I think the analysis of politicians' clothing choices is a fascinating topic - have been thinking about this recently in relation to early women MPs.

Hansard - the official record of what is said in Parliament - originated in the early 19th century. Consequently, it is a valuable resource for our colleagues @victoriancommons.bsky.social, who have put together a research guide for those wanting to access Hansard online.

Delighted to read this article featuring the research of my brilliant colleague Dr Robin Eagles.

My British Prime Ministers ruler becomes ever more out of date...

Come & hear about @histparl.bsky.social's Oral History of Parliament on 24 June @19:00. With clips from David Blunkett, Malcolm Rifkind, Gisela Stuart & others,the session explores who makes it to Westminster, how Parliament has changed & who challenged its ways www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/westminste...

My article on constituency agents 1880-1914 is among these free to access pieces.

A brilliant piece here from my colleague Philip on the long history of women's involvement with parliamentary elections.

This looks great and is definitely going on my wish list!

Spotted this morning - I did not know this about the D-Day landings!

Dr Juliette Bretan will be speaking at the next week's IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 'Interwar literature, politics and East-central Europe.' 📍 Senate House, London / Online 🗓️Tuesday 16 June 2026 ⏱️5:30-6:30pm Find out more about the paper and how to attend below:

A job in modern British History. At Manchester. www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

We've just been catching up on @histparl.bsky.social 's director @jhdavey.bsky.social talking about the history of Hansard. For more on the history of parliamentary reporting in the 19th century, see victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/r...

While our director @jhdavey.bsky.social is away, Scribble Book is hosting guest posts from members of the History of Parliament Trust's research staff. First up is @kathrynrix.bsky.social x.bsky.social, assistant editor of HPT's House of Commons, 1832-1945 project. 👇

Today marks the 160th anniversary of the first mass petition for women's suffrage. Below, Dr Kathryn Rix has explored the debate around this petition and its place in the campaign to secure the parliamentary vote for women. @victoriancommons.bsky.social

In one of my happy places today.

If you missed @martinspychal.bsky.social yesterday, this catch-up link is now live, with Martin's segment explaining the oddities of the Chiltern Hundreds starting at around 14:39.

My piece here on makeshift arrangements for the prorogations which took place after the Oct 1834 fire at Westminster. Featuring lost wigs, the Lord Chancellor finding his way through the still smouldering ruins of the old Palace and a chair borrowed from St James's Palace being used as the throne.

John Stuart Mill, influential philosopher and Liberal MP for Westminster, 1865-1868 was born 220 years ago today. In 1866, Mill presented the first mass petition to the Commons in favour of women's suffrage, as @kathrynrix.bsky.social explores below.

Lots of lovely snippets here from @jhdavey.bsky.social

#Skyhistorians ££££ for MA and PhD students and ECRs working on women's and gender history. Spread the word (repost: liking is nice, but it won't reach an audience beyond yourself).

On 21 May 1807 the electors of #Somerset went to the polls for the first time in almost 100 years, the last contested election having taken place in February 1715. They celebrated the occasion by re-electing the sitting MPs: William Dickinson and Thomas Buckler Lethbridge... #SomersetDay #HistParl

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

Here's my brilliant colleague @emmapeplow.bsky.social proving again why our oral history interviews are such a great resource.

Voted! Now back to 19th century elections.

Very amusing. Reminds me of a school report I once had which said 'Handwriting needs more care', except that the word care was undecipherable. Not that I'm still bitter about it...

A great paper yesterday from @brendantam.bsky.social - best of luck Brendan with the final stages of the PhD!

Great to hear our brilliant colleague @emmapeplow.bsky.social

A fascinating piece from my colleague @martinspychal.bsky.social.

This ties in well with the theme of the first Parliaments, Politics and People seminar of summer term. @brendantam.bsky.social will be speaking about political sociability in late Hanoverian Britain. Find out here how to join in person or online on Tues 5 May: historyofparliament.com/2026/04/29/t...

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

Great post here - and I would definitely read the full article.

A very interesting read.

On 27 April 1992, Betty Boothroyd became the first female Speaker of the House of Commons. To mark the anniversary we are resharing this #HistParl article by @emmapeplow.bsky.social, featuring clips from Boothroyd's interview as part of our Oral History project.

Brilliant talk this morning by @chloechallender.bsky.social on her excellent research on divorce by Act of Parliament, its voyeurism and theatricality, and experience of women inc as petitioners, respondents, witnesses.

Anyone working in history of comedy/satire, television, modern British politics - there's a fully funded PhD to research the Spitting Image archive @theul.bsky.social, with supervision at Exeter Uni. All disciplines considered, pls do share widely. www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...

Reading old documents in archives is my bread and butter, but reading the 1926 Irish Free State census online and seeing the names of close relatives, some of whom I remember, is another experience! The census can be searched here: nationalarchives.ie/collections/...

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.

Great to be checking the proofs for my chapter in this book (on 'Rebuilding the Palace of Westminster: The Architecture of Representation in an Age of Reform, 1832–1868'), due out in December. Congrats to the editors for persevering with a project which began as a conference abandoned due to COVID.

Later this month we will have a new article from @martinspychal.bsky.social as part of his series on Peter McLagan, Scotland's first Black MP. Here's a reminder of Martin's first article on McLagan and the process of researching his background: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/06/12/p...

I am just as happy as Naomi to have received my copy of this excellent special issue today! She did an excellent job as our editor.

An exciting female parliamentary first!

Congratulations Mari - I know you will do it brilliantly!

@kathrynrix.bsky.social examines the professional constituency agents of the Liberal and Conservative Parties between elections in English constituencies between 1880 and 1914. The article can currently be read for free here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

An exciting find for the last day of #WomensHistoryMonth in connection with my project on women & electoral corruption - I think I may have stumbled across a portrait of a woman involved in bribery and treating at elections in Maldon in the mid-19th century (to the tune of having £200 to dispense)!

Pleased to say that my article on the Liberal and Conservative party agents, 1880-1914 is currently free to access as part of a Parliamentary History special issue on the politics of organising (edited by my @histparl.bsky.social colleague Naomi Lloyd-Jones): onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Our Parliaments, Politics and People seminar is a very friendly place, as Sarah attests! We're already starting to put together our speakers for the 2026-7 programme - get in touch with us if that is of interest.

I am definitely here for hearing more about the history of women in Parliament! Great to see @jhdavey.bsky.social showcasing the excellent work of @satisfactory20.bsky.social and Elizabeth Hallam Smith on this theme.

Really looking forward to hearing about May Day, the folkmote & reform debates in the 18/19C from @srwride.bsky.social at the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 17 March. The event is FREE in-person in London and online. @ihr.bsky.social Details: historyofparliament.com/2026/03/10/r...

In 1866, the first mass petition for women's suffrage was presented to Parliament. Dr Kathryn Rix explores the petition with 1,500 signatories and its reception in the House.