Fantastic image of the 1845 Cambridge by-election - note in particular the presence of women.

‘Exploring Digital Cultural Heritage’ is now out in the wild! You can download an open-access copy (PDF) or read the free digital edition on Manifold uolpress.co.uk/book/explori.... Loved working on this with Eirini Goudarouli, @amsichani.bsky.social & the @uolpress.bsky.social team.

Lots more on this theme also available over on the @histparl.bsky.social blog (including posts by @georgianlords.bsky.social and @victoriancommons.bsky.social)... historyofparliament.com

This is handy. People can now enter their postcode on the Electoral Commission website to find out if an election is taking place in their area, who's standing for election, where their polling station is, and who to contact if they need help

How quickly the stress of not being able to send any external emails morphs into the stress of working your way through the backlog.

The bank holiday already feels like a distant memory - it has been a very busy two days at @histparl.bsky.social, but here you can read about the Parliamentary origins of the early May bank holiday here!

Great piece by our colleague, Philip Salmon, on reporting Parliament in the 19th century. In the 18th things were quite complex. At times, there was fairly full reporting (against the rules) with the likes of Boyer and Timberland publishing debates. At others, details were very hard to come by.

For a quick overview of the early history of Hansard (and some of its rivals), see this post from our editor Dr Philip Salmon: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/r...

Hansard’s complete record of parliamentary proceedings is now available online 📚 Browse the official report ➡️ hansard.parliament.uk/commons

I was really happy to speak to Susan Hulme for Yesterday in Parliament about my piece on historic drinking at Westminster, with some more archive recordings (including Alan Clark vs Clare Short). The section is 19 minutes in: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Seems a very quiet end today for hereditary peers to sit in the Lords as herditary peers. Our oral history archive has great material on the first reform in 1999: I'm not sure anyone expected this compromise to last for nearly 30 years! historyofparliament.com/2025/04/30/t...

Often forgotten that the 18th century saw significant changes to the composition of the Lords, and a failed effort to cap the size of the peerage... #HistParl historyofparliament.com/2019/12/05/w...

The term 'historic' often gets overused when discussing political events, but today will be one such moment. When Parliament prorogues this afternoon it won't just mark the end of the current session, but of the hereditary principle as a basis for membership of the House of Lords.

Historic moment for Parliament today. I wrote (briefly) about the history of Lords Reform here. historyofparliament.substack.com/p/on-heredit...

Slightly ominous “if you’ve got time, can you pick up” commute request this evening. The joys of working parenthood.

Very good historical survey, which bears out my experience working in the Commons from the late 80s to the early 2020s. I had a committee chair in the 90s who regarded himself as abstemious as he never drank during the day ...

As a companion read to this excellent piece, we offer Dr Philip Salmon's overview of the place played by drink at Victorian elections: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2021/04/23/p...

Lots of interesting conversations over the past couple of days about Westminster's drinking culture, here @emmapeplow.bsky.social provides some brilliant historical context, with the help of our extensive oral history archive.

Although now able to affirm, before the late 19th century members of the House of Commons and Lords were required to swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown. As Dr Kathryn Rix explores, this posed a problem for Joseph Pease, whose religion precluded him from being able to take oaths.

Following recent passage of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act, @jhdavey.bsky.social has explored the long history of House of Lords reform in the latest post for 'Scribble Book'. Click the link below to find out more!

We are sorry to learn of the deaths of two leading historians and Fellows of the Society this month: Lord Robert Skidelsky (1939-2026), economic historian and biographer of Keynes bit.ly/4e1mcqa #Skystorians

Inspied by the success of the Artemis II mission, @jhdavey.bsky.social has delved into Hansard to find out how Parliamentarians have marked and celebrated space travel over the last sixty years. Find our more via the link to our substack 'Scribble Book'!

Today marks 111 years since John Joseph Esmonde, MP for North Tipperary, died whilst serving in the First World War. In an article for #HistParl, Dr Kathryn Rix reflected on his life and career as one of the few medical doctors in the Commons.

There is a new Clerk of the Parliaments - and the first time, it is a woman!

In the latest post for Scribble Book, @jhdavey.bsky.social gives a round up of Women's History Month. Read and subscribe via the link below!

