Tag: Emma Nicholson

20th century history, Constituencies, Contemporary History, Elections, Factions, John Major, Margaret Thatcher, Modern, Oral history, Parliamentary Life, Parties, Scottish History

Crossing the Floor: Tales from the Oral History Project

Following some recent, high-profile, political defections, Alfie Steer and Dr Emma Peplow have delved into the History of Parliament’s Oral History archive to explore historical cases of MPs changing their party affiliations: their causes, motivations and wider significance. Political defections, commonly known in Westminster parlance as ‘Crossing the Floor’, have been a phenomenon in Parliament since at least the 17th century. This has either happened … Continue reading Crossing the Floor: Tales from the Oral History Project

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Modern, Oral history, Social history, Women and Parliament

‘Neither fish, fowl nor good red herring’: Baroness Nicholson’s experiences of hearing loss

Emma Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, born 1941, was the MP for Torridge and West Devon 1987‒97. Elected as a Conservative MP, she crossed the floor to join the Liberal Democrats in 1995. After losing her seat in 1997 she was created a life peer, and served as a Member of the European Parliament for South East England for ten years (1999‒2009). Interviewed in 2013 … Continue reading ‘Neither fish, fowl nor good red herring’: Baroness Nicholson’s experiences of hearing loss

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Modern, 20th century history, Oral history, Women and Parliament

Women in Democracy during the 1970s and 1980s

Over the past few days Parliament Week has been in full swing and events have taken place around the country aimed at inspiring people to get involved in parliamentary democracy. The theme this year is Women in Democracy – celebrating women’s contribution to British political life. As we all know, despite gaining the vote in 1918 we are still some way from gender parity in … Continue reading Women in Democracy during the 1970s and 1980s

Emma Peplow5 Comments