Anglo Octogenarians and Ireland.

Queen Elizabeth is not the first octogenarian that has tried to improve Anglo-Irish relations. In 1892 William Ewart Gladstone became prime minister for the 4th time at the age of 82. He did so with the aim of passing a bill that would give Ireland 'Home Rule' and thereby end the growing enmity between the two peoples. Gladstone's attempt failed (due to a Tory dominated House of Lords) and he left government for the last time aged 84. His failure led directly to a century of struggle and bitterness between Britain and Ireland. Queen Elizabeth, aged 85, is in Dublin this week to seal the peace process that has been developing since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement at the end of the last century. I think William Gladstone would approve.