The @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies is delighted to host a seminar on campus on 16 April, 3-5pm (or online) to discuss 'The Idea of the Good Society: Essays in Honour of Raymond Plant'. Contact me if you would like to attend.

🗣️ 'In history, so much damage has been done by dogma, and doctrine has been responsible for so much human misery, that it is high time for tolerance.' 🗓️ So said Lord Home of the Hirsel on this day, 11 April, in 1984 when speaking on the Prayer Book Protection Bill.

The @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies is delighted to host a seminar on campus on 16 April, 3-5pm (or online) to discuss 'The Idea of the Good Society: Essays in Honour of Raymond Plant'. Contact me if you would like to attend.

The @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies is delighted to host a seminar on campus to discuss 'The Idea of the Good Society: Essays in Honour of Raymond Plant', on 16 April, 3-5pm (in person or online). Contact me if you would like to attend.

The Victorian Commons team are back at their desks after the Easter break. Our most recent batch of work included two Speakers of the House of Commons (Manners Sutton & Shaw Lefevre), the rather corrupt constituency of Canterbury & the UK's largest parliamentary borough in our period, Tower Hamlets.

299 years ago, Parliament was prorogued following the discovery of a loop-hole in the Act of Union, which was due to come into force on 1 May. Read Dr Stuart Handley's article for #HistParl, exploring the so-called 'Tobacco Fraud' of April 1707.

The @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies is delighted to host a seminar on campus to discuss 'The Idea of the Good Society: Essays in Honour of Raymond Plant', on 16 April, 3-5pm (in person or online). Contact me if you would like to attend.

🗣️ 'I am looking forward to a honeymoon of about 10 days at the most, and then I rather fancy that there will be the well-known cries of "Bring back Harold" from the Opposition Benches.' 🗓️ So said Jim Callaghan on this day, 6 April, in 1976 at his first Prime Minister's Questions.

📨 'I was very touched to receive your kind and thoughtful letter'. 🗓️ So wrote Margaret Thatcher to Tony Blair on this day, 4 April, in 2002. ✍🏻 She signed herself 'Margaret T.' and sent her warm regards to all his family.

📰 It being Good Friday, a reminder that early in April 1938 the press reported that Stanley Baldwin was soon to leave London for his country home - Astley Hall - where he would be joined there by Lady Baldwin for Easter.

Cobden was MP for three different constituencies: Stockport, the West Riding and Rochdale. Find out more about his relationship with his constituents in this guest article from Prof. Simon Morgan: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2024/01/24/c...

On 3 April 1721, Robert Walpole became First Lord of the Treasury. Read Dr Robin Eagles' article for #HistParl to find out more about Walpole's rise to power.

RIP. Big supporter of @minstersrail.bsky.social. He told me his wife used the line regularly before it closed in November 1965.

🙏🏻 Thanks to @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social & Dr Dan Pitt I'm researching Stanley Baldwin's life as an ex-PM. 📘A copy of his son's book arrived which: 1⃣ seems to have belonged to Edward Heath; 2⃣ includes a message from Viscount and Viscountess Davidson. 😍 The joy of second hand books.

Looking up and looking down in a sunny Vauxhall Park this morning..

Yesterday, there was a debate on treaty scrutiny in Westminster in the Lords. I am very grateful to constitutional expert @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social for highlighting my proposed Private Members’ Bill: the Treaty Ratification (Parliamentary Consent) Bill. It could not have found a better advocate.

🗓️ On this day, 6 March, in 2013, @GordonBrown spoke in the Commons about radiation in Dalgety Bay in his constituency. 1⃣ Of his 37 interventions as an ex-PM, 21 were on Dalgety Bay, making it the number one issue he pursued in Parliament after 2010.

For #WomensHistoryMonth we are looking back at this guest article from Prof Sarah Richardson on women’s right to vote at local elections during the 19th century. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/t...

The latest issue of @parlhistjournal.bsky.social explores the practices and organisation of politics in the long 19th century. Edited by #HistParl's Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones, this special issue can be accessed now:

In 1992, Betty Boothroyd made history, becoming the first and only woman appointed as Speaker of the House of Commons. Find out more about her illustrious career below: #WomensHistoryMonth #WHM

In 1399, John of Gaunt, son to Edward III and father of Henry IV, died. Founder of the royal house of Lancaster, Gaunt was a highly influential figure in medieval England. However, an accusation of treason in 1384 threatened to end his influence.

Died #OnThisDay 1894 Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks (Lord Tweedmouth). He was Liberal MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed 1853-9, Aug 1859-68, 1874-81. His main claim to fame was creating the golden retriever breed, after he bred a golden-coated retriever with one of his Tweed water spaniels.

In 1461, during the Wars of the Roses, Edward IV was proclaimed King after overthrowing his cousin Henry VI. However, as Dr Hannes Kleineke explores, the authority of this new regime was not universally accepted.

