Whigs and Tories – Where Britain’s Political Parties Came From

The episode traces the unlikely birth of England’s oldest political labels—from highwaymen in the 1600s to the Whig–Tory divide that shaped constitutional politics for two centuries. It examines how the names reflected contemporary views on monarchy, Parliament and religious tolerance, and how those early disputes foreshadowed modern party identities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices