Martyr in the Cathedral

William Cash | 5th January 2021 | Comment, Magazine, Politics
Thomas Becket Canterbury Cathedral
In Canterbury Cathedral crypt: the spot where Becket’s original shrine stood until 1220

Why Thomas Becket’s murder 850 years ago remains a cautionary tale for special advisers today, says William Cash

In a year of ‘special advisers’ falling on swords, the tale of Thomas Becket, martyred on 29th December 1170, can read like an overdramatized telling of Dominic Cummings resignation – sacrificing himself for his colleague, though comparing Lee Cain to Canon Law might be a bit of push. But the recent purge of Boris’s inner court at Downing Street reminded me how the wheel of political power and patronage is always turning – what medieval philosophers called the Rota Fortunae. I was reminded of how quickly the very closest to the king can be exiled from power by the recent 850th anniversary of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket. On 29th December I attended the evensong service in Canterbury cathedral to mark the 850th anniversary of his murder. , As every British schoolboy knows – or used to know – it was whilst celebrating Vespers on 29th December 1170, around 5.30 pm, that Archbishop Thomas a Becket was hacked to death by four knights loyal to Henry II in the north-west transept. Exactly 8...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



The government wants to make it harder for businesses to say no to WFH – what does this mean for young people?

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | September 17, 2026

The new government protocol raises concerns about whether young people are getting the necessary exposure they need in their early careers 

Money Changes Everything 

William Cash | September 16, 2026

The question of money buying influence in politics is centuries old and not going away

The existential threat AI poses for the free press

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | September 16, 2026

What happens when the technology that could one day threaten humanity begins to destroy the institution responsible for warning us about it?

Death of the British staycation

Mace Magazine | September 15, 2026

The government's new 5% tourism tax is the last thing the UK's hospitality sector needs, says William Cash

“Two of our lemurs are missing”: a study in fake global news and a cautionary tale for the PA industry

Mace Magazine | September 11, 2026

One of the world’s richest men has been accused of ‘harbouring stolen lemurs’: The Mace reveals a cautionary tale in fake news.

The exodus of the super-wealthy: Who pays the price?  

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | September 8, 2026

As speculation mounts over further tax rises, Britain’s ultra-rich investors and job creators are choosing to take their wealth elsewhere.

The Economic Paradox: Can Britain Afford to Penalise Parenthood?

Robert Richardson | September 8, 2026

In an exclusive op-ed for Mace, hospitality industry leader Robert Richardson sets out why the sector must do more to become accessible to young families.

The Politics of Power 

Simon Francis | September 7, 2026

End Fuel Poverty Coalition coordinator Simon Francis examines the four stories politicians hear about electricity and gas, and argues that the fight over which story shapes the agenda

A “little local difficulty” – Gawain Towler’s Reform Conference Diary

Mace Magazine | September 5, 2026

Seasoned Farage aide-de-camp Gawain Towler reflects on Reform's first ever Business Day at the NEC - and what it's like when a media grenade goes off during the

Tory reshuffle: Kemi shows her ruthless side

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | September 2, 2026

With a new team behind her, the latest Tory reshuffle has put the party on early election watch as well as showing her ruthless side.