The caption competition... and the winner is nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/12/31/c...

📘 The @elgarpublishing.bsky.social 'Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher', edited by @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social and Matt Beech, can be ordered on the link below. 😊 It's a brilliant collection of essays, with mine on her post-1990 life, work, and legacy. 🧵 2/ www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/elg...

🙏🏻 I'm very grateful to all who have bought 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street', and am particularly grateful to its endorsers (Iain Dale, Andrew Roberts, Matthew Parris, Anthony Seldon) and to @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social and many others for their support. 🧵 4/

Died #OTD 1878, Harriet Grote. As Dr Martin Spychal has explored in his series, now available on the #HistParl site, Grote was able to establish herself as one of Westminster’s leading radical politicians.

2025 has been a busy year for the History of Parliament. We've got a new look- and a new office! Find out what else we got up to over the past 12 months in our Review of the Year 2025, written by our engagement manager Connie: historyofparliament.com?p=19374

Our third most popular article of the year was penned in February by Dr Robin Eagles, where he went back 250 years to explore the early parliamentary debates preceding the American Revolution:

🚨 'The air of a religious gathering': a line of John Rentoul's that brilliantly captures the launch of the @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social and Matt Beech edited @elgarpublishing.bsky.social 'Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher' - and of so much of our response to her after 1990, and also before.

Recollections of Margaret Thatcher at the launch of the ‘Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher’; ‘had the air of a religious gathering’ (John Rentoul) nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/l...

Last call for entries to the caption competition nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/11/29/c...

Launching the ‘Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher’ nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/l...

#OnThisDay 1881 the former Conservative MP for Thirsk, Sir William Payne Gallwey, died from injuries sustained when he fell on to a turnip. Find out more about this and other unusual causes of death among Victorian MPs in our perennially popular post: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/12/19/b...

Launching the ‘Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher’ nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/l...

Although now Parliament goes into recess over the Christmas, in 1643 after a tough year early in the civil war, Parliament found itself in need to sit on Christmas Day. Dr Vivenne Larminie explores some of the urgent matters under discussion:

Dressing up for a Christmas party this week? In this #HistParl post Dr Paul Hunneyball looks into fashion trends during the early modern period, when Parliament had a say in what you could, and couldn't, wear!

Thank you to everyone who attended our 2025 Annual Lecture! It was a brilliant event & a lovely way to see out another busy year at #HistParl. Particular thanks to Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds for delivering this year's lecture, pictured here with @jhdavey.bsky.social & @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social.

#OTD 1653, a new written constitution, the Instrument of Government, was established. Under its provisions Oliver Cromwell was installed as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth.

In December 1832, Daniel Gaskell was elected unopposed for Wakefield, running on a platform of shorter Parliaments, the secret ballot and the abolition of slavery. Read more about his life and career below:

Died #OTD 1562, William Grey, 13th Lord Grey of Wilton. Three years previously, in the first Parliament of Elizabeth I, Lord Grey was able to take his seat in the House of Lords even though he was a prisoner of war. Dr Andrew Thrush explores this unique parliamentary story:

#OTD the 1918 general election took place, the first to see women vote, following the passage of the Representation of the People Act. To find out more about the significance of the Act, for women, men and Britain's electoral system, check out @EmmaPeplow.bsky.social's article:

Our colleague @kathrynrix.bsky.social was featured in yesterday's 'Pick of the Week' on BBC Radio 4! You can check out her featured interview with Susan Hulme, on how women watched Commons debates from 'the ventilator' after they were barred from the chamber in 1778, below (starting at 7:22):

Opening the reception at the House of Lords last night to mark the publication of the 'Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher', with speeches by Lords Jopling, Butler and Forsyth and contributions from other peers who knew her. Some fascinating reflections on her leadership.

🔍 More research on that period of Stanley Baldwin's life when he did in fact 'speak to the man on the bridge' and 'spit on the deck' for the forthcoming @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social and Dr Daniel Pitt 'Rediscovering One Nation Conservatism: Stanley Baldwin - his life, work, and legacy' conference.

Jury trials didn’t originate with Magna Carta nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/12/07/j...

