📣Fellowship and grant opportunity! @chuarchives.bsky.social has multiple by-fellowships & research grants currently open for applications✨ 🕰️Different deadlines on 31 October, 31 December & 31 May. 👉More info: archives.chu.cam.ac.uk/about/resear...

We're pleased to share this call for papers for our upcoming conference! 📍Online via Zoom 🗓️Thursday 5 - Friday 6 February 2026 ⏱️Abstract deadline Saturday 1 November 2025 See our website for full details 👇 voicesofmotherhood.wp.worc.ac.uk/index.php/news-and-resources/updates-from-the-project

Robin Eagles of @histparl.bsky.social has a piece in the latest edition of @historytoday.com on John Wilkes, whose 300th birthday is coming up in October. #WilkesandLiberty #HistParl

I enjoyed writing this post, there is an awful lot of respect for Mowlam in our archive.

Currently researching Duncan McLaren, Liberal MP for Edinburgh from 1865. On holiday in 1868 the men of the family went to a Liberal meeting at Oban, but the women did not. McLaren's wife Priscilla Bright McLaren wrote: 'As we have the misfortune to wear petticoats we are not to go’.

#ICYMI, yesterday Dr Kathryn Rix wrote about the impact of the Corrupt Practices Act, 1883.

The new House of Lords Bill is entering its final stages, which if passed will remove remaining hereditary peers from the Lords. Dr Philip Salmon has explored how the Lords was able to survive during a period of reform in the Victorian era. historyofparliament.com/2025/08/14/l...

James Barlow Hoy, formerly Conservative MP for Southampton, died #OnThisDay 1843 after falling into a ravine in the Pyrenees. But was this an accident or murder? Find out more in our blog: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2016/09/28/m...

Shameless self promotion but I was part of a research project on Michael and Ann Dummett’s anti racism which you can read in this book. www.new.ox.ac.uk/righteous-an...

I'm very happy to answer questions by email or chat to anyone who's interested in this job, in our brilliant, friendly @chppc.bsky.social team at @ihr.bsky.social. Send me a direct message or drop me an email via my IHR address. And please share! #job #history #Skystorians #HistoricEnvironment

Parliament is currently on summer recess- but how did Parliamentarians from the past spend their time away from Parliament? In this previous article, Dr Robin Eagles took a look at those who holidayed at the newly popular spa and seaside resort destinations of the 18th c.:

#OTD 1925, Plaid Cymru was formed at a meeting of six leading Welsh nationalists, including the poet Saunders Lewis, at a cafe in Pwllheli. Its first MP, Gwynfor Evans, was first elected in 1966 and since 1974 the party has maintained a consistent presence in Parliament.

Teaching Fellowship in Queer and Gender History with a Specific Focus on the 20th Century United States- University of Oxford - Faculty of History #skystorians 🗃️www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOC500/t...

Teaching Fellowship in Twentieth-Century British History- University of Oxford - Faculty of History #skystorians 🗃️www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOC497/t...

The Parliamentary History Essay Prize 2025 is open! The prize is worth £500 and winners will have their essay published in our journal! The submission deadline is 30 Nov 2025! For details 👇 🧵1/4 @histparl.bsky.social @georgianlords.bsky.social @victoriancommons.bsky.social

#OTD 1990 Ian Gow, MP for Eastbourne was assassinated by a car bomb planted by the IRA. Former MPs interviewed for our oral history project have reflected on how threats to their lives affected them during the troubles:

#OTD 1706 the details of the Treaty of Union were agreed, paving the way for the political union of England and Scotland, and the creation of the new state of Great Britain in May 1707. Find out more about the journey from treaty to political union, here: buff.ly/Y2X9KK4

Delighted to see a new special issue of @jich.bsky.social on petitions and petitioning in colonial/post-colonial contexts out. Edited by myself and Miranda Johnson (Otago). Includes articles on South Asia, West Africa, the Pacific, North America. www.tandfonline.com/toc/fich20/5...

Listen through to the very end of this fab podcast from @histparl.bsky.social oral history project - there are audience vox pops, and mine is the very last voice! It was great to hear clips and get the MPs reflections live in the room 🗃️

When recommending John Potter of Oxford to Walpole as the next archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Hervey stressed: 'he had had enough of great geniuses'... it was time, he thought, for a 'blockhead' #HistParl

On Thursday 30 October our Trades Union & Employment forum is hosting a special conference @ihr.bsky.social to mark the 60th anniversary of the introduction of industrial tribunals in the UK. You can register for it now via the following link: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

In July 1958 Life Peerages Act was passed. As well as the announcement of the creation of the first life peers, this act also allowed women to sit in the House of Lords for the first time. Dr Duncan Sutherland explores the experiences of the first four women life peers:

WE ARE HIRING @edgehist.bsky.social!!! For a PERMANENT American historian (broadly defined). Quite a tight turnaround (institutional processes) but no internal candidate/nefarious intent. GORGEOUS campus, lovely team, amazing students. APPLY! #skystorians 🗃️ jobs.edgehill.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...

In this special episode, hosts Dr Emma Peplow and Dr Alex Lock were joined by three guests, including former MPs Anne Milton and Gisela, Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston. Together they spoke about political and historical interviewing, and the reality of being an MP. Listen to the episode now!

