Exciting news! I've signed a contract to write my first solo book - on women, politics and the battle for equal franchise between 1918 and 1928. It will be published for the centenary of the Equal Franchise Act in 2028 by @yalebooks.bsky.social Suffraduck is on my desk waiting for me to start! 🗃️

Grateful to Marta Bartkowska for making a beautiful postcard & flyer for mine & @svenjaros.bsky.social workshop & public event in Germany this May! "Power Couples: Collaborations at work and at home, c. 1750-1920s" funded by the DFG & others. Do get in touch if you want more info about the project!

The Victorian Commons team are back at their desks after the Easter break. Our most recent batch of work included two Speakers of the House of Commons (Manners Sutton & Shaw Lefevre), the rather corrupt constituency of Canterbury & the UK's largest parliamentary borough in our period, Tower Hamlets.

In this free to read article, @lauracforster.bsky.social explores socialist political lecture tours in the late 19th century and how these produced everyday, intimate experiences that could powerfully embody socialist ideas for new audiences. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

With #WomensHistoryMonth drawing to a close, here's a reminder of our most recent article on women and 19th century elections. Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones looks at Lady Conyngham's involvement in electioneering at Canterbury: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2026/02/26/t...

The History of Parliament is excited to announce a new 8-week internship position for postgraduate-level researchers, working with the House of Lords 1640-60 section. Follow the link below for more details on the role, and how to apply!

I had a joyful time presenting at @ihr.bsky.social’s #histparl seminar yesterday: a BIG thank you to @martinspychal.bsky.social & Dr Robin Eagles for making me so welcome, to all who came along in person & online, & to Martin, Robin, & Drs Philip Salmon & Naomi Lloyd-Jones for some terrific leads!

Really looking forward to hearing about May Day, the folkmote & reform debates in the 18/19C from @srwride.bsky.social at the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 17 March. The event is FREE in-person in London and online. @ihr.bsky.social Details: historyofparliament.com/2026/03/10/r...

Really looking forward to hearing about May Day, the folkmote & reform debates in the 18/19C from @srwride.bsky.social at the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 17 March. The event is FREE in-person in London and online. @ihr.bsky.social Details: historyofparliament.com/2026/03/10/r...

It may appear strange today that a member of the House of Lords could serve as Prime Minister. However, as @kathrynrix.bsky.social has explored in a new article, the 19th century saw more Prime Ministers leading from the Lords than the Commons.

Dr Sarah Wride will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 'Re-Membering the Medieval Parliament, 1769-1886'. 📍 Senate House, London / Online 🗓️Tuesday 17 March 2026 ⏱️5:30-6:30pm Find out more about the paper and how to attend below.

Another figure we want to shed light on this #WomensHistoryMonth is Harriet Grote. In a series of articles, Dr Martin Spychal explores how she was able to establish herself as one of Westminster’s leading radical politicians. @martinspychal.bsky.social @victoriancommons.bsky.social

For #CornwallDay we are sharing one of our earlier articles from @martinspychal.bsky.social, which looks at politics in Cornwall (and Devon) between 1832 and 1868: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/05/17/t...

Ahead of #ValentinesDay, a tale of failed romance from the perhaps unlikely source of reports on a select committee looking at bribery at the 1859 Bury election. Walter Wardle and Margaret Foley were both witnesses to this committee, which met in a House of Commons committee-room. (1/3)

Dr Cara Gathern will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Representations of Women and Sovereign Power at the New Palace of Westminster. 📍 Senate House, London / Online 🗓️Tuesday 17 February 2026 ⏱️5:30-6:30pm Find out more about the paper and how to attend below:

Next in our #1832AtoZ is W for Women. Our Victorian Commons website has several articles exploring women’s involvement in 19th century politics, from local government electors to political wives, and from petitioners to electoral patrons. For links, see victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2018/02/02/b...

This week in Scribble Book, #HistParl Director @jhdavey.bsky.social explores the history of the History of Parliament, beginning in the 1930s with Josiah Wedgwood's questionnaire of former MPs who sat between 1885 and 1918. Read and subscribe via the link below!

The 1832 Reform Act marked a pivotal moment in the extension of the franchise, but who was able to vote? @martinspychal.bsky.social explores topic, which may not be as straightforward as you think.

We were saddened to hear that Sir Roland Jackson, who was due to speak to our IHR seminar this term, died earlier this month. The Royal Institution have published a moving tribute here.

📣 We’re hiring! The History of Parliament are seeking a Research Fellow for our House of Lords 1660-1832 project. @georgianlords.bsky.social We’re looking for a historian with a PhD in 18thC British political or cultural history to join our expert team. 🔗 Details below: #AcademicJobs #HistoryJobs

#ICYMI earlier this week, Robin Eagles of the Georgian Lords posted on uncovering the lives of Black Londoners, among them one who almost certainly joined John London in voting in the 1749 Westminster by-election: historyofparliament.com/2026/01/05/s... #HistParl #BSECS2026

We are all back at our desks for 2026 and we start with a reminder of some of our research from 2025. We look forward to sharing more highlights over the coming months. historyofparliament.com/2026/01/01/h...

Next in our #1832AtoZ is U, which is for University seats. Find out more about University constituencies in @martinspychal.bsky.social's article on the University of London seat: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2018/11/22/t...

