Memorabilia
by Lord West / 19 Feb 2010
The former First Sea Lord treasures a memento salvaged from his ship, sunk during the Falklands War As a man who's been in the navy for 40-odd years, I have lots of mementos covering the walls of my study.
History
Where are they now: Sir Neville Trotter
by Paul Linford / 22 Jan 2010
Paul Linford reveals the wonderfully named Conservative MP who served the monarch after representing Tynemouth for 23 years In a parliamentary career spanning 23 years, Trotter gained a reputation as a solid backbench figure with a special expertise in defence matters, without ever quite managing to set the Thames on fire.
They were also MPs: Robert Clive (1725-1774)
by JB Seatrobe / 22 Jan 2010
Despite serving two terms as a Whig member, Clive of India saw himself as a statesman above the party fray at Westminster, JB Seatrobe reports Robert Clive, Clive of India, played a crucial military and administrative role in the establishment of the British Empire in India in the mid-18th century.
Odd one in
by Catherine R Schenk / 18 Dec 2009
Concerns that Britain was not European enough caused a decade's delay in the UK's acceptance into the EEC.
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They were also MPs: AEW Mason (1865-1948)
by JB Seatrobe / 18 Dec 2009
JB Seatrobe on an adventure-story writer who turned to Parliament when his creative spark began to fail him
A journey towards equal representation
by Sunder Katwala / 20 Nov 2009
MPs with ethnic minority backgrounds have been elected since the 19th century, but numbers still remain low.
Memorabilia
by Ben Bradshaw / 20 Nov 2009
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport explains why he treasures a tacky reminder of the Berlin WallTwenty years ago I had the good fortune and enormous privilege to be the BBC's correspondent in Berlin.
Fire! Fire!
by Mark D'Arcy / 23 Oct 2009
The Great Fire of Parliament in 1834 was watched by huge crowds and artists flocked to record the event.
They were also MPs: David Ricardo (1772-1823)
by JB Seatrobe / 23 Oct 2009
JB Seatrobe discovers the economist and financier ‘purchased' his first seat and concentrated on the Corn Laws after entering the Commons late in lifeDavid Ricardo was already a famed theoretical economist and financier in the early 1800s, when he became, for the last years of his life, an MP for a rotten borough.
Where are they now: Ron Davies
by Paul Linford / 18 Sep 2009
Ron Davies became the first member of the original Blair cabinet to resign his office, following a "moment of madness" on Clapham CommonWhen Labour's new cabinet lined up alongside Tony Blair for the customary victory photograph after the 1997 general election, few could have guessed how many and varied would be their fates.
They were also MPs: Sir Joseph Paxton (1803-1865)
by JB Seatrobe / 18 Sep 2009
JB Seatrobe reveals that the noted gardener, architect and creator of the Crystal Palace sat for the Liberals for a decade Sir Joseph Paxton, designer of the famous Crystal Palace, was, at the height of his fame, an MP for over a decade.
Legends in their own lunchtime
by Sarah MacKinlay and Ben Duckworth / 21 Aug 2009
Political dining can be a jolly, anecdote-laden affair.
They were also MPs: Samuel Pepys (1633-1703)
by JB Seatrobe / 19 Feb 2010
The renowned diarist endured a fraught parliamentary career, JB Seatrobe says, which saw him imprisoned in the Tower for alleged catholic sympathies
Memorabilia
by Graham Watson / 22 Jan 2010
The MEP treasures an unusual portrait of William Ewart Gladstone, and the unexpected gift of a fine biography of the great man.
The Cato Street Conspiracy
by Ned Simons / 22 Jan 2010
A dinner attended by the entire cabinet was a juicy target for a group of extremists in 1820.
Where are they now: Eric Moonman
by Paul Linford / 18 Dec 2009
Paul Linford on a former MP whose fame rests much more on his expertise on terrorism than what he did in Parliament Few people under the age of 40 will remember Eric Moonman.
Memorabilia: Peter Hain MP
by Peter Hain / 18 Dec 2009
The Welsh Secretary on the powerful family history represented in a prized Nelson Mandela election poster
Where are they now: Christopher Brocklebank-fowler
by Paul Linford / 20 Nov 2009
Was the MP who defected from the Conservatives to the SDP before finally joining Labour highly principled or merely disloyal, asks Paul LinfordDepending on your point of view, Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler was either one of the bravest and most principled politicians of the last three decades, or a serial defector for whom disloyalty was second nature.
They were also MPs: Andrew Marvell (1621-1678)
by JB Seatrobe / 20 Nov 2009
The 17th century poet and friend of John Milton was a conscientious constituency MP but was also twice reprimanded for unparliamentary behaviour, says JB SeatrobeOne of the 17th century's greatest poets, Andrew Marvell was also a civil servant, and, for most of his last 20 years, an MP for his boyhood home of Kingston upon Hull.
Memorabilia
by Lord Avebury / 23 Oct 2009
The Lib Dem peer treasures a testimonial presented to his MP grandfather Sir John Lubbock in 1878Both my grandfathers were Liberal MPs; my godfather Harcourt (Crinks) Johnstone was a Liberal Chief Whip, and my greataunt Rosalind Carlisle was President of the Women's Liberal Federation.
Where are they now: Gerry Bermingham
by Paul Linford / 23 Oct 2009
Gerry Bermingham stepped down to allow defector Shaun Woodward to take his place, but has kept a dignified silence sinceGerry Bermingham was never a minister, not even the chair of a select committee - but over the course of his 18 years in the Commons, he became one of those respected backbench figures possessed of what they used to call ‘bottom'.
Memorabilia
by Hugo Swire MP / 18 Sep 2009
The Conservative MP reflects on his love of artefacts related to Churchill and other powerful figuresIn my Sotheby's days I was fortunate enough to be allowed to indulge my interest in politics by holding two political sales.
Centre Stage
by Ben Duckworth / 18 Sep 2009
As the party leaders prepare to dazzle at conference, Ben Duckworth looks back at the successful and not so successful occasions and asks: what can today's leaders learn from their predecessors?The three conference speeches by Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg effectively mark the start of the general election race.
Where are they now: Henry McLeish
by Paul Linford / 21 Aug 2009
The ex-Leeds footballer Henry McLeish who scored an own goal over sub-letting his office was hardly the worst of political sinnersBy recent standards of political scandals, the former Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish can consider himself somewhat hard done by.
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