One of the things I've been keen on is bringing academic insight into the policy sphere. So I'm really happy we are placing 7 academics in Whitehall to help think about sustainability matters www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/the-bri...

In the latest post for Scribble Book, @jhdavey.bsky.social explores the cloisters of their Palace of Westminster, their origins, history and contemporary use. Read and subscribe via the link below!

As part of a new series for Scribble Book, exploring the history of women in Parliament, @jhdavey.bsky.social has explored the career of Kay Midwinter, Parliament's first female clerk. Read and subscribe via the link below!

Come and join us for Sarah's seminar next Tuesday - sign up now to attend in person and online.

Very similar story here @histparl.bsky.social

In which I discover that politicians really love using Alice in Wonderland as an example. Also top marks to Ed Miliband for getting the Moomins into Hansard.

In the latest post on our Substack, 'Scribble Book', @jhdavey.bsky.social reflects on LGBTQ+ History Month within Parliamentary history. Read it here:

In this week's Scribble Book, #HistParl director @jhdavey.bsky.social takes a literary trip to Iceland, and discusses the importance of Parliament in one of the country's most famous novels. Read and subscribe via the link below!

Posting again my article on the 1993 Christchurch by-election as voters go to the polls in Gorton & Denton today. Fascinating reflections from the two main candidates Diana Maddock & Lord Hayward in our interviews. Seems like today's vote will be much closer! historyofparliament.com/2026/02/24/c...

After his appearance at the BAFTAs last night, check out our latest article on Paddington Bear! Dr Hannes Kleineke explores how his favourite sweet treat was traded by some members of the late medieval House of Commons.

The adjustment to work after half-term exemplified by me continually writing Duck instead of Duke. Two very different things.

The skeleton & House of Lords Reform….

Valentines’ Day in that most romantic of places, the House of Commons…

In a new guest article for #HistParl, Prof Laura Stewart explores the work of Scottish Polemicist David Buchanan, and how his writings influenced partisan rivalries in the Parliaments of the 1640s.

This Wednesday Dr Stephen Roberts will be speaking on 'Power and the Culture of the Commons in the Long Parliament. 📍Jubilee Room, Palace of Westminster (SOLD OUT) / Online 🗓️Wednesday 11 February 2026 ⏱️18:15 - 19:15 There are still online tickets available below.

#HistParl's Dr Hannes Kleineke was a recent guest on the History Hit podcast Gone Medieval! Dr Kleineke discussed the Parliament of February 1426, which saw some members take up bats and clubs to defend themselves against the threat of violence... Listen to the episode here:

In which I got to visit the basement of the British Library (!) & read Ramsay MacDonald's letter criticising Wedgwood for being concerned with 'vulgar trivialities'...

V excited that we are launching Scribble Book - a free weekly newsletter ft. notes and jottings from me on all things parliamentary history (and possibly a few other things). You can subscribe below!

In February 1778, women were barred from the House of Commons chamber. But this did not stop them from listening in on debates, as women began to occupy the 'ventilator' in the attic of the chamber. @victoriancommons.bsky.social

We are very sad to hear that Jim Wallace, Liberal MP & MSP from 1983-2007, and Deputy First Minister of Scotland from 1999-2005, has passed away. In 2022-25, Lord Wallace participated in our #OralHistory project, contributing over 5 hours of reflections on his life and career.

Died #OTD 2017, Sir Tam Dalyell, Labour MP from 1962-2005. A maverick backbencher known for his staunch anti-devolution and anti-war views, he is the longest-serving MP we have interviewed for our Oral History Project.

Following the news of another political defection in Westminster, we're resharing our recent #HistParl article on the history of MPs 'crossing the floor' and changing their party affiliation, drawing heavily upon extracts from our #OralHistory archive. historyofparliament.com/2026/01/16/c...

Drawing of a (Georgian) King Penguin, possibly by Capt Charles Clarke, made during an expedition commanded by Capts Clarke and Cook in the mid-1770s... #penguinawarenessday

For #PenguinAwarenessDay we are sharing the fact that Cape Adare, home to the world's largest Adélie penguin colony, was named after a 19th century MP! victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/w...

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