy and judicial restraint, drew on contemporary constitutional developments within the Empire and foreshadowed many of the principles she would later champion in public life.
Called to the Bar
On 9 December 2023, Mrs Grey was called to the Bar of the Royal Court of Justice. Her admission to the bar followed shortly after she was invited to represent the Crown in an upcoming judicial review. Recognized for her proficiency and depth of knowledge in law, Mrs Grey's application was promptly accepted, allowing her to formally begin her representation.
Earlier that day, the Duke of Somerset submitted a petition for judicial review to the Clerk’s Office of the Royal Court of Justice. The petition challenged the legality of the recently enacted Executive Act 2024, arguing that it had not secured the requisite majority in the House of Commons. Within just over an hour, the Court accepted the petition, naming both Parliament and the Crown as Respondents. Shortly thereafter, the Lord Chief Justice, Alistair Romefeller, convened a hearing in the High Court and issued preliminary directions to the parties involved. In response, Edward IX invited Mrs Grey to act on behalf of the Crown, a request she accepted.
In the the afternoon, Mrs Grey arrived at the High Court in Westminster, having been appointed by the Sovereign to represent the Crown in a case questioning the legality of the recently enacted Executive Act 2024. She began by filing a motion to remove the Crown as a Respondent, arguing that it had played no role in the legislative process beyond ratification. In her view, the constitutional issue lay with Parliament, not the Crown, and she maintained that “the Crown has no role in the legal process of passage.” The Court, after considering her submission and relevant precedent, agreed. The motion was granted, and the Crown was removed from the case.
Mrs Grey remained involved as amicus curiae, submitting a brief that defended the Act’s passage through the House of Commons. She argued that the necessary quorum had been met and that the three votes in favour, one against, and one abstention satisfied the two-thirds requirement under parliamentary practice. According to her brief, abstentions “do not count against the necessary majority” but do contribute to quorum, a position supported by Robert’s Rules of Order and the Standing Orders of the House of Lords.
Despite her arguments, the Court interpreted the two-thirds requirement as an absolute majority of the entire House. With only three affirmative votes out of five members, the Act was found not to have met the necessary threshold. The Court ruled the Executive Act 2024 unconstitutional and ordered it struck from the law. While Mrs Grey challenged aspects of the ruling in a motion for reconsideration, the Court ultimately upheld its decision.
Prime Ministerial Conflict of Interest Act 2023
On 14 December 2023, Josephine Grey filed a petition with the Royal Court of Justice, raising a legal question concerning the Prime Ministerial Conflict of Interest Act 2023. Specifically, she sought clarification on whether the Act “unreasonably or unjustly restrict[s] a citizen's right to participate in democratic processes.” The Court accepted the petition, determined that Grey had sufficient standing to proceed, and scheduled the case before the Master of the Rolls, Lord Reginald Carmichael, The Earl of Antrim.
Appearing the next day, Grey confirmed she would represent herself. The case also drew interest from Yeldon Wright, Leader of the Opposition and author of the Act’s repeal legislation, who appointed the Duke of Warwick as his counsel. The Court set a deadline for briefs and later extended it, noting a forum outage had delayed proceedings. However, as the deadline approached, Grey, who was abroad on holiday, was unable to draft or submit a legal brief in time.
On 19 December, the Court issued its decision. “The Court thanks Mr Forsyte for his brief,” Lord Antrim wrote, “but as Petitioner has failed to file a brief, this case is dismissed without prejudice.” The ruling allowed for the question to be raised again in the future but brought the current proceedings to an early and procedural close.
Douglas v The Duke of Warwick
In early January 2024, Lady Carew filed a criminal petition on behalf of William Somerset, 2nd Viscount Douglas, in the matter of Douglas v Warwick. The case was formally opened on 3 January 2024, with the prosecution alleging that the Duke of Warwick, James Forsyte, had committed defamation under §6.00 of the Criminal Code through a report he issued on the same day in his capacity as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. The case also cited an aggravating factor of “abuse of a position of power, influence, or trust” under §12.00h.
At the outset, Grey and the Duke of Somerset appeared as co-counsel for the plaintiff. However, on 6 January 2024, Grey announced her withdrawal as lead counsel “in the interest of fairness,” noting that the Duke of Warwick had opted to represent himself pro se. The Duke of Somerset continued alone, but soon stepped back from the role amid mounting public attention and internal disputes over legal procedure—particularly surrounding the appointment of co-counsel and interpretations of the Legal Practice Act. In the wake of his departure, Grey returned as lead prosecutor.
Upon her reinstatement, she successfully moved for the trial to be held in camera, arguing that the proceedings had become subject to “intense scrutiny and allegations of ulterior motives.” Despite filing motions for subpoenas to obtain relevant Discord communications, the Court denied several key requests, leaving the prosecution without the evidentiary support needed to advance its case. With no witnesses and insufficient material for cross-examination, Grey endorsed a motion to dismiss the case. The Court granted the motion, and the matter was formally closed without a ruling on the merits.
