Which Prime Minister in History Had the Worst Christmas Day?
Dan Snow analyzed on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast which UK prime minister had the worst Christmas Day. Among those highlighted was Lord North, who served from 1770 to 1782; he faced the Yorktown defeat in late November 1781 and experienced a miserable Christmas before being defeated in February 1782 and leaving office weeks later. Viscount Goderich, also known as Frederick Robinson, was unnerved in December 1827 due to his wife's severe mental health crisis; after only 144 days in office, he resigned in January 1828, with King George IV lending him a handkerchief during this difficult period.
Stanley Baldwin, in December 1923, called an early general election to seek a mandate; despite introducing tariffs, he failed to secure a majority and resigned in January. Winston Churchill faced multiple Christmas-related misfortunes, including a reportedly embarrassing moment with Franklin D. Roosevelt and suffering a series of heart issues during the festive season. Anthony Eden, during the Suez crisis, lied to Parliament on 20 December 1956; he was bedridden with fever over Christmas while on opiates and amphetamines and ultimately resigned on 9 January.
Lastly, Gordon Brown's Christmas in 2008 was difficult amid the financial crisis and a parliamentary stability challenge. A Daily Mail headline on Boxing Day reported plots to oust him, underscoring the tense atmosphere during that festive period.
