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

#ICYMI, yesterday Dr Kathryn Rix wrote about the impact of the Corrupt Practices Act, 1883.

Today marks the anniversary of the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act receiving royal assent in 1883. My new post for @histparl.bsky.social looks at the Act's impact on election expenditure and electoral corruption: historyofparliament.com/2025/08/25/1...

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-...

Paperback copies arrived today.... www.routledge.com/Politics-UK/...

As MPs continue their recess from Parliament, look back at this article from Dr Emmeline Ledgerwood, who delved into our oral history archive to collate some holiday memories from Postwar MPs: historyofparliament.com/2021/08/31/p...

Paperback copies arrived today.... www.routledge.com/Politics-UK/...

Born #OTD 1792, Lord John Russell, Prime Minister 1846-52 and 1865-6. He often clashed with his Foreign Secretary, Lord Palmerston, whose 'tit for tat' motion in February 1852 led to the downfall of his ministry. Find out about Russell in this video 👇

#ICYMI, last week Dr Philip Salmon looked into discussions of Lords reform during the Victorian period. Read the article below:

Getting ready for the new term? What no politics teacher - or politics student for that matter - should be without...

Quick trips to Europe are now commonplace during the summer holidays. However, as Dr Paul Hunneyball explains, foreign travel was considerably more perilous during the early modern period:

Important read 👇

Getting ready for the new term? What no politics teacher - or politics student for that matter - should be without...

Did you know... You don’t need to have studied #politics at #Alevel to consider doing a politics degree? #InternationalRelations, #history, #law or #Sociology combine well with politics. ➡️ Learn more buff.ly/DQYqZSh #StudyPolitics #Alevels #Highers #AdvancedHighers #exams2025

In our latest post from our editor Dr Philip Salmon, the Victorian Commons goes to the Victorian Lords! Philip's article looks at the role and significance of the upper House after the 1832 Reform Act: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/08/14/h...

Will I enjoy a #Politcs degree? What will it involve? Where will it lead me? These and other questions answered by recent graduate and PSA Team member Theo Gannon who studied politics at #ALevel, #undergraduate, and masters. buff.ly/6LnZwB1 #StudyPolitics #Alevels #Highers #exams2025 #ResultsDay

Born #OTD 1930, Arthur Latham, Labour MP for Paddington from 1969 to 1979. As @alfiesteer.bsky.social recently explored in an article for #HistParl, much of Latham's career intersected with the rise of the Labour left in the 1970s: historyofparliament.com/2024/08/14/a...

The new House of Lords Bill is entering its final stages, which if passed will remove remaining hereditary peers from the Lords. Dr Philip Salmon has explored how the Lords was able to survive during a period of reform in the Victorian era. historyofparliament.com/2025/08/14/l...

#DYK that the twelfth of August was an important date in the Victorian and Edwardian political – and social – calendar? Find out why and how it impacted on Parliament in this blog from Dr Paul Seaward:

Plus a republishing of ‘Parliaments in Western Europe’ (first published by Frank Cass in 1990, reprinted 1996) by Routledge next month as part of their Routledge Library Editions: Politics of the European Union

Books just published, or about to be published, by members or associates of @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies

#OTD 1613 Sir Thomas Fleming died. An MP from 1581, Fleming was elevated to chief baron of the Exchequer, and he famously presided over the trial of the gunpowder plotters. Find out more via his #HistParl biography here:

The circumstances surrounding the death of this Huddersfield MP, Lewis Fenton, are discussed in this post: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/12/19/b...

Books just published, or about to be published, by members or associates of @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies

🧵(1) Born #OTD 1775, Daniel O'Connell. Known by supporters as 'The Liberator', O'Connell was considered the leader of Ireland's Catholic majority in the first half of the 19th century, and 'by far the most prominent Irishman in the Commons' from 1830. buff.ly/eBmk09B

‘Parliaments in Western Europe’ was published by Frank Cass in 1990 (and reprinted in 1996). Routledge will be republishing it next month as part of their Routledge Library Editions: Politics of the European Union www.amazon.co.uk/Parliaments-...