Some excellent entries already for the caption competition. Entries have to be posted on the blog. Posting them on X will not qualify for the prize. nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/11/29/c...

📘 You can order the @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social and Matt Beech edited 'Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher' on the link below. 2/ #Thatcher #MargaretThatcher #Thatcher100 #ExPremiers #ThatcherAfterDowningStreet www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/elg...

Born #OTD 1874 Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. A figure synonymous with British history, his statue is one of twelve that stands in Parliament Square, of which Dr Emma Peplow wrote about recently on our website:

The 20 chapters in 'Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher' assess the life, work and legacy of Britain's first female Prime Minister

Legislation and the law: not quite the same thing nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/11/29/l...

The caption competition is back nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/11/29/c...

Legislation and the law: not quite the same thing nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/11/29/l...

The caption competition is back nortonview.wordpress.com/2025/11/29/c...

The 20 chapters in 'Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher' assess the life, work and legacy of Britain's first female Prime Minister

📘 Fitting that on the 35th anniversary of her resignation as prime minister, the @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social & Matt Beech edited Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher is heading off on tour. 🤔 Where's the first stop? ♥️🧡 Clue: where my chapter was written.

Lucinda Maer, deputy head of the House of Commons Public Bill Office, giving today's @uniofhull.bsky.social Parliamentary Studies Lecture on 'Parliament and Legislation'

Lucinda Maer, deputy head of the House of Commons Public Bill Office, giving today's @uniofhull.bsky.social Parliamentary Studies Lecture on 'Parliament and Legislation'

*coughs in Canadian* it will take longer than you think and cost more than you want and will only be more expensive the longer you wait... and let's hope nothing horrific happens between now and then *cough*

Gave two 'fireside talks' in my office today on the Hull Parliamentary placement scheme - in existence for nearly forty years - as part of the @uniofhull.bsky.social Open Day.

There is a long history of parliamentarians choosing to work with what they have rather than rebuild. Options on a brand new palace of Westminster were ignored in the mid-18th century and the tendency to work in an ad hoc manner persisted until 1834... www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/a-troub...

A nation remembers. Parliament's Elizabeth Tower is illuminated with poppies in front of the statue of Sir Winston Churchill. A powerful reminder of courage, sacrifice and the enduring spirit of those who served. @ukparliament.parliament.uk @houseofcommons.parliament.uk @houseoflords.parliament.uk

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:

💥 Publication alert! 😊 Delighted to have a chapter in this @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social and Matt Beech edited volume. 📘 'The Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher' inspired 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street'. 🛒 Order a copy here: www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/elg... #Thatcher #Thatcher100

On 11 November, Steven Spencer of Birkbeck, University of London, will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics & People Seminar, where he will be presenting on 'The campaign to pass the Criminal Law Amendment Bill' Find out more about his paper and how to attend below: buff.ly/OTB2wDo

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. 🎆

It is #BonfireNight 🎆 and many of you will be celebrating the uncovering of the #GunpowderPlot. But do you know who the brains behind this plot was? Maybe it was Guy Fawkes or maybe someone a little less well known... Find out here:

Born #OTD 1934, Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking, Conservative MP for multiple constitutences from 1968 to 1997 and Home Secretary under John Major. He also participated in our #OralHistory project in 2012. www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/oral-...

#OTD 1761, Sir John Cust was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. Traditionally MPs feign their reluctance for the post when appointed Speaker, however Cust's objections to taking the chair may not have been faked... Find out more here: historyofparliament.com/2022/04/26/s...

#OTD 1618, Sir Walter Ralegh was executed after leading an expedition that violated a peace treaty with Spain. Best known as an explorer, Ralegh was also an MP for nearly twenty years. Read his #HistParl biography to find out more. 👇

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...

*PSA26 Annual Conference* 📢 Registration is open! Online registration for PSA26 in Oxford, 30 March - 1 April is now open. 📆 Early booking deadline 19 January ➡️ buff.ly/uILVJGQ

#OTD 1760, George III succeeded the throne of Great Britain and Ireland after the death of his grandfather George II. His and Queen Charlotte's coronation would not take place until September 1761. Dr Robin Eagles wrote about the lavish event: