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:

Victoria Tower Gardens this morning with the Buxton Memorial restored to its full glory..

At today's @uniofhull.bsky.social Open Day and preparing to give 'fireside chats' in my office about the Hull Parliamentary placement programme, now in existence for almost forty years...

2/ Albemarle was only 35 when he died. He did however leave behind a will, which was hotly-contested and divisive: historyofparliament.com/2016/10/19/d...

📘 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' is based on my PhD research under the supervision of @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social on the Office of Prime Minister Emeritus. ☺️ I'm delighted to have a chapter in his forthcoming 'Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher'. 3/ bsky.app/profile/lord...

Born #OTD 1691 Arthur Onslow. MP for Guildford 1720-1727, then representing Surrey until 1761, Onslow holds the record for the longest-serving Speaker of the Commons, holding onto the seat for 33 years Read his bio here: ow.ly/48YM50KRcIX

Sunny afternoon on @uniofhull.bsky.social campus

😊 Where 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' began. 🤦🏻‍♂️ The first draft of my 10,000 word chapter came out at 80,000 words. 🤯 Yes, really. ⭐️ That's Margaret Thatcher for you. #Thatcher100 #Thatcher #MargaretThatcher #ThatcherAfterDowningStreet #ExPremiers

Being published on 28 November. ‘A pungent and dynamic set of essays helping to explain the phenomenon that is Thatcher through the lens of history.’ -- Sir Anthony Seldon www.amazon.co.uk/Companion-Ma...

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

A few years ago, I had cause to remind a senior Cabinet minister that election confers electoral legitimacy: it does not confer wisdom. We are in an era of politicians neglecting this simple truth.

A few years ago, I had cause to remind a senior Cabinet minister that election confers electoral legitimacy: it does not confer wisdom. We are in an era of politicians neglecting this simple truth.

Born #OTD 1886, A. V. Hill, Independent Conservative MP for Cambridge University, 1940-5. Before his political career, Hill was a physiologist, and in 1922 shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on muscle physiology. He is the only MP to have won a Nobel Prize in the sciences.

Today we are celebrating #Railway200, as 200 years ago, #OTD 1825, the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened. To mark this milestone, we thought we’d look at some of the ways Parliament and the railways have intersected in the last 200 years: (🧵 1/6) @victoriancommons.bsky.social

Died #OTD 1770, Sir John Cust, who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1761 to 1770. It is tradition that an MP should feign reluctance when appointed Speaker; however, Cust may not have been faking his reluctance...

Born #OTD 1717, Horace Walpole. Son of Robert Walpole, Britain's first Prime Minister, he was an MP from 1741-68 and in 1791 became 4th earl of Orford. He is well known for building Strawberry Hill House, and writing one of the first Gothic Novels.

1/1 Recently published books by members and associates of @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies and Centre for British Politics

2/2 Forthcoming books by members or associates of @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies, Centre for British Politics and Centre for Conservatism Studies

My speech in committee on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill yesterday making the case for post-legislative scrutiny to be on the face of the Bill. As I argued, this should be standard for Bills that meet certain criteria. hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2025-0...

My speech in committee on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill yesterday making the case for post-legislative scrutiny to be on the face of the Bill. As I argued, this should be standard for Bills that meet certain criteria. hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2025-0...

The United Kingdom constitution – a mapping exercise https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9384/

‘Parliaments in Western Europe’, first published in 1990, is republished today by Routledge as part of their Library Editions: Politics of the European Union series www.routledge.com/Parliaments-...

Just received my advance copy of 'British By-Elections 1769-2025', in which I have a chapter on the 1962 Orpington By-Election

Just received my advance copy of 'British By-Elections 1769-2025', in which I have a chapter on the 1962 Orpington By-Election

‘Parliaments in Western Europe’, first published in 1990, is republished today by Routledge as part of their Library Editions: Politics of the European Union series www.routledge.com/Parliaments-...

Died #OTD 1823, David Ricardo, MP for Portarlington 1819-1823, and one of the most influential classical economists. Find out more via his #HistParl bio www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-...

I am delighted to announce that we are recruiting to three new roles in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s senior team. Take a look if you want to help us grow our impact & develop our brilliant research (details of the Academy Director role will be up next week) 👇 micro.green-park.co.uk/ifg/

Died #OTD 1549, Sir Anthony Denny. MP for Ipswich and Hertfordshire, Denny became an intimate friend of Henry VIII. As groom of the chamber he attended the reception of Anne of Cleves, where the King confided to him his disappointment in the new Queen: historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-...

Chloe Sottovia of the French National Assembly speaking at the @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies seminar on post-legislative scrutiny, held yesterday at the House of Lords

There's been a bumper crop of parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) moving into ministerial roles in this reshuffle - of the nineteen MPs who have come from the backbenches, fourteen of them have served as PPSs. Keep up to date with our live blog www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

🚨NEW EPISODE 🚨 My #podcast guest is digital entrepreneur Baroness Lane Fox. She talks about the gender divide in tech, and what she heard at a recent event where she was the only female panellist: 💬"He looked at me and said 'we're done with women'" 🎧💻Full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIcu...

#OTD 1620 the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth. Although no MPs were present on the voyage to New England, the Atlantic crossing would be contemplated and taken by some famous parliamentary figures, as Dr Stephen Roberts explains: 👇 thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com/2020/08/11/t...

2/ Reflecting on the last significant reform of the House of Lords, Dr Emma Peplow discussed the behind the scenes dealing that brought about the passing of the 1999 House of Lords Act and the removal of all but 92 hereditary peers in this article: historyofparliament.com/2025/04/30/t...

🗓️ #OTD in 1992, Margaret Thatcher spoke about 'The Principles of Thatcherism' in South Korea: www.margaretthatcher.org/document/108... 🗣️ The speech was the basis of my undergraduate dissertation under @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social's supervision. 🇰🇷 The trip was triumphant. #Thatcher100 1/2

Died #OTD 1658, Oliver Cromwell. An infamous figure in British parliamentary history, how did he rise to the role of Lord Protector after the abolition of the monarchy? Head over to our YouTube to find out more:

Died #OTD 2007, John Scott, 9th duke of Buccleuch, and previously Conservative MP for Edinburgh North, 1960-73. After becoming paralysed in a hunting accident in 1971, he was the first MP to use a wheelchair since the Second World War, becoming a leading figure on disability issues.

For the avoidance of doubt, Larry the Cat is not First Lord of the Treasury, but as he has outlasted several who have been he seemed a safe bet for the cover… www.amazon.co.uk/Politics-UK-...

Died #OTD 1877, William Schaw Lindsay. From destitute orphan to shipping tycoon and then MP, Lindsay certainly experienced a remarkable rise. Although his time in the Commons was less spectacular, his path still managed to intertwine with a number of major events: buff.ly/iUIpI8E

Born #OTD 1676, Robert Walpole, the man generally thought of as Britain's first Prime Minister. But how did he rise to the top spot? And how did he stay there? Luckily Dr Robin Eagles @GeorgianLords explains all 👇 youtu.be/I_eJ7wX-ABQ