Month: March 2017

Early modern history, medieval history, social history

Mutton addressed as Stamp (or, The precursors of the electronic signature).

In recent years electronic signatures have been given the same recognition as a hand-written version. This change has an early modern precedent, as Dr Hannes Kleineke, Senior Research Fellow in our Commons 1422-1504 project, explains… Since 1 July 2016, European Union rules have given electronic signatures the same legal weight as their hand-written counterparts, and it is to be expected that these rules will in … Continue reading Mutton addressed as Stamp (or, The precursors of the electronic signature).

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20th century history, Post-1945 history, social history

Parliament and the 1965 Race Relations Act

Passing legislation with a small majority is an ongoing problem for our current government, but this not an unusual parliamentary position. In today’s guest blog, Dr Simon Peplow discusses the difficulties faced by Labour in passing the first Race Relations Act in 1964-5 with a small majority … When Labour returned to power in 1964, they did so with a manifesto pledge to legislate against … Continue reading Parliament and the 1965 Race Relations Act

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19th Century history, 20th century history, Politics

The Prime Minister in the House of Lords: Gladstone and the Irish Church bill, 1869

For the past month the government’s Brexit bill has been back and forth both Houses of Parliament, re-awakening old debates on the roles of the Commons and Lords. Here our Director, Dr Paul Seaward, discusses a similar controversial bill 150 years ago… Theresa May’s remarkable appearance in the House of Lords on 20 February, at the beginning of the debate on the bill triggering the … Continue reading The Prime Minister in the House of Lords: Gladstone and the Irish Church bill, 1869

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19th Century history, Conferences/seminars, Politics

Parliaments, Politics & People Seminar: Gary Hutchison, ‘‘A distant and Whiggish country’: The Conservative Party and Scottish elections, 1832–1847’

At our last ‘Parliaments, politics and people’ seminar, Gary Hutchison (University of Edinburgh – and former winner of the HPT’s undergraduate dissertation prize) spoke on his research into the Conservative Party and Scottish elections after 1832. Here he gives an overview of his paper… The Reform Act(s) of 1832 had far-reaching effects on the practical politics of elections, as well as the wider political culture … Continue reading Parliaments, Politics & People Seminar: Gary Hutchison, ‘‘A distant and Whiggish country’: The Conservative Party and Scottish elections, 1832–1847’

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medieval history, social history

Lords and Commons in Late Medieval England

As the government’s bill to trigger article 50 and leave the European Union progresses through the House of Lords, the relationship between the Lords and the Commons is once more under discussion. In today’s blog, Dr Simon Payling, Senior Research Fellow on our Commons 1422-1504 project, discusses the relationship between the two houses in late medieval England… The relationship between the Lords and Commons in … Continue reading Lords and Commons in Late Medieval England

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