Political Career
British Constituionalist and Unionist Party
On 23 December 2023, Josephine Grey formally founded the British Constitutionalist & Unionist Party (BCUP), following a period of political realignment within the Empire of Great Britain. The new party emerged as a direct successor to the earlier British Constitutionalist Party, which had by that point been reformed into the British Renewal Party. Seeking to preserve the legacy and guiding ethos of its predecessor, the BCUP articulated a platform rooted in “British Liberalism, Constitutionalism, Unionism, Individual Sovereignty, and Fiscal Responsibility.” Its founding statement placed particular emphasis on the voluntary nature of the political compact underpinning the Empire, asserting that “the Empire of Great Britain is formed out of sovereign individuals who agree and make the choice to enter the social contract made up of laws, traditions, and precedents.”
Grey’s decision to launch the party reflected a belief that the existing political space no longer adequately represented a constitutionalist perspective that balanced respect for tradition with liberal values. Her emphasis on individual sovereignty marked a distinct philosophical position—one that highlighted both the rights and responsibilities of citizens in shaping the state through consensual governance and precedent-based law. Though initially modest in scope, the BCUP quickly established itself as a principled actor within the wider political framework of the region.
The most significant act of Grey’s leadership came in the days following the party’s formation, when tensions escalated over a controversial report issued by James Forsyte, the Duke of Warwick, then serving as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. The report, released in the name of His Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition, drew swift condemnation from multiple figures across the political spectrum. Grey, speaking on behalf of the BCUP, issued a pointed response that sought to draw a clear line between principled opposition and what she viewed as conduct unbecoming of the institution. “These actions are beyond the pale,” she stated, “and have no place in this community.”
Though her leadership of the BCUP was brief and largely symbolic, the episode marked a defining moment in the party’s early narrative. Grey’s intervention was widely interpreted as a defense of constitutional decorum and parliamentary standards at a time of heightened political friction. In doing so, she framed the BCUP not merely as a successor to past parties, but as a custodian of enduring civic values within the evolving political life of the Empire.
30th Parliament
In the aftermath of the Duke of Warwick Affair, political tensions within the Empire of Great Britain culminated in a major shift. On 6 January 2024, Prime Minister William Somerset, 2nd Viscount Douglas, requested the dissolution of Parliament—a request that was granted by the Sovereign the same day. In the ensuing general election, Josephine Grey declared her candidacy for Queen’s Park and Maida Vale, launching her campaign under the slogans “Send Grey to the Green” and “I Just Whig Here.” Her platform promised, in her words, “a more conservative approach, focused on the security and vibrancy of [the Empire’s] institutions.”
Grey’s campaign gained traction with the support of the Heron Party and the announcement of a governing coalition. She pledged an ambitious legislative programme, including a renewable clause for the existing economic freeze; a new version of the Disclosure of Interests Act 2024 in collaboration with the Prime Minister; amendments to the Executive Act 2024 to clarify recruitment practices; and a bill to formally establish His Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition. Additional proposals included the Statesmen’s Aisle & Honoured Citizen Act 2024, environmental legislation in the form of the Lady Margaret Nelson Kākāpō Reserve (Maud Island) Act 2024, the repeal and replacement of the Statutory Interpretations Act 2022, and further constitutional reforms regarding the Royal Air Force and parliamentary constituency definitions.
On 8 January 2024, Grey secured her seat with 85% of the vote, ranking third in total votes among all candidates elected. Two days later, she attended the State Opening of the 30th Session of Parliament, following the election of the Speaker of the House of Commons. At the start of the session, she stood for the Speakership herself, challenging the incumbent, Llywellyn E.J. Lleyton. Seconded by Thomas Carew, MP for East Devon, she argued that she would bring “a strong sense of legalism, timeliness, orderliness, and advocacy” to the role. She further outlined a clear administrative agenda, including archiving the previous session’s work, updating the Office of the Clerk, reviewing Standing Orders for compliance with recent Organic Acts, and strengthening cooperation with the House of Lords. Despite her detailed platform, the House voted to retain the incumbent as Speaker later that day.
On 10 January 2024, Josephine Carew-Grey was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in the First Douglas Ministry. In her opening address to Parliament, she outlined the new Government’s economic vision. Five days later, on 15 January, she established the Economic Advisory Committee, composed of herself, Deputy Prime Minister Thomas H. Carew, and Nicholas Romefeller—an independent voice and outspoken critic of prior economic policy—signalling a willingness to engage across party lines in shaping the direction of the Empire’s financial strategy.
British Liberal Party
Following the tumult of the Duke of Warwick Affair and the dissolution of the 29th Parliament, Josephine Carew-Grey’s political role continued to evolve. On 17 January 2024, her British Constitutionalist & Unionist Party formally merged with the British Renewal Party, giving rise to the British Liberal Party—a newly unified force bearing the colours maroon and beige and aiming to consolidate the constitutional centre of the political spectrum. Amid this reorganisation, Carew-Grey stepped down as Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22 January, having served briefly in that role during the Second Douglas Ministry. She cited real-life constraints in her resignation, passing the mantle of economic stewardship to others within the coalition.
