Shades here of affairs in #Parliament in the winter of 1725/6 when William Pulteney (later earl of Bath) finally broke with Walpole. According to Dr Stratford: "Pulteney's party is said to increase... the Tories came in so fast that he knows not what to do with them..." #HistParl

Following some recent high-profile political defections, @alfiesteer.bsky.social and Dr @emmapeplow.bsky.social have delved into the History of Parliament's #OralHistory archive to explore some historical cases of MPs who 'crossed the floor' and changed their party affiliation.

Come and work with us!

In the first @georgianlords.bsky.social post of 2026, Dr Robin Eagles explores the identity of new Black voters in the 18th century: a chimney sweeper in the 1749 Westminster by-election, and most likely his descendents in later polls in Hertfordshire: historyofparliament.com/2026/01/05/s...

2/ For more information on the McLagan family, check out Martin's first article on Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire: historyofparliament.com/2025/06/12/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...

It’s Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary and @britishacademy.bsky.social postdoctoral fellow @hillaryburlock.bsky.social helps us understand what going to the ball was all about, including the months of preparation required theconversation.com/inside-the-r...

As Nick says here, this really is a 'gem of a story' and told expertly and brilliantly by @victoriancommons.bsky.social

My article on the Motherwell by-election is now available to read in @parlhistjournal.bsky.social It explores the reasons for Dr. Robert McIntyre's victory and how he became embroiled in a sponsorship saga.

"Having looked at some deaths of MPs involving vegetables ..." is an unimprovable line

Honestly, the joy of working @histparl.bsky.social.

We have a vacancy at UCL for a new permanent lecturer in British and Comparative politics, working as part of the Constitution Unit

A minor insight into the importance of 18th-century women lacking a formal vote, but commanding influence over their menfolk: "Mr. Winford, notwithstanding his behaviour in St. Stephens, has not the hearts of the citizens, or what is worse, the citizens' wives." www.histparl.ac.uk/volume/1715-...

Last week our colleague Dr Kathryn Rix appeared on Today in Parliament to discuss how women were able to watch debates in the House of Commons after they were officially barred from the chamber in 1778. You can check out her interview here (starting at 22:55): buff.ly/yrr6CQo

'Materials of State' concludes today at 1:45pm on BBC Radio 4. If you missed any of the episodes, don't fret! You can catch up with the rest of the series either on BBC iPlayer or on BBC Sounds!

I love these stats - because of course Gladstone delivered the longest Budget speech and Disraeli the shortest.

Today is #BudgetDay 2025! To mark this important day in Parliament's calendar, here is a short thread on the history and traditions of the UK's annual Budget. 💸 (1/10)

Researching a bit of historic Budget trivia and TL;DR- it's Gladstone. It's always Gladstone. The red box? Gladstone. The tradition the Chancellor can drink while speaking? Gladstone. Longest Budget speech? Gladstone. Most Budget speeches? Gladstone.

'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

This is an exciting find: the remains of the building used by the House of Commons as its temporary chamber between 1835 and 1851. If you want to know what that building looked like, see our short article: historyofparliament.com/2025/09/25/t...

This was a thing in the 18th century, too. See Charles Littleton's post on cricket and the Georgian aristocracy: historyofparliament.com/2023/07/06/e...

With this years Ashes beginning in the early hours of this morning, we thought we'd point you in the direction of @TheVictCommons where they explore the link between cricket and the Victorian House of Commons historyofparliament.com/2025/11/20/c...

Interesting: during the debates on the spirituous liquors bill (1743) in the House of Lords, the earl of Aylesford proposes something rather modern: "Instead of passing or rejecting this Bill... let us only delay it, by which we shall give the Commons time to reflect upon it" #HistParl

I was honoured to unveil a plaque for Sam Green, the first openly gay politician to be elected in the UK. He did so much for his community and his courage and dedication remind us to keep championing equality, respect and the rights of everybody.

POV: you’ve been hiding under the Palace of Westminster for hundreds of years. See what we uncovered during recent surveys of the Palace as we prepare for its restoration.

This year's Annual Lecture will be taking place on 16 December, where Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, will be speaking on Clement Attlee's Labour Governments. Grab your FREE ticket below before its too late: hptannuallecture2025.eventbrite.co.uk

It seems highly likely that Messrs Kent and Fatt, both of them described in the press as being Black, and who held in succession (c1739) the office of sweeper of the king's chimneys - an office of some profit - would have qualified to vote. Worth a check in the poll books.

