by Pat Ramsey / 20 Aug 2010
The former mayor of Derry treasures a copy of the freedom of the city, which he presented to John Hume for his tireless peace efforts
by James Panton / 23 Jul 2010
James Panton reveals that, even in the heady days of revolt in the ‘60s and ‘70s, radicalism at universities was only ever a minority sport In Paris, at the beginning of May 1968, over 20,000 students, university teachers and radical fellow-travellers marched against the authorities' closure of the universities of the Sorbonne and Paris at Nanterre.
by Peter Weir / 23 Jul 2010
There's no shame in being a hoarder of political tat, says the Northern Ireland Assembly member
by Peter Kerr / 18 Jun 2010
Peter Kerr examines the legacy of the Labour politician that oversaw the creation of the NHS, Aneurin Bevan, who died 50 years ago this JulyAs we await the outcome of the Labour leadership contest, it is perhaps a good time to take a step back and refl ect on one of the party's greatest ever achievements - the creation of the National Health Service - brought into existence on 5 July, 1948.
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by Paul Linford / 18 Jun 2010
This victim of a newspaper sting lost his seat following the cash for questions scandal, as Paul Linford reportsSo-called newspaper stings have been in the news of late, what with the downfall of Football Association chairman Lord Triesman over his bribery claims, followed by the cash for access allegations involving the Duchess of York.
by Martin Salter / 21 May 2010
Former Labour MP Martin Salter looks back on whether reforms to the House have been achieved since he made his maiden speech on modernisation 13 years agoWith last year's expenses scandal triggering renewed interest in political and parliamentary reform, those of us who have toiled for years in the cause of modernisation suddenly found ourselves fashionable once again.
by Lord Soley / 21 May 2010
The former Labour Party chairman treasures an amazing collection of literature about China's Permanent Revolution My early political development was dominated by the three great 20th century dictators - Hitler, Stalin, Mao.
by Francis Beckett / 16 Apr 2010
Francis Beckett looks at the party's last long stint in opposition, and pinpoints the mistakes it must avoid, should it lose the general electionI worked in the Labour Party press office during the 1983 general election.
by Lord Bach / 16 Apr 2010
The parliamentary under-secretary is related to Emmeline Pankhurst, and treasures a fire screen embroidered with the names of suffragettes imprisoned at Holloway I am extremely proud to have been born into a family closely connected with the suffragettes.
by Julia Langdon / 19 Mar 2010
Julia Langdon explores the parallels between the election of February 1974 with the prospects of a hung Parliament todayEven after all these years I can still hear the sudden cheering that came from Downing Street on the evening of 4 March 1974.
by Struan Stevenson / 19 Mar 2010
A coat made from the fur of 42 alsatian puppies is a reminder of a notable victory in the Scottish Conservative MEP's campaign against animal crueltyWithout question, my most memorable possession is my alsatian-fur coat.
by Tor Clark / 19 Feb 2010
The parallels between this year's general election and that fought 18 years ago by John Major are striking.
by JB Seatrobe / 20 Aug 2010
JB Seatrobe on the noted writer who penned satire based on what he saw as the futility of the HouseHilaire Belloc, a noted writer in the first half of the last century, was a Frenchborn Catholic who expounded his very personal social and political views in the chamber of the House of Commons for almost five years as a Liberal MP.
by Paul Linford / 23 Jul 2010
Paul Linford on the mastermind behind the launch of the SDP who went on to champion business and the arts in his native north-east For all its reputation as a Labour heartland, the north-east of England by and large managed to steer clear of the loony leftism that afflicted London, Liverpool and some other metropolitan areas in the mid-1980s.
by JB Seatrobe / 23 Jul 2010
JB Seatrobe on the poet who also served in Elizabeth I's Parliaments A true English Renaissance man, Sir Philip Sidney crammed an active public and private life, at home and abroad, into a very short period in the late 16th century.
by Baroness Barker / 18 Jun 2010
The Liberal Democrat health spokesperson is reminded of 30 years of tense debates and wicked cartoons, byconference souvenirsWhen does a load of old tat become memorabilia? I suppose it is around the same time that junk becomes antique.
by JB Seatrobe / 18 Jun 2010
JB Seatrobe on the great editor of the Manchester Guardian who used Parliament as a second avenue in which to pursue his brand of radical LiberalismCharles Prestwich (CP) Scott, the legendary editor/owner of the Manchester Guardian, not only preached his Liberal politics in his newspaper, but also, for a decade, in the House of Commons.
by Paul Linford / 21 May 2010
Paul Linford writes about the former Lib Dem MP who went from would-be party leader to chief executive of the RSPCAFew politicians have made such an entrance to national politics as Jackie Ballard, the former Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton who was elected in the 1997 ‘mini landslide' that saw her party's representation in the Commons go from 23 to 52 MPs.
by JB Seatrobe / 21 May 2010
JB Seatrobe on the swashbuckling naval hero and 19th century radical who was expelled from Parliament following a Stock Exchange scandal
by Paul Linford / 16 Apr 2010
Paul Linford on the junior member of a unique father and son partnership of Conservative parliamentariansWhile Rupert Allason's father James led a distinguished political career, his son's ended somewhat ignominiously.
by JB Seatrobe / 16 Apr 2010
The Tom Brown's School Days author's parliamentary career was blighted by his inability to act as a party loyalist.
by Paul Linford / 19 Mar 2010
Paul Linford on the little-remembered 97-year-old who invented the policy of selling council houses to tenantsPolitics and longevity do not always go together.
by JB Seatrobe / 19 Mar 2010
JB Seatrobe on the founder of Unilever, a reluctant parliamentarian who fought for salaries for MPsWilliam H Lever, founder of the soap firm Lever Brothers, later the giant multinational Unilever, spent a short period in Parliament as an MP, before moving on to the Upper House as Lord Leverhulme.
by Paul Linford / 19 Feb 2010
Paul Linford writes about one of the fieriest members of the ‘loony left' from Lambeth council in the 1980s There are very few council leaders these days who are household names outside of their own households - but back in the days when councils had real power, it was a different story.
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