The next day, with both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons on leave, she assumed the role of Acting Speaker. Two days later, on 23 January 2024, Llywellyn E.J. Lleyton resigned, prompting a formal nomination of Carew-Grey to the Chair by Owain W.G. Carew-Grey, MP for Argyll and Bute. Supported by colleagues from Edinburgh West and East Devon, her nomination went unopposed after the Earl of Stirling failed to receive a second. Upon her election by affirmation, she expressed both humility and respect: “I wish the very best to the outgoing Speaker… It is my sincere desire he gets well as soon as possible and returns… fighting fit.” That same day, she was granted Royal Approbation, sworn into the Privy Council, and installed as Lord Privy Seal. In her Opening Statement as Speaker, she paid tribute to her predecessor and appointed Miann Somerset-Grey, 2nd Duke of Edinburgh, as her Deputy.
Carew-Grey’s influence quickly extended beyond Westminster. On 4 February 2024, she was appointed Lector in Political Science and Law at United College, University of St Andrews, her alma mater. The Chancellor praised her “phenomenal” legal record and public service, calling her “an excellent addition to the faculty.” On that same day, her essay His Majesty’s Government: The Sick Man of Great Britain was published by the BBC. A bold critique of executive inertia, the essay described the Government as “sick and coughing, infected by a miasma of disinterest and little activity.” While she insisted the piece was an institutional critique rather than a partisan attack, it drew swift responses: the Earl of Stirling condemned it as “entirely disingenuous,” while the Viscount Islington questioned her complicity, noting her place in the governing coalition. Carew-Grey accepted partial responsibility, conceding that she “[shared] a bit of responsibility for the current state of the Government,” but maintained the issue was cumulative, “a product of many premierships”.
On 18 February 2024, she was elected Party Chair of the British Liberal Party, following the resignation of the 2nd Duke of Edinburgh. She formally assumed the role on 29 February, lauding her predecessor’s leadership as “the grace and nobility of a lion.” Her ascent coincided with major changes in government. On 1 March 2024, Carew-Grey was appointed Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain by Charles III, fulfilling a planned announcement made by the Prince of Wales in January. In recognition of her service, she was also named King’s Counsel and admitted as a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in the Accession Honours.
Her first act as Lord High Chancellor came swiftly. She submitted a legal petition to the Royal Court of Justice—Ex parte Lord High Chancellor, re: Enforceable Timeframe—requesting clarification on the phrase “as soon as possible” in the Parliament Act 2024 as it applied to by-election writs. Arguing that the language should be treated as enforceable, her brief pressed for accountability in the issuance of writs. However, the Court ruled against her interpretation in a judgment issued by Lord Chief Justice Alistair Romefeller.
Formation of the Concorde Coalition
The Concorde Coalition emerged in early March 2024 as the product of a deliberate and carefully brokered agreement among constitutionalist and liberal factions in the aftermath of the March General Election. Spearheaded in part by Josephine Carew-Grey in her role as Liaison Secretary, the coalition was conceived as a stabilising force amid ongoing concerns about executive stagnation, voter retention, and legislative follow-through. It drew its name from the spirit of cooperation it sought to embody—echoing the Concorde aircraft’s symbolism of unity, ambition, and forward motion.
The coalition was born out of extensive negotiations between the British Liberal Party, which had secured a majority of four seats with 54% of the national vote, and allied independents and minor parties that shared a vision for institutional reform and practical governance. The terms of the Concorde Agreement, published on 5 March 2024, set out a governing arrangement intended to last two full parliamentary sessions. Its preamble declared the coalition’s shared commitment to “stability, accountability, and progress through consensus and constitutional fidelity.”
Carew-Grey was widely credited as a principal architect of the agreement. Drawing on her dual experience as a legislator and former Speaker, she helped to define the policy priorities of the new administration, including recruitment reform, recalibration of the Empire’s organic legal framework, and parliamentary modernisation. The coalition formally endorsed Thomas Carew, The Baron Knightstone, as Prime Minister, marking a peaceful transfer of executive authority and the start of what was expected to be a more energetic and reform-minded ministry.
The Concorde Coalition represented not only a political alignment but also a structural response to the criticisms Carew-Grey had previously voiced—most notably in her February 2024 essay "The Sick Man of Great Britain." In that piece, she lamented the absence of vision within government. Through Concorde, she sought to give form to that missing ambition, anchoring her party and its allies to a shared legislative agenda that promised to address the Empire’s administrative malaise while revitalising its civic institutions.
31st Parliament
With the Accession of Charles III on 1 March 2024, Parliament was dissolved and a new election was called. Lady Josephine Carew-Grey once again stood for Queen’s Park and Maida Vale, this time with renewed energy and sharpened messaging. Her campaign adopted the slogan “The Josi’s Not For Turning,” signalling both a personal conviction and a promise of continuity. In Hustings, she took a pointed tone, criticising executive inaction: “For too long has the executive branch of our constitution stood back and watched as the Nation Count descended into the 100's and the retention of our citizens near non-existent. No more!”
