Month: March 2016

Early modern history, Military history, Religious history

Writing Parliamentary Biography. The Commons 1640-1660. Part 2: Sir Simonds D’Ewes (1602-50), the self-fashioning MP

In the second of a four-part series, Dr Stephen Roberts, editor of the Commons 1640-60 section, discusses the problems associated with judging the life of a prolific diarist… Simonds D’Ewes was born into a family recently settled in Suffolk but with roots in the Netherlands. He was the son and grandson of lawyers, and was himself put to the law at a very young age. … Continue reading Writing Parliamentary Biography. The Commons 1640-1660. Part 2: Sir Simonds D’Ewes (1602-50), the self-fashioning MP

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18th Century history, 19th Century history

Cabinet resignations: an issue of principle

Following Iain Duncan-Smith’s high profile resignation from the cabinet this weekend, we take a look back at some other examples of resignations from the cabinet due to policy differences… Resigning your post in government has long been the unhappy minister’s weapon of last resort. As Iain Duncan-Smith has been discovering this weekend, it can be an extremely powerful tool to highlight your opposition to government … Continue reading Cabinet resignations: an issue of principle

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18th Century history

“Contrary to the fundamental laws of nature”? The passage of the Declaratory Act, March 1766

250 years ago this week Parliament passed the ‘Declaratory Act’, aimed at limiting the damage of the earlier repeal of the Stamp Act. In the second of two blogs on the issue, Dr Robin Eagles, Senior Research Fellow in the House of Lords 1660-1832 section, discusses the debates on the issue – whether the British parliament could, in principle, tax its colonies when they did … Continue reading “Contrary to the fundamental laws of nature”? The passage of the Declaratory Act, March 1766

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'The Story of Parliament', 19th Century history, Religious history, Social history

‘The Story of Parliament’: Parnell and obstruction

Last year the History published ‘The Story of Parliament: Celebrating 750 years of parliament in Britain’ to mark the anniversary of Simon de Montfort’s parliament in 1265. The book is a brief introduction to the full 750 years of parliamentary history, aimed at the general reader, and available to purchase from the Houses of Parliament bookshop. On this blog we are publishing some tasters of … Continue reading ‘The Story of Parliament’: Parnell and obstruction

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19th Century history, 20th century history, Conferences/seminars, Social history

Parliament, Politics and People Seminar: James Ford, ‘United under one roof, though separated by different arches and mouldings, Representing the Union in the Central Lobby mosaics’

At our latest ‘Parliaments, Politics and People’ Seminar, James Ford (University of Nottingham) spoke on ‘‘United under one roof, though separated by different arches and mouldings’: representing the Union in the Central Lobby mosaics, 1847-1924.’ Here he discusses his paper… In Michael Cokerell’s 2015 documentary Inside the Commons the late Charles Kennedy MP repeated an anecdote that explains the placement of mosaics of saints George, Andrew, … Continue reading Parliament, Politics and People Seminar: James Ford, ‘United under one roof, though separated by different arches and mouldings, Representing the Union in the Central Lobby mosaics’

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