Category: Contemporary History

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

When every vote counted: what minority government in the 1970s meant for MPs

With Parliament back and Theresa May’s government trying to pass controversial legislation, Emmeline Ledgerwood, one of our oral history project volunteers and PhD student at the British Library/University of Leicester, blogs on the periods of minority government during the 1970s, using excerpts from our oral history project archive… As Westminster returns to work after the summer recess, MPs must become accustomed to an environment which … Continue reading When every vote counted: what minority government in the 1970s meant for MPs

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

Unlikely Parliamentarians 1: Modern MPs

This week is Parliament Week, a programme of events and activities that connects people across the UK with Parliament and democracy. To mark it, every day this week we are publishing a blog on ‘unlikely parliamentarians’ – the men and women across history who became parliamentarians only unexpectedly. We’re starting with a selection of stories taken from our MPs’ oral history project… Our oral history … Continue reading Unlikely Parliamentarians 1: Modern MPs

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Anthony Eden, Diplomacy and International Relations, Military history, Modern, Oral history

Parliament and the Suez Crisis

Sixty years ago this week the Suez Crisis was in full swing and parliament was in uproar. Here we discuss the crisis through the eyes of the Commons… The Suez Crisis is now seen by historians as one of the defining moments of twentieth century British foreign policy. At the time, the divisions within the country were played out in the Commons chamber, as the … Continue reading Parliament and the Suez Crisis

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20th century history, Contemporary History, Diplomacy and International Relations, Factions, John Major, Modern, Oral history, Parties

The parties and Europe 2: Conservatives and Maastricht

Earlier this week we delved in to our oral history archive to discover the divisions within the Labour Party over Britain’s entry into the European Economic Community (EEC) in the 1970s. In today’s blogpost, we’ve returned to our archive to uncover memories of the struggle to ratify the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, and the resulting impact on the Conservative Party. The Maastricht Treaty was agreed in … Continue reading The parties and Europe 2: Conservatives and Maastricht

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Diplomacy and International Relations, Edward Heath, Factions, Harold Wilson, Modern, Oral history, Parties

The Parties and Europe 1: Labour and the 1975 Referendum

The European Referendum campaign is now in full swing, creating heated political debate and causing some unusual alliances. In British politics, however, the issue of Europe and Britain’s role in it has been long-running and divisive for both the Labour and Conservative parties. The issue features prominently in our interviews with former MPs for our oral history archive. In the first of two blogs on … Continue reading The Parties and Europe 1: Labour and the 1975 Referendum

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