She outlined a legislative agenda that built on her previous work in Parliament, pledging to see through the Chief of the Air Staff (Public Accountability) Act 2024, the Executive Amendment (Recruitment) Act 2024, the Parliamentary Constituencies Amendment (Fictitious Appreciation) Act 2024, and the Organic Law Recalibration Act 2024. She also expressed a desire to take on responsibilities within the Home Office but made clear she would still hold the Government to account: “My loyalty is and always will be placed within the care of the British people.” Her candidacy was endorsed by Owain Carew-Grey and saw direct engagement with voters, including a public Q&A with James R. Kennedy, The Baron Scarborough.
On 5 March 2024, Carew-Grey was re-elected with 90% of the vote—eighteen out of twenty ballots cast—making her the highest-polling candidate in the election. She attended the State Opening of the 31st Parliament later that day and formally announced she would not seek re-election as Speaker. Elio Somerset, The Viscount Salisbury, succeeded her. Under her Speakership, the 30th Parliament had become the second most active in the Empire’s history, a point often cited in praise of her procedural stewardship.
Beyond her constituency win, Carew-Grey also led the British Liberal Party to a broader national victory. Her party secured 54% of the vote and a four-seat majority, forming the backbone of the new Concorde Coalition—an agreement she had helped negotiate as Liaison Secretary. The coalition supported the premiership of Thomas Carew, The Baron Knightstone, and ushered in what was expected to be a stable two-term governing agreement. Carew-Grey’s role in shaping the Concorde Agreement was viewed as critical to its success, demonstrating both her strategic sensibility and ability to broker cross-party cooperation.
First Tenure as Home Secretary
On 5 March 2024, King Charles III formally invited Baron Knightstone to form a Government. That evening, a Cabinet was appointed on the Prime Minister’s advice, with Josephine Carew-Grey assuming the role of Home Secretary—a key portfolio with oversight of internal affairs, regional recruitment, and civil society. She entered office with a clearly defined agenda, drawn from her campaign commitments and prior legislative efforts.
Carew-Grey’s tenure as Home Secretary was marked by the introduction of the Marsham White Paper, a policy platform developed to address institutional stagnation, community engagement, and the retention crisis within the Empire. On 13 March 2024, Patrick Maniar-Wright, then serving as Justice Secretary, was appointed Minister of State for Development to work in coordination with the Home Office on implementing the paper’s recommendations. The Marsham White Paper called for improved transparency in parliamentary reporting, expanded roles for minor parties in oversight functions, and proposed structural reforms for civic and cultural organisations.
Her time in Cabinet also saw her involved in high-profile legislative debates, including support for the National Gallery Act, which aimed to institutionalise the preservation of cultural works across the Empire. Though the act faced scrutiny in the House of Lords, Carew-Grey worked with peers—most notably Elio Somerset, The Viscount Salisbury—to revise controversial clauses, demonstrating her continued willingness to engage across chambers.
Internationally, Carew-Grey supported the Government's decision to pause diplomatic engagement with Europeia following a contentious administrative controversy. She backed the Prime Minister’s move to cancel a proposed state visit, stating that “Carew took the considerations of our community first and that’s what is truly important,” reinforcing her commitment to domestic stability and citizen welfare over foreign ambition.
Despite initial optimism, tensions within the coalition surfaced by April. Though the Concorde Agreement stipulated that the BLP would take the lead in the second term, internal conversations began about the possibility of Baron Knightstone serving a second term. This led to growing uncertainty and friction within the coalition, especially among Liberal Party members concerned about a breach of the agreed power-sharing structure.
Collapse of the Concorde Coalition
The Concorde Coalition, hailed initially as a model of political cooperation between the British Liberal Party (BLP) and the Heron Party, began to falter by mid-April 2024 amid disputes over succession and power-sharing. Josephine Carew-Grey, who had played a key role in negotiating the original Concorde Agreement, found herself at the centre of the growing tensions. The agreement had clearly stated that the first term of government would be led by the Heron-designate, Baron Knightstone, while the second term would be passed to a BLP-designate—widely expected to be Kathrine Romefeller, The Countess of Argyll.
However, internal discussions in the Heron Party began to shift. Prime Minister Knightstone, who had initially agreed to serve a single term, began to express uncertainty about stepping down, citing concerns about continuity and the risk of burnout within the BLP leadership. Though these concerns were raised openly, the British Liberal Party insisted on adherence to the original timeline. During a heated joint party meeting, the Herons proposed amending the Concorde Agreement to move forward on a term-by-term basis, but the BLP rejected this overture, viewing it as a breach of trust.
The disagreement quickly escalated. As tempers flared, both parties withdrew from discussions, effectively ending the coalition. The British Liberal Party withdrew to Opposition, and on 22 April 2024, the Concorde Coalition was formally declared dissolved. Carew-Grey, now the de facto leader of the Opposition, maintained that she had “no intention of calling for a Vote of No Confidence” against the Government—a decision that drew praise for its restraint and criticism from party members who wanted a more assertive response.