The Victorian Commons team enjoyed catching up with Lisa and other friends and colleagues at this event, and it was great to hear our director @jhdavey.bsky.social introduce proceedings with an overview of @histparl.bsky.social's activities in 2025. It has been a busy year!

A packed room for @histparl.bsky.social’s annual lecture! A great evening and lecture given by Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds on ‘Clement Attlee’s Labour Governments of 1945-51: A Reappraisal'.

A reminder of this month's new post from our senior research fellow @martinspychal.bsky.social, who continues his series on Peter McLagan, Scotland's first Black MP, with research into McLagan's father: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/12/11/p...

Following on from his article on Peter McLagan, Scotland's first Black MP, Dr Martin Spychal has explored the life of his father, Peter McLagan senior, and his ownership of enslaved people in Demerara (modern-day Guyana): historyofparliament.com/2025/12/11/p...

Great to see our colleague @martinspychal.bsky.social's book Mapping the State reviewed by Matthew Roberts as 'a work of impressive scholarship which deserves to be widely read'. Mapping the State is available on Open Access here: uolpress.co.uk/book/mapping...

After the hard work that goes into a peer-reviewed article, very pleased to be in print today! Come for the constructions of women’s sexuality in the 19th century Lords; stay for new diary source on the hidden attic from which women watched the Commons below onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

I'm really thrilled that my interview was included as part of Radio 4's 'Pick of the Week' yesterday evening. It starts at 07:22 here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... or for the fuller version see the post quoted below.

The Victorian Commons team are looking forward to hearing this paper and congratulating Dr Wilson on her recent PhD!

For #StAndrewsDay we are sharing @martinspychal.bsky.social's recent post on Scottish county politics between 1832 and 1868, drawing on @histparl.bsky.social's research on Scotland’s constituencies: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2024/08/27/s...

On 3 December, Helen Wilson will be speaking at a special joint session of the IHR’s Parliaments, Politics and People and British History in the Long 18th Century seminars. Find out more about her paper on 'Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850' below:

On today's episode of 'Materials of State' on BBC Radio 4, David Cannadine alongside Dr Mari Takayanagi (@satisfactory20.bsky.social), will be examing the history of the ballot box. We've published several articles on the history of the secret ballot 🧵

Really great paper from @nemgarrett.bsky.social, and for anyone who missed it, the good news is that an extended version is being published next year in a collection edited by my @histparl.bsky.social colleague Naomi Lloyd-Jones.

Looking forward to hearing about the duchess of Gordon and the late 18C ‘tartan rage’ at tonight’s IHR Parliaments, Politics and People ONLINE seminar. Sign up FREE at the link below! historyofparliament.com/2025/11/18/t... @nemgarrett.bsky.social

Looking forward to hearing about the duchess of Gordon and the late 18C ‘tartan rage’ at tonight’s IHR Parliaments, Politics and People ONLINE seminar. Sign up FREE at the link below! historyofparliament.com/2025/11/18/t... @nemgarrett.bsky.social

In the second episode of 'Materials of State', David Cannadine will be exploring the importance of the Sword of State, which you can listen to at 1:45pm today on BBC Radio 4. Looking through our archive we have highlighted some of our favourite ways the Sword of State has appeared in our research 🧵

'Materials of State' will be airing this week on Radio 4, made in association with the History of Parliament. The series examines the artefacts and emblems that have shaped, and continue to shape, the British constitution. You can catch the first episode today at 1:45pm: buff.ly/1I5JVcE

If you're interested in Scottish national identity, eighteenth-century fashion, and/or women in politics, you may be interested in the paper I'm presenting at the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar next Tuesday. Best of all, it's online! #eighteenthcentury #womenshistory #Scottishhistory

Members of the Victorian Commons team will be on the #HistParl stand from 11-11:45 and 2-2:45 for all your 19th century history needs, and other brilliant colleagues will also be on hand throughout the day!

Ready and waiting to meet people at #HistDay25.

I enjoyed chairing the brilliant @satisfactory20.bsky.social for her seminar yesterday, which featured the fascinating history of this 'suffragette chain' and lots more. Thanks for a great paper Mari!

There is still time to book for what promises to be a great talk by @satisfactory20.bsky.social - join us at 5:30 tomorrow (Tues) in person or online.

Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...

Looking forward to the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 28 October. Dr Mari Takayanagi @satisfactory20.bsky.social will be sharing new research, inc. a recently discovered ‘suffragette chain’. FREE in-person in London & online. More info here: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/21/t...

Today we visited The National Archives for a workshop organised by @joecozens.bsky.social and our own @martinspychal.bsky.social on Peter McLagan, Scotland's first Black MP. We looked at original documents relating to McLagan's life & had some great discussions about future directions for research.

A constituency wasn't the only thing the two shared. When Lewis died in 1838, Disraeli courted his widow. After dismissing many reservations, she married him. Mary Anne Disraeli would later reportedly say, 'Dizzy married me for my money, but if he had the chance again, he would marry me for love.’

A reminder of our September article on the Victorian Commons site - we looked at the facilities provided for reporters (among them a young Charles Dickens) in the 19th century House of Commons: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/09/08/t...

William Tooke, MP for Truro, 1832-7, died #OnThisDay 1863. An active backbench MP, one of his major campaigns was to secure degree-awarding status for the University of London. Find out more here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/m...