Category: Modern

Modern, 20th century history, Art, Fashion and Material Culture, Social history

Clangers in Parliament: The Politics of Postgate and Bagpuss

2026 sees the 50th anniversary of the reissuing (in colour) of the children’s classic, Ivor the Engine, created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. What is perhaps less well known is the longer political context of the Postgate family and how that influence may, in a small way, have made its way into the otherwise comforting world of Bagpuss and the Clangers. On 23 February … Continue reading Clangers in Parliament: The Politics of Postgate and Bagpuss

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20th century history, Constituencies, Contemporary History, Corruption, Elections, John Major, Modern, Oral history, Parties

‘We approached each other slowly like medieval knights with lances’: Hamilton versus Bell, Tatton, 1997

One of the highlights of the 1997 general election was the contest in Tatton. The Conservative Neil Hamilton, then under a cloud of corruption allegations, was challenged by the independent former war correspondent Martin Bell, in his famous white suit. Our oral history project now includes interviews with both candidates, allowing Dr Emma Peplow to tell the story of this election in their own words… … Continue reading ‘We approached each other slowly like medieval knights with lances’: Hamilton versus Bell, Tatton, 1997

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A map of Buckinghamshire, that includes the three Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Burnham in the south of the county
17th Century history, 14th Century history, 15th Century History, 16th Century history, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Constituencies, Elections, Georgian, Interregnum, Legislative History, Medieval, Modern, Parliamentary Life, Stuart, Tudor, Victorian

How does an MP resign? The Chiltern Hundreds & the Manor of Northstead

Have you just heard that an MP has resigned by ‘taking the Chiltern Hundreds’? Our Senior Research Fellow, Dr Martin Spychal, explains the practice and explores its historical context… MPs are not allowed to resign from Parliament. However, a parliamentary loophole exists that allows an MP to vacate their seat by asking the chancellor of the exchequer to disqualify them from sitting in the Commons. … Continue reading How does an MP resign? The Chiltern Hundreds & the Manor of Northstead

Martin Spychal2 Comments
Conferences, Seminars and Events, 20th century history, Art, Fashion and Material Culture, Diplomacy and International Relations, Modern, Social history

Interwar literature, politics and East-central Europe

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 16 June, Dr Juliette Bretan of Cambridge University will be discussing literary depictions of, and new proposals regarding, the politics of British involvement in East-central Europe during the interwar period. The seminar takes place on 16 June 2026, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can attend either in-person in London … Continue reading Interwar literature, politics and East-central Europe

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, History of Parliament Trust, Legislative History, LGBTQ+ History, Margaret Thatcher, Modern, Oral history, Social history, Tony Blair

Section 28: Memories from the Oral History Archive

Section 28 of the Local Government Act, 1988, was one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in Britain at the end of the twentieth century. To mark the anniversary of its introduction, Alfie Steer has delved into the oral history archive to explore MPs’ memories of it. Section 28 (otherwise known as Clause 28) was first included in the 1988 Local Government Act as … Continue reading Section 28: Memories from the Oral History Archive

Alfie Steer1 Comment
Modern, 20th century history, Economic history, Legislative History, Parties, Ramsay MacDonald, Social history, Stanley Baldwin

The 1926 General Strike and Parliamentary Democracy

One hundred years ago today, the 1926 General Strike broke out in Britain. To mark the anniversary, Alfie Steer has explored its significance for Britain’s parliamentary system. In 1925, the private owners of Britain’s mining industry (nicknamed the ‘sick man of British capitalism’, [Miliband, p.121]) tried to revive its international competitiveness by proposing a series of drastic wage cuts and an extension in working hours. … Continue reading The 1926 General Strike and Parliamentary Democracy

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, Factions, Georgian, History of Parliament Trust, Modern, Parliamentary Life

The role of political sociability in establishing and maintaining political friendship and alliances in late-Hanoverian Britain, 1760-1837

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 5 May, BrendanTam of the University of Warwick, will be discussing political sociability and friendship in late-Hanoverian Britain. The seminar takes place on 5 May 2026, 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 The role of political sociability in establishing and maintaining political friendship and alliances in late-Hanoverian Britain, 1760-1837

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Art, Fashion and Material Culture, George I, George II, George III, Georgian, History of Parliament Trust, Modern, Parliamentary Life

Dressing the part: robes ancient and modern

In the latest post for the Georgian Lords, Dr Robin Eagles considers the symbolism of the robes worn by members of the House of Lords both in Parliament and at coronations, and how some lords went to considerable lengths to ensure that their prized possessions were passed from one generation to the next. One of the most familiar sights of the state opening of Parliament … Continue reading Dressing the part: robes ancient and modern

Robin Eagles1 Comment
Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Alec Douglas-Home, Andrew Bonar Law, Archibald Primrose, 5th earl of Rosebery, Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington, Benjamin Disraeli, Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, George Canning, George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th earl of Aberdeen, Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, Modern, Parliamentary Life, Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd earl of Liverpool, Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd marquess of Salisbury, Robert Walpole, Victorian, William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd duke of Portland, William Ewart Gladstone, Winston Churchill

Prime Ministers in the House of Lords

The retirement of Lord Salisbury in 1902 marked the end of the last premiership undertaken from the House of Lords, but in the nineteenth century, more prime ministers led governments from the Lords than the Commons. In this article, Dr Kathryn Rix, of our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project, explores the history and significance of prime ministers in the Lords. When Anthony Trollope wrote his … Continue reading Prime Ministers in the House of Lords

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Art, Fashion and Material Culture, Elections, Georgian, History of Parliament Trust, Medieval, Modern, Victorian

Re-membering the medieval parliament, 1769-1886

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 17 March, Dr Sarah Wride of the University of York and the Institute of Historical Research, will be discussing the political memory of medieval parliaments in debates about parliamentary reform between 1769 and 1886. The seminar takes place on 17 March 2026, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can … Continue reading Re-membering the medieval parliament, 1769-1886

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