The political fallout was deeply personal. The Prime Minister, Lord Knightstone—Josephine’s husband—was reportedly troubled by the prospect of running in a contested election against her. “He believed he could win,” one report noted, “but felt the cost was too high.” In an unprecedented political and personal shift, the couple made the mutual decision to leave their respective parties and form a new entity: the Unionist Party. Knightstone, once a staunch Heron, lamented leaving what he had considered his political home, but ultimately prioritised unity and stability over intra-party conflict.
Unionist Party
Formation of the Unionist Party
The Unionist Party was formally established on 1 May 2024 by Thomas Carew, The Baron Knightstone, and his wife, Josephine Carew-Grey, known politically as Lady Knightstone. The announcement came in the immediate aftermath of the collapse of the Concorde Coalition and just days before the May 2024 General Election—an unexpected and highly consequential move that reshaped the political order overnight. Both founders resigned from their former parties, the Heron Party and the British Liberal Party, citing the breakdown of inter-party trust and the need for a unified constitutionalist alternative amid mounting factionalism.
The decision sent shockwaves through Westminster. The Herons and Liberals, previously the two most dominant factions in Parliament, were suddenly left leaderless and fragmented. The formation of the Unionist Party not only destabilised both parties but also redirected the trajectory of the election. What had been expected to be a contest between two former coalition partners quickly evolved into a surge of support for the new Unionist platform, which promised cohesion, constitutional integrity, and pragmatic leadership.
On the same day as the party’s founding, Lady Knightstone was elected Chairwoman by the Unionist Frontbench, which, at the time, consisted solely of herself and her husband. Though the position of Chair is typically ceremonial—limited to facilitating internal leadership elections and participating in party administration—Lady Knightstone assumed a much broader role. She rapidly built the party’s structure, coordinated its messaging, and attracted prominent defectors and first-time candidates in the final hours before the election deadline. Her leadership proved decisive in the Unionist Party’s meteoric rise.
32nd Parliament
In the May 2024 General Election, the Unionists won 5 out of 8 seats—a stunning debut that instantly positioned them as one of the largest parties in the Empire’s modern parliamentary history. The result marked a dramatic reversal of fortunes not only for the Herons and Liberals, who both saw their parliamentary influence decimated, but also for Carew-Grey herself. Having transitioned from a constitutional liberal to a founding Unionist in under a week, she now stood as a central figure in a transformed political landscape—one she had helped design from within and outside the system.
Deputy Prime Minister and Second Tenure as Home Secretary
After the Unionist Party’s sweeping victory in the May 2024 General Election, Lady Josephine Carew-Grey—styled as Lady Knightstone at the time—returned to high office in the Second Knightstone Ministry. Appointed both Home Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, she emerged not only as the central force behind the party’s domestic agenda but also as the de facto co-pilot of the government, guiding internal policy while her husband, Baron Knightstone, remained Prime Minister.
Her reappointment to the Home Office marked her second tenure at 2 Marsham Street, and she wasted no time in advancing her legislative and administrative priorities. In her opening statement, she reasserted her long-standing commitment to institutional revitalisation, a stance that prompted a series of public disagreements—most notably with Cameron Romefeller, The Countess of Argyll, who had remained critical of the Unionist Party’s formation and rise to power.
Despite the tension, Lady Knightstone pressed forward with implementing the unfinished proposals of the Marsham White Paper, which had laid the groundwork during her previous term for a national strategy to address recruitment and retention crises across the Empire. By late May, she reported that most of the White Paper’s objectives had been met. Her achievements were publicly recognised on 22 May 2024, when she was appointed Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for her prior service as Lord High Chancellor. Days later, she was elevated to Lord President of the Council—formally integrating her into the highest circles of constitutional governance.
The second Knightstone Ministry introduced a restructured Cabinet reflecting the Unionists’ broader legislative ambitions. While Josephine remained the face of domestic reform, other figures such as James Forsyte continued at the Treasury, and her son, Owain Carew-Grey, retained the Foreign Affairs portfolio. The Unionist platform emphasised efficient administration, cultural revival, and the recalibration of imperial governance, with Josephine central to coordinating both internal and inter-ministerial efforts.
Through the second half of May, the Unionist Party convened its first formal conference, during which Lord Knightstone announced his intention to step down as Leader following the next general election. Lady Knightstone was elected as his successor, placing her on a clear path toward leadership of the Government. As preparations began for the July 2024 General Election, she announced her resignation from her ceremonial positions of Lord High Chancellor and Lord President of the Council to concentrate fully on campaigning and policy authorship. This included the release of The Progressive Conservative Framework on 23 June 2024—a document that would come to define the philosophical foundations of the Unionist Party and its future governance.
First Conference of the Unionist Party
The inaugural Unionist Party Conference was held at the Brighton Hotel in Sussex between 26 May and 11 June 2024, marking a defining moment for the newly formed party as it transitioned from political insurgency to governing institution. The conference, originally conceived as a forum to chart the party’s legislative agenda for the remainder of the term, quickly evolved into a platform for leadership transition and internal realignment.
