‘A Socialist Identity in Parliament’? The Campaign Group of Labour MPs, 1982-2015

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Alfie Steer of Hertford College, University of Oxford. On 11 February Alfie will discuss the Campaign Group of Labour MPs, 1982-2015. The seminar takes place on 11 February 2025, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can attend either in-person in London at the IHR, or online via Zoom. Details of … Continue reading ‘A Socialist Identity in Parliament’? The Campaign Group of Labour MPs, 1982-2015

What’s in a Name? How Peers Settled Their Titles in the Twentieth Century

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Duncan Sutherland. On 26 November he will discuss how peers settled their titles in the twentieth century. The seminar takes place on 26 November 2024, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can attend either in-person in London at the IHR, or online via Zoom. Details of how to … Continue reading What’s in a Name? How Peers Settled Their Titles in the Twentieth Century

Cynog Dafis: Britain’s first Green MP?

While Caroline Lucas is commonly referred to as Britain’s first Green Member of Parliament, Cynog Dafis, who entered parliament as the Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion and North Pembrokeshire nearly twenty years earlier, could also claim this title. Alfie Steer explores Dafis’ political career, and the unusual electoral alliance between Plaid Cymru and the Green Party in the 1990s. The 2024 general election saw the … Continue reading Cynog Dafis: Britain’s first Green MP?

Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament

This week, The History of Parliament Trust is excited to announce a new podcast series, ‘Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament’.  Since 2012, the History of Parliament has been interviewing former members of the House of Commons in order to capture personal reflections of lives lived in parliament. Including participants from across the three major parties, and ranging in both period … Continue reading Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament

Conference Review: Histories of Scottish Politics in the Age of Union, c.1700-1945

23-24 July 2024 Collingwood College Durham In July 2024, the History of Parliament Trust supported the two-day conference Histories of Scottish Politics in the Age of Union, c., 1700-1945, held at Durham University and organised by Naomi Lloyd-Jones. In this blog, Brendan Tam, one of the speakers, reflects on the event and on the state of Scottish and British political history. Ewen Cameron’s keynote address … Continue reading Conference Review: Histories of Scottish Politics in the Age of Union, c.1700-1945

Arthur Latham and the rise of the Labour Left

On this day, 1930, Arthur Latham was born. Labour MP for Paddington North (later Paddington) from 1969 to 1979, his career both inside and outside the Commons reflected the ebb and flow of the Labour Party’s ‘hard left’. Alfie Steer explores the significance of Latham’s career, and what it reveals about the history of left-wing politics in late Twentieth Century Britain. Arthur Latham’s journey to … Continue reading Arthur Latham and the rise of the Labour Left

The House of Commons Chamber and the Politics of Seating

Parliament will be officially opened this week and debates will begin once again in the House of Commons. But with the Labour party winning such a large majority in the 2024 General Election, some of their Members may be left wondering- where should I sit? Emeritus Director of the History of Parliament, Dr Paul Seaward, looks to the past to find out more about the … Continue reading The House of Commons Chamber and the Politics of Seating

‘A Manly Place’: Experiences of Women in Parliament after 1997

On 19 March 2024, the History of Parliament Trust hosted the second in a series of events drawing on their groundbreaking Oral History Project. This event, in partnership with and funded by Keele University, explored women’s experiences in parliament and whether they have changed through time. The event was organised by the project’s research team, Professor Helen Parr (Keele University), Dr Emma Peplow (Head of … Continue reading ‘A Manly Place’: Experiences of Women in Parliament after 1997

Down for the count: election night highs and lows

As the UK goes to the polls today, here Dr Emma Peplow shares memories from our oral history archive, exploring how former MPs felt on polling day and how they approached the night of the count… Today most of the UK’s election candidates will be racing around their constituencies trying to make sure their supporters go to vote. But this is just the start of … Continue reading Down for the count: election night highs and lows

Histories of Scottish Politics in the Age of Union, c.1700-1945: Registration Open

Registration is now open for the conference Histories of Scottish Politics in the Age of Union, c.1700-1945, taking place at Durham University, Tuesday-Wednesday 23-24 July 2024. It is organised by Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones and is supported by the History of Parliament, together with the British Agricultural History Society, the Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies, the Leverhulme Trust, the Past & Present Society and the Scottish Historical … Continue reading Histories of Scottish Politics in the Age of Union, c.1700-1945: Registration Open