Author: Emma Peplow

Blogging on parliament, politics and people, from the History of Parliament
Victorian, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Minority Ethnic History, Social history

Dabadhai Naoroji: the life of the first Indian MP

Last month we were delighted to celebrate the life and work of Dr Dadabhai Naoroji at an event in Portcullis House, Westminster, in collaboration with the Zoroastrian All Party Parliamentary Group and the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZFTE). 2017 is the centenary of the death of Naoroji, who we remember as the first Indian to be elected to Parliament. But Naoroji’s achievements were much … Continue reading Dabadhai Naoroji: the life of the first Indian MP

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Modern, Oral history

Voices from our oral history project: Sir Teddy Taylor

Last month we were sad to hear the news of campaigning backbencher Sir Teddy Taylor’s death. In this blog we look back on his life with extracts from our oral history project  interview with him in January 2012… Sir Teddy Taylor was one of the first former MPs to be interviewed for our oral history project. Following his death last month, obituaries remembered him as … Continue reading Voices from our oral history project: Sir Teddy Taylor

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history, Parliamentary Life, Social history

Parliament and the First World War

In partnership with the Parliamentary Archives alongside their current exhibition on Parliament and the First World War, we recently held events in Parliament exploring the institution during the war years… The Parliamentary Archives exhibition on Parliament and the First World War, still open in Westminster Hall, proved an excellent opportunity for us to gather together historians and discuss the impact of the First World War … Continue reading Parliament and the First World War

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History of Parliament Trust

Schools: competition prize day!

Last month we welcomed our 2016 Key Stage Three Schools competition winner to Westminster… Slightly later than we hoped, thanks to this year’s snap election, the HPT welcomed our KS3 competition winner, Layla Barwell, and her family to Parliament. Layla attends Dartford Grammar School for girls, and was 13 when she wrote her excellent competition entry. We asked students to write newspaper reports on either … Continue reading Schools: competition prize day!

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, LGBTQ+ History, Modern, Oral history, Social history

50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, 1967

On 12 July 2017 we brought together parliamentarians, activists and historians to mark 50 years since the passing of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which partially decriminalised homosexuality in England and Wales. Here we report back from the event… We were delighted when the Speaker accepted our suggestion to organise an event in his official apartments to mark the anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of … Continue reading 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, 1967

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20th century history, Contemporary History, Modern, Oral history, Parliamentary Life

First steps in the chamber: making a maiden speech

For the one hundred or so new MPs who were elected in June, many have already achieved one of the major milestones of their Commons’ careers: the maiden speech. Here we share some of our oral history project interviewees’ memories of the first time they spoke in the Chamber… We always ask our Oral History Project interviewees about their maiden speech. It is one of … Continue reading First steps in the chamber: making a maiden speech

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History of Parliament Trust

History of Parliament A level competition 2017

For those of you deep in exam season for GCSEs, AS and A Levels at the moment, very good luck to you all, especially in your history papers. Once they are all over and everything has calmed down, those of you thinking about studying history at university may well be interested in taking part in our A level competition (something to add to your application … Continue reading History of Parliament A level competition 2017

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Social history, 20th century history, Contemporary History, Edward Heath, Elections, Harold Wilson, Modern, Oral history, Parties

Memories of the 1974 snap elections

Last week Theresa May shocked the political establishment by calling a snap election. In the first in our 2017 election campaign series, we take a look back at the two elections of 1974 through the memories of our oral history project interviewees… Modern political wisdom has urged caution on Prime Ministers considering calling early elections, in part thanks to memories of 1974. There were two … Continue reading Memories of the 1974 snap elections

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Modern, Oral history, Parliamentary Life, Social history

Voices from our Oral History Project: Sir Clive Bossom, Bt.

Sadly last month another of our oral history project interviewees passed away: former Conservative MP Sir Clive Bossom. Here we take a look back on our interview with him… Sir Clive Bossom, who died last month aged 99, was one of our older interviewees. He has been fondly remembered both as a hardworking backbench MP for Leominster (1959-74) and for his involvement in motorsport. Bossom … Continue reading Voices from our Oral History Project: Sir Clive Bossom, Bt.

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Modern, Oral history, Parliamentary Life, Parties, Scottish History

Voices from our Oral History Project: Tam Dalyell

Following the sad news last month of the death of the fondly remembered maverick MP Tam Dalyell, today we begin an occasional series exploring interviews with former MPs from our oral history project we have now lost… Since his death, Tam Dalyell’s many obituaries have praised him as a politician of principle, if one of many contradictions. He was the socialist who went to Eton; … Continue reading Voices from our Oral History Project: Tam Dalyell

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