Early discussions focused on consolidating the Unionist Party's position as a dominant force in the Empire, following its success in the May General Election. However, the atmosphere soon shifted when Prime Minister and founding Party Leader Lord Knightstone (Thomas Carew) signaled his intention to step down after completing a second term in office. Citing burnout and the natural rhythm of political leadership, he stated, “It gives me great, inconceivable pride and pleasure to see the Unionist Party in Government, and thriving... but I believe two full terms is enough”.
Though initially reluctant to pursue leadership, Lady Knightstone (Josephine Carew-Grey) was ultimately persuaded to run. Her decision was confirmed on 27 May, when Lord Knightstone nominated her as his successor during his resignation speech—a nomination seconded by Lord Calder. She was unanimously elected Leader of the Unionist Party by acclamation the following day.
In her acceptance, Lady Knightstone remarked, “I humbly and gladly accept Thomas’s nomination… Together, under the unity of this party, we have the privilege of being one of the most consequential teams in this Empire’s history.” In a follow-up address, she acknowledged her husband’s leadership legacy and vowed to carry forward the work they had begun, positioning the party for a renewed mandate in the coming July election.
The Queenstown Herald-Monocle captured the mood of the moment with the headline “The Iron Lady Returns,” signaling both public expectation and political gravitas. With her election, Lady Knightstone became not only the first woman to lead the Unionist Party but also the designated candidate for Prime Minister in the upcoming general election.
The conference concluded on 11 June with the finalisation of the party’s platform, manifesto, and candidate slate. It marked the end of one era of leadership and the beginning of another—one that would see Josephine Carew-Grey, now Lady Wilton, become a central figure in the evolving political landscape of the Charles III era.
Retirement as Lord High Chancellor
On 8 June 2024, Lady Josephine Carew-Grey—then styled Lady Knightstone—officially retired from the offices of Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain and Lord President of the Council. Her resignation was formally announced in a statement from Buckingham Palace by His Majesty King Charles III, bringing to a close one of the most consequential legal tenures of the early Charlesian era. The King expressed deep personal gratitude, stating, “I am eternally grateful to have counted on her support and her counsel over the first three months of my reign. She has undoubtedly been an integral and invaluable part of my Household and she will be sorely missed.”
In a statement from her residence at Powys Castle, Lady Knightstone offered her own reflections on the departure. “Serving the Crown during the first three-and-a-half months of His Majesty’s Reign has been the most fulfilling and humble experience,” she said, expressing appreciation for the trust placed in her by the Sovereign. Her decision to step down was driven by growing political responsibilities—chief among them, her newly assumed role as Leader of the Unionist Party and presumptive candidate for Prime Minister. “As I came upon a rather political part of my career, where I would either be Prime Minister of Great Britain or Leader of the Opposition, I felt the King's interests would have been better served by someone else, a barrister who would be less likely to have a conflict of interest.”
Lady Knightstone’s departure from the Chancellorship came just days after she had been elected Leader of the Unionist Party at its first national conference in Brighton. While the role of Lord High Chancellor is typically above partisan politics, her dual position as Deputy Prime Minister and party leader had grown increasingly untenable in the context of an upcoming general election. By stepping aside, she preserved the integrity of the Crown’s legal counsel and demonstrated a characteristic commitment to constitutional propriety.
She was succeeded in the role by William Somerset, 2nd Viscount Douglas, a seasoned statesman and her former colleague, who was appointed at her own recommendation. Her resignation marked not an end to public service, but a shift from the judicial and ceremonial to the explicitly political.
July 2024 General Election
The July 2024 General Election in the Empire of Great Britain marked a turning point in the political landscape of the region. Called by King Charles III and scheduled for 1 July, the election followed a dramatic political realignment, including the dissolution of the Concorde Coalition and the rise of the Unionist Party under Josephine Carew-Grey, now styled as Lady Wilton. The pre-election period was marked by intense political activity and anticipation, with fourteen certified candidates entering the race—a record-breaking number that cast uncertainty over any party's ability to command a clear majority.
Polling prior to the election had forecast a strong showing for the Unionists, who had maintained five seats in the previous parliament. However, the crowded field fractured the vote. While the Unionist Party managed to return five Members of Parliament again, it fell short of an outright majority. To secure the confidence of the House of Commons, Lady Wilton swiftly negotiated a coalition with the British Workers' Party, whose members had already publicly expressed support for the proposed Unionist Cabinet. The agreement was finalised on 1 July 2024, the same day as the election, establishing the governing alliance for the 33rd Parliament.
At 7:00 p.m. GMT that evening, just one hour after polls closed, Lady Wilton was summoned to Buckingham Palace by King Charles III. Seventeen minutes later, she arrived and accepted the King's invitation to form a government in his name. That same night, she was ceremonially sworn in and entered 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister of Great Britain, leading what would become known as the Wilton Ministry.
Though the Unionists had hoped to consolidate their power, the fractured result left Lady Wilton navigating a narrower path to leadership, relying on cooperation and coalition management. Nonetheless, her swift assumption of office and her ability to secure a working majority reflected her political acumen and the Unionist Party’s continued prominence. The July election reaffirmed the Unionists as the dominant party of the era, but also underscored the growing complexity of the Empire’s political arena in the Charles III era.