This was so much fun to record. Our guests, Gisela Stuart and Anne Milton, were BRILLIANT: just like their interviews for the project were. Do take a listen! Lots of stuff on #oralhistory, Brexit, politics and social media, women in parliament - a whole range of things

In July 1832 the port of Whitby held celebrations following the passage of the Reform Act, which granted the town the right to elect one MP. Dr Kathryn Rix explored how Whitby's politics developed after 1832 with both shipping and the railway interest playing an important part:

During the King's Speech of July last year, the government proposed a bill which would remove all hereditary peers from the House of Lords. But reform to the Lords is not new. Find out about the changes made in 1999 and debates around it, in this article from Dr Emma Peplow:

🎉 Parliament Matters podcast hits 100 episodes tomorrow! Across 100 episodes, we've heard insights from politicians, academics, historians, and others about the institution at the heart of our democracy: Parliament. Subscribe below to keep hearing more 🔽 buff.ly/HIjYCWm

From the 'House of Commons influenza' to the 'noise and interruption' of the chamber, what were the first impressions of a 19th c. MP? Dr Martin Spychal explores the experiences of Montagu Parker, who won a shock victory over a Cabinet minister to enter the Commons in 1835:

Always feel a little sad on the first day of the Lord's test that I'm not working there anymore, even 13 years later. Such a brilliant atmosphere and event to be involved in. Bet the library is stifling today mind.

Our latest Victorian Commons article looks at what is thought to have been England's last political duel, fought between Canterbury's MPs in the run-up to the 1852 general election. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/a...

Norman Tebbit, who died yesterday, was one of the most prominent, and controversial, politicians of his era. Former Conservative MP Michael Stern reflected on Tebbit's reputation as a minister and parliamentarian in a 2017 interview with our #OralHistory project:

Tebbit was well known for his forthright views and confidence in the face of critics. Former MP Hugo Summerson described one memorable run-in with hecklers in a 2017 interview:

Died #OTD 2015, Sir Philip Goodhart, Conservative MP for Beckenham from 1957 to 1992, and one of the first former MPs interviewed in our #OralHistory project. Find out more via the link: www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/oral-...

Born #OTD 1610, Colonel Thomas Rainborowe, one of the most important figures at the Putney Debates of 1647. Find our more in the article from Dr Stephen Roberts:

Born #OTD 1836, Joseph Chamberlain, MP for Birmingham (later Birmingham West) from 1876 to 1914. Originally a Liberal, he later formed the Liberal Unionist Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule.

@histparl.bsky.social @victoriancommons.bsky.social

One hears of prison break-outs, but in the summer of 1726 there was a major break-in at the Gatehouse Prison in Westminster. The prompt was a dispute between former keeper, John Stockwell and new keeper, Mr Geary. Stockwell evicted Geary but the next day Geary returned and broke back in. #HistParl

At 5:30pm today Julian Hoppit will be speaking at the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar, where he will be discussing John Rickman and his career in Parliament. The seminar will be taking place online via Zoom. Find out more and how to attend below: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/10/j...

🚨Applications are open for a month-long paid fellowship with Parliament’s magazine, The House. 🗞️ The scheme is open to anyone over the age of 18 🗞️You will be paid a London Living Wage & provided with accommodation 🗞️ Any questions, drop me a message! totalpoliticsgroup.bamboohr.com/careers/73?s...

Born #OTD 1939, Donald Anderson, Labour MP for Monmouth (1966-70) and then Swansea East (1974-2005). Find out more about his parliamentary career by listening to his oral history interview here: www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/oral-...

It's the end of an era. Yesterday, the Georgian Lords bid farewell to one of our research fellows, Dr Stuart Handley, who is retiring from @histparl.bsky.social after many years of sterling service. We wish Stuart every joy in his retirement. www.historyofparliamentonline.org/about/staff/...

A new display in Westminster Hall explores how Parliament and its people met the challenges of wartime Britain.

On 10 June we'll be marking 50 years since the 1975 referendum & 9 years since 2016 by asking "How to win a referendum on Europe". Join Anand Menon, Sara Hobolt, Maria Sobolewska & me to explore how referendums are won or lost, & the lessons for today. Do come! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-win...

Lovely today to be up I Glasgow at this year's OHS conference, looks like a brilliant programme

This was so much fun on Wednesday. Gisela Stuart and Anne Milton were just amazing podcast guests

Today marks the anniversary of the death of 'the son of one of the best men who ever adorned the country', William Wilberforce. As Dr Kathryn Rix of @victoriancommons.bsky.social explores, being the son of a great abolitionist was a hard act to follow... historyofparliament.com/2025/05/26/w...

📢📢📢 CfP: What is a Parliament? Interdisciplinary workshop on 19th September 2025 in London. Full details below. Kindly sponsored by Birkbeck, the University of Birmingham and @psa-parliaments.bsky.social Please apply and/or spread the word!

Is being an MP just a job? Emma and Alex discuss how our oral history interviewees reflect on their positions in Parliament and what it meant to them to be an MP. Revisit our podcast Tales from the Green Benches, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Sign up Sign up! @katrinanavickas.bsky.social will be discussing the evolution of political marches in London at our free online IHR seminar next week. For sign up details, more info and a link to her brilliant (evolving) historical protest route map see here: historyofparliament.com/2025/05/13/h...