This is ground-breaking research by Gillian Williamson. It shows that 30 years before Ignatius Sancho at least one Black voter participated in an election, and the implication must be that there were others like John London. #skystorians

In November 1749, John London walked from his home to vote in the Westminster constituency parliamentary by-election. As Dr Gillian Williamson explores, this provides the earliest known record of a Black person voting in a British parliamentary election:

The History of Parliament is excited to announce this year's Annual Lecture! On 16 December in Portcullis House, Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds will be speaking on 'Clement Attlee’s Labour Governments of 1945-51: A Reappraisal'. Tickets are FREE and can be found in the link below:

In our latest article, Dr Kathryn Rix has looked at the 23 MPs commemorated in the Commons chamber who died during the Second World War. Their biographies written by #HistParl are now accessible on Parliament's website, links to which you can find in Dr Rix's article below:

Chloe Mawson has been appointed the 66th Clerk of the Parliaments and is the first woman to take up the post. The Clerk of the Parliaments is head of the House of Lords Administration and Chief Procedural Adviser to the House.

Ahead of Remembrance Day this Sunday, and with 2025 marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, Dr Kathryn Rix has looked at the 23 MPs commemorated in the Commons chamber who died during the Second World War: historyofparliament.com/2025/11/07/m...

Many will be awaking this morning after an evening of fireworks and festivities. However, as Dr Robin Eagles has explored, on the centenery of the Glorious Revolution, the 4th and 5th November were eyed for a different lasting memorial: historyofparliament.com/2025/11/06/c...

1/ With today's #BonfireNight celebrations, we are fittingly looking at the historic constituency of Lewes. Represented since the 1295 Model Parliament, Lewes is not only home to major political events, but also a unique tradition of bonfire celebrations. 🎆

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!

Can anyone help me identify these schoolgirls who visited Parliament in July 1909? I'm writing about them in my book and would LOVE to be able to say who they are! www.npg.org.uk/collections/... #histed #histchild

Come and say hello to the #HistParl team at History Day next week! We're excited to talk about our research and catch up with new and old friends working in the sector. Find out more via @ihr.bsky.social #HistDay25

New to the #HistParl site, @kathrynrix.bsky.social looks at the provision made for women to witness debates in the temporary chamber used by the Commons between 1835 and 1852: historyofparliament.com/2025/10/30/t...

🎉We are pleased to announce new Applied History Fellowships in partnership with @royalhistsoc.org & @findmypast.bsky.social. Join us on the 19 November at our launch event to find out more about the Fellowships and how to apply: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Radical MP, newspaper proprietor and Lord Mayor of London, champion of a free press and self-styled 'Friend of Liberty', John Wilkes was born 300 years ago today... #Happybirthday #Wilkesandliberty #HistParl

For more on Peter McLagan, see Martin's article here. It's the first in a series, and the next article will be out next month, so watch this space... victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/06/12/p...

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.

The History of Parliament team were very sad to hear of the recent death of Professor Michael Rush. A pioneering scholar of parliament, Professor Rush's work on the social background of MPs and resulting Database stands as a fundamental source for generations of historians and political scientists.

Parliament’s champion of the people or scandalous, self-serving politician? #Georgian radical John Wilkes kept a foot in both camps. 🔓 Robin Eagles’ History Matters is free for 7 days www.historytoday.com/archive/hist...

Busy week(s) here at @histparl.bsky.social

Extremely brief. My chapter in @iaindale.bsky.social 'British By-Elections 1769-2025' covers the by-election...

#OTD 1915, Hon. Thomas Charles Reginald Agar-Robartes, Liberal MP for St Austell, died, having been wounded at the battle of Loos. Dr Kathryn Rix explored his life and career on the #HistParl website:

It’s also exciting to have doctoral student @chloechallender.bsky.social contributing ‘Ringside seat? Women’s modes of entry to the early 19th century parliament’, which promises to be a fascinating read!

We’re delighted that @jamesepeate.bsky.social is one of the early career contributors to the next edition of Parliamentary History on ‘Rough Work on the Hustings’: Sheridan, Cobbett, and Newspapers in the General Election of 1806. Subscribe here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1750...