First Tenure as Prime Minister
The premiership of Josephine Carew-Grey, The Baroness Wilton, began on 1 July 2024, when she accepted King Charles III’s invitation to form a government following the July General Election. Though the Unionist Party did not achieve a majority, it secured a plurality and formed a coalition government with the British Workers’ Party. In doing so, Lady Wilton became the second Prime Minister of Charles III’s reign elected to office and the first woman to hold the premiership under his monarchy.
Her administration commenced amidst a period of extraordinary political friction later dubbed the "Darkness Period." During the first two weeks of the 33rd Parliament, partisan infighting and disruption in the Commons cast doubt on the government’s stability. Lady Wilton addressed the nation from 10 Downing Street and introduced a Motion of Confidence to assert her government’s authority. Uniquely, this was the first such motion unconnected to the Address in Reply. The motion passed unanimously, signaling a return to parliamentary order.
Throughout her tenure, Lady Wilton oversaw several important developments, both legislative and diplomatic. She managed a sensitive dispute with the region of New United Kingdom by lodging a formal complaint with their leadership rather than proscribing the region outright—a move that was later commended by the Opposition, helping to ease political tensions and symbolically end the Darkness Period.
Under her leadership, Parliament passed significant portions of the Unionist platform and restored government function. She presided over domestic reforms, including structural legislation, and advanced the government's foreign policy objectives. Nonetheless, her time in office remained marked by heightened political division. Despite moments of success, the pressures of the office and worsening health ultimately led to her resignation on 2 August 2024.
Her resignation followed internal tensions, including a contentious leadership transition during the Unionist Party’s Mid-term Conference. Though she supported the leadership bid of her Deputy Prime Minister, James Forsyte, The Duke of Warwick, their public falling out after her premature confirmation of his victory strained relations. This episode added to the political volatility that would lead to a snap election weeks later.
Lady Wilton’s premiership was ultimately brief but eventful. It combined personal resolve with institutional reform, and though her tenure ended prematurely, her leadership helped define the political character of the Charles III era. She later resigned from Parliament and retired to Escot House following personal tragedy, and she passed away during the subsequent election campaign.
Long Holiday from the Empire
Following her resignation as Prime Minister on 2 August 2024, Lady Josephine Carew-Grey, then known as the Baroness Wilton, withdrew from public life for what would become a brief yet meaningful period of retirement. Her departure came after a taxing term in office, which had been marked by escalating political tensions, health struggles, and the emotional toll of persistent partisan conflict during what became known as the Darkness Period. Just days later, she announced her full departure from the Empire on 28 August 2024, following the sudden and tragic death of her adopted son and former political ally, Owain Carew-Grey, Lord Knightstone.
Lady Wilton retreated to Escot House, part of the Knightstone Estate in East Devon, a countryside manor that had long served as her refuge and home away from the rigours of government. There, she entered what she described as a “restful and healing chapter” of her life. During this time, she remained entirely absent from public affairs, declining invitations to rejoin party leadership or stand again for Parliament. For several months, she focused on personal recovery, family, and her private pursuits—including further development of her writing and scholarship.
Her retreat from politics was not only a sabbatical but a formal transition. On 23 June 2024, she had been elevated to the peerage as Baroness Wilton, and following her retirement in August, her son, August Carew, The Baron Calder, succeeded to her titles. Upon her return to the Empire on 10 November 2024, she was re-styled The Countess of Strathmore, Viscountess Althorp, and Baroness Coleridge, titles granted with special remainder in recognition of her lifetime of service to The Crown, Government, and Parliament.
Although brief, her retreat allowed her to grieve privately and recalibrate after an intense period of leadership. When she emerged from retirement later in November, it was not to reclaim the prime ministership or party leadership, but to lend her service in quieter, more strategic roles—namely as Home Secretary and later as a peer in the House of Lords. This short interlude marked both an end and a new beginning for one of the Empire’s most dynamic political figures.
Third Tenure as Home Secretary
Fourth Conference of the Unionist Party
February 2025 General Election
Second Tenure as Prime Minister
Post-Political Life
Retirement from Elected Politics
Writer and Educator
"The Sick Man of Great Britain"
On 4 February 2024, Lady Josephine Carew-Grey published a provocative essay titled "The Sick Man of Great Britain" through the BBC’s political commentary series, Charting the Political Landscape. Framed as a reflective piece on the health of governance in the Empire, the article critiqued what she saw as a long-developing decline in executive function, regional engagement, and national identity. Describing the Government not as a party or individual but as an institution, Carew-Grey wrote, “It is sick and coughing, infected by a miasma of disinterest and little activity,” capturing both the tone and thesis of the piece.
The essay traced the symptoms of political malaise to the early months of Edward IX’s reign, highlighting a “dropping nation count, a silent regional message board, a frozen British economy, and an absence of significant foreign relations.” It described a Government adrift—“manning the ship, but not thriving”—and lamented the lack of visionary leadership since the end of the Edinburgh Premiership. She concluded with a challenge to readers, asking: “What are we doing, where are we going, who has the answers?”
