Peter Stuart (Napoleon's World)

Peter William Henry Stuart (born 10 April 1952) is an English politician and MP, best known for serving as the Whig Party leader from August 1998, when he was tabbed as the party's preferred successor to John Cleese, until October 2001, when he was forced to cede leadership in a runoff to Jeremy Irons. As Whig leader, Stuart - called the "Young Champion" and noted for his youth and perceived vigor, moved the party sharply to the right on social issues while favoring expanded bureaucracy and social program that had been shunned under Cleese.

Known as "Murky Pete" for his often seemingly contradictory statements on various policy ideas, he was challenged in 2001 by the party's right-wing leader, George Brandon, who sought to oust him. Jeremy Irons, a more decidedly moderate candidate, jumped into the leadership race too, referring to Stuart as "rudderless" and blaming the 1999 general election defeat on him. Stuart lost in the first round of elections on October 4, 2001, resigning as Party Leader. The next day, Irons won the runoff.