This Women's History Month we are highlighting the long history of female involvement in Parliament and politics. Below, Dr Kathryn Rix overviews the political involvement of women in the years leading up to some women gaining the right to vote in 1918. #WomensHistoryMonth #WHM

New post on the #HistParl website from @kathrynrix.bsky.social! Read it here:

Labour's Representation of the People Bill gets its first proper debate in the Commons today. Here's what's in it, via the Hansard Society

🚨 February 2026 update on ex-PMs' parliamentary activity. 🔼 Rishi Sunak has now overtaken John Major to become the 8th most active ex-PM since 1955. 🔼 Theresa May increases her interventions by 1. 💥 And an exciting discovery - more on that once we've done further research.

#OnThisDay 1835 the Commons appointed a committee to consider the provision of a new building for Parliament in the wake of the October 1834 fire. Find out more about that event in our article: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/p...

Westminster bathed in sunshine this morning

🚨 On this day, 24 February, in 1744, Robert Walpole (the 1st Earl of Orford) made history by giving the first speech in Parliament by an ex-Prime Minister. 🗣️ With 'emotion and spirit', he spoke about the House of Lords' response to a message from King George II on The Young Pretender and France.

Robert Devereux, 2nd earl of Essex, was executed on this day in 1601. In the fight to succeed William Cecil, 1st Lord Burghley, as Elizabeth's chief minister after his death in 1598, Essex's attempt to overthrow Burghley's son Robert ended in his own execution.

This Thursday the voters of Gorton and Denton will elect their new MP after weeks of media speculation. To mark the occasion, @emmapeplow.bsky.social has delved into our oral history archive to look at another by-election that full under the media spotlight: Christchurch 1993.

#OnThisDay in the House of Commons in 1852, Lord John Russell announced the resignation of his ministry. He was replaced as PM by the Conservative Lord Derby, in the first of Derby’s three terms as prime minister. For more on Derby’s governments, see victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2018/12/07/l...

Our final #ShropshireDay MP is Henry Whitmore, one of several family members to represent the borough of Bridgnorth. He served as a Conservative party whip in the 1850s and 1860s: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2024/02/26/w...

In 1820, a small group of radicals met in a hayloft on Cato Street, with a plan to assassinate the Prime Minister and his cabinet. However, as @alfiesteer.bsky.social explores, the Cato Street Conspiracy was doomed to fail from the start.

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!

My chapter, ‘Servicing constituents: a comparative perspective’, is in IPSA’s ‘Funding Democracy 2025’ Green Paper assets.ctfassets.net/nc7h1cs4q6ic...

Delighted to receive my copy of 'Walter Bagehot: Life and legacy' by Janet Seaton and Barry Winetrobe, published by the Langport and District History Society. Bagehot lived in Langport and is buried there.

My chapter, ‘Servicing constituents: a comparative perspective’, is in IPSA’s ‘Funding Democracy 2025’ Green Paper assets.ctfassets.net/nc7h1cs4q6ic...

Delighted to receive my copy of 'Walter Bagehot: Life and legacy' by Janet Seaton and Barry Winetrobe, published by the Langport and District History Society. Bagehot lived in Langport and is buried there.

Delighted to see extensive coverage of the report of the @UKHouseofLords Select Committee on Statutory Inquiries in Thursday’s @Telegraph www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02...

In 2018, Sarah Clarke was the first-ever female appointed into the role of 'Black Rod'. Black Rod is responsible for maintaining order within and controlling access to the House of Lords. Dr Hannes Kleineke reflects on the medieval origins of this role.

🗣️ 'I might have preferred iron. But bronze will do. It won't rust.' 🗓️ So said Margaret Thatcher on this day, 21 February, in 2007 as she unveiled her statue at the House of Commons. 📘 There's more in 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street': www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/margar...

Delighted to see extensive coverage of the report of the @UKHouseofLords Select Committee on Statutory Inquiries in yesterday’s ‘Daily Telegraph’ www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02...

*PSA OPPORTUNITY* 📢 New #ALevel Essay Competition for #Schools #Students & #Teachers run by PSA American Politics Group (APG) @psaamericanpol.bsky.social with the Financial Times @financialtimes.com 📆 Application deadline 16 March ➡️ Full details

Delighted to see extensive coverage of the report of the @UKHouseofLords Select Committee on Statutory Inquiries in yesterday’s ‘Daily Telegraph’ www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02...

NEW: Margaret Bondfield was the first woman to serve in the UK Cabinet. So why is she almost forgotten? On the latest episode of Parliament Matters, we are joined by @nansloane.bsky.social to discuss her new biography of this pioneering political figure. 🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/RYXZLuB

Copies of ‘The 1922 Committee’ are available with 70% off in the Manchester University Press February flash sale… manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/blog/2026/02...

Turns out (says @jburnmurdoch.ft.com) it's not so much an oversupply of graduates in the UK (the same would be true of other similar countries but it's not) as an undersupply of the kind of jobs that a better-performing, more productive economy would supply.

🚨 NEW ARTICLE🚨 600 years ago today the aptly named 'Parliament of Bats' met for the first time. Dr Hannes Kleineke has explored how the underlying tensions gave the Parliament its moniker.