Reactions to the article were mixed. The Earl of Stirling dismissed the piece as “entirely disingenuous,” accusing Carew-Grey of unfairly targeting the Heron Party. In response, she clarified that the critique applied broadly—including to governments formed by her own British Constitutionalist Party—and reiterated that it was intended as a structural critique rather than a partisan one. The Viscount Islington offered cautious praise but asked pointedly whether the author had done enough to change the circumstances she decried, given her role within the governing coalition. Carew-Grey responded publicly, conceding she “share[s] a bit of responsibility for the current state of the Government,” but attributed the broader decline to “many premierships,” not a single administration. She maintained that institutional renewal must be a collective effort, not the burden of any one officeholder or faction.
Despite its controversy, The Sick Man of Great Britain marked a significant turning point in Carew-Grey’s public profile. It framed the rhetorical foundation for her Concorde Coalition negotiations and reinforced her image as a principled institutionalist willing to critique the structures she herself was a part of. The article remains one of the most discussed political commentaries of the Charles III era, emblematic of the dissatisfaction many felt—and still feel—toward the machinery of state.
"The Ivory Tower of Westminster"
On 2 March 2024, Lady Josephine Carew-Grey published "The Ivory Tower of Westminster" in The Times, marking her third major political essay in as many months. Following the themes of her earlier work "The Sick Man of Great Britain", which critiqued executive inertia, this new piece turned its focus toward the House of Lords. It was framed as a polemic against institutional detachment and stagnation in the upper chamber, which had increasingly drawn scrutiny from across the political spectrum.
In the essay, Carew-Grey argued that the Lords had become emblematic of a broader disconnect within British governance: a chamber “sequestered by tradition and paralysed by politeness,” where reform was too often deferred in the name of deference. While she acknowledged the constitutional value of bicameralism, she warned against complacency, writing that the Lords “have lost sight of their purpose, not because they are malicious, but because they are insulated.” The article was widely interpreted as a direct response to recent delays and disagreements within the Lords on reform proposals, particularly regarding recruitment, cultural legislation, and accountability mechanisms.
Reactions were swift and divided. Supporters praised the article as a timely call to action, aligning it with Carew-Grey’s ongoing push for structural reform. Critics, particularly traditionalists in the upper house, accused her of sensationalism and questioned whether her critiques were aimed at political opponents rather than the institution itself.
Nonetheless, "The Ivory Tower of Westminster" helped cement Carew-Grey’s reputation as a reformist thinker within the Charles III era. Coming just days before the March 2024 General Election, it served to frame her candidacy—and the British Liberal Party more broadly—as committed to institutional revitalisation, democratic accessibility, and renewed civic engagement.
Legacy and Assessments
"The Lady of the Lampstand"
Political Ideology
Family
Residence and Estate
Knightstone Estate
Bought by Thomas Carew, The Earl of Devon, the Knightstone Estate is the familial land of the Carew Family with their seat at The Chanters House. Other residences include Knightstone Manor (after which the estate is named), Cadhay House, and Escot House. The estate is situated in East Devon and holds various farms and tenancies.
Titles, styles, honours, and arms
Titles
- 23 June 2024 - 21 August 2024: The Baroness Wilton
- 19 November 2024 - present: The Countess of Strathmore
- 19 November 2024 - present: The Viscountess Althorp
- 19 November 2024 - present: The Baroness Coleridge
- 16 February 2025 - present: Lady of the Manor of Durness
Style
- 1 January 2025 - present: The Right Honourable Lady Josephine Carew, The Countess of Strathmore
- Formal: The Right Honourable Lady Josephine Mary Anne Hyacinth Carew, The Countess of Strathmore, Viscountess Althorp, Baroness Coleridge, Lady of the Manor of Durness, Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Dame Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain, Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Member of the Order of Companions of Honour, Companion of the Royal Order of Charles III, Recipient of the Charles III Coronation Medal, Privy Counsellor, Lord High Chancellor, King's Counsel
Appointments
- 1 March 2024 - present: King's Counsellor
- 1 March 2024 - 12 June 2024: Lord High Chancellor
- 4 March 2024 - 9 April 2024: Privy Counsellor of Charles III
- 27 May 2024 - 12 June 2024: Privy Counsellor of Charles III
- 1 July 2024 - 21 August 2024: Privy Counsellor of Charles III
- 1 January 2025 - present: Lord High Chancellor
- 1 January 2025 - present: Privy Counsellor of George VII
Honours
- 1 March 2024: Companion of the Royal Order of Charles III
- 1 March 2024: Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
- 6 April 2024: Dame Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
- 13 April 2024: Recipient of the Charles III Coronation Medal
- 22 May 2024: Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
- 28 July 2024: Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain
- 18 August 2024: Dame Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
- 16 February 2025: Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
Ranks
Royal Air Force
- 13 December 2023 - 22 January 2024: Wing Commander
- 8 April 2024 - 21 August 2024: Air Vice Marshal
Coat of Arms
 |
|
Footnotes
- ↑ [1] "32nd Parliament Honours List", Buckingham Palace Press Office, 23 June 2024
- ↑ Granting Titles of Nobility, #court-circular, 19 November 2024