Henry VII’s ‘New Men’
by Steven Gunn / 10 Feb 2012
Steven Gunn delves into a late medieval time of meritocracy and rapid promotion from obscurity
History
They were also MPs: John Burgoyne (1723-92)
JB Seatrobe tracks the career of a staunch anti-colonist who made a mediocre soldier and an unremarkable politician
It’s all a bit academic
by Nik Darlington / 28 Jan 2012
Continuing his series on the parliamentary debates that made history, Nik Darlington examines the January 1944 Commons debate of Rab Butler’s Education Act
Memorabilia: Philip Davies MP
by Philip Davies MP / 08 Jan 2012
Philip Davies MP pays tribute to his political hero, Eric Forth (and his tie)
A moment of madness
by David Stack / 06 Jan 2012
David Stack examines a dark moment in the UK’s history, the enactment of the Mental Deficiency Bill, when social factors and hard-line thinking nearly brought about eugenic cleansing
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Where are they now? Barry Legg
by Paul Linford / 14 Dec 2011
The brief parliamentary career of an IDS supporter and eurosceptic
Cardinal Wolsey, the Court and Power in Early Tudor England
by David Grummitt / 08 Dec 2011
David Grummitt looks at the rise of Henry VIII’s first chief minister and how Wolsey’s access to the king ultimately led to his downfall
Memorabilia: Jim Dobbin MP
by Jim Dobbin MP / 16 Nov 2011
Jim Dobbin MP recalls the glory days of Britain's mining past through these poignant artefacts
They were also MPs: Addison and Steele
12 Oct 2011
JB Seatrobe recounts the story of two Whig politicians, their long-lasting friendship and distinguished literary careers
Where are they now? Sir Ivan Lawrence
by Paul Linford / 06 Oct 2011
Paul Linford on the career of an MP and distinguished barrister
Memorabilia: Alun Michael
by Alun Michael / 27 Sep 2011
Alun Michael MP recalls his memento of the day he met a meerkat (and launched a new criminal justice policy)
They were also MPs: William Cobbett
by JB Seatrobe / 12 Jan 2012
The pamphleteer, journalist and farmer believed that reformation was vital to the countryside economy. JB Seatrobe looks back at his life
Death Warrant of King Charles I (January 1649)
08 Jan 2012
The history of 'perhaps the most dramatic of all records relating to English history'
From cradle to grave
by Nik Darlington / 29 Dec 2011
In a new series, Nik Darlington opens the archives on parliamentary debates that made history. This month is a Commons debate on the birth of the National Health Service, 9 February 1948
They were also MPs: John Donne (1572–1631)
by JB Seatrobe / 14 Dec 2011
JB Seatrobe remembers the impecunious politician who found enduring fame as a satirist, poet and priest
They were also MPs: John Stuart Mill
by JB Seatrobe / 17 Nov 2011
JB Seatrobe follows the career of the social theorist who upheld the rights of the individual in the face of draconian state control
Suez Revisited
by Michael Thornhill / 10 Nov 2011
Michael Thornhill looks back to 1956, when conflict over Egypt’s strategic canal destabilised Parliament’s political balance, and heralded the resignation of a prime minister
The beat goes on
by Alan Moss / 07 Oct 2011
Former police chief superintendent Alan Moss tells the story of the creation of Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police, and how their relationship with a reluctant public and an inquisitive press began
Royal Commission of Queen Elizabeth I (October 1573)
01 Oct 2011
The history of this amazing object from the parliamentary archives
They were also MPs: AP Herbert
17 Sep 2011
JB Seatrobe discovers the bold progress through Parliament of a true Independent
Memorabilia: Steve Rotheram
04 Sep 2011
The Liverpool MP shares his treasured collection of postcards of the Houses of Parliament
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Quote of the Day
There are those who are trying to create an anti-business culture in Britain – and we have to stop them. At stake are not pay packages for a few but jobs and prosperity for the many. Everything in politics encourages more red tape – everyone insists government must step in – ‘something must be done’ is always the cry. We have to resist these pressures.
