Blogs - Hansard Society

Welcome

The Hansard Society is made up of four programmes that inform decision makers and engage the public by:

Creating free resources to help citizenship teachers present the curriculum in an innovative way;

Connecting young people with democracy

Lord Norton on the importance of Citizenship in schools

Lord Norton, Professor of Government in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Hull and member of the Hansard Society's Advisory Council has written a staunch defence of Citizenship's place in the National Curriculum for Democratic Life:

When I visit schools as part of the House of Lords ‘Peers in Schools’ programme, I begin by explaining why Parliament matters. Parliament matters because politics matter. We exist within a society where we are bound by rules. Politics constitute the means by which those rules are debated and agreed. Rules that are to have legal force – that constitute the law – are agreed by Parliament. Acts of Parliament are enforced by the courts, police and by other public agencies. Parliament is thus a central part of our constitutional arrangements. Government may wish to pursue a particular policy – that is, apply a particular rule – but that policy will not be enforceable until approved by Parliament.
Y Vote European Mock Elections
HeadRoom - new discussion space launched for under 18's
HeadsUp forum gets young people talking about politics
Liberties get interactive at the British Library

Exploring the social and political impacts of technology

Research and ideas on Parliament and politics

New MPs struggle with work/life balance - but most see politics as a long-term career

A new briefing paper, A Year in the Life: from member of public to Member of Parliament, finds long working hours and the competing demands of Westminster and constituency are proving detrimental to the family life of new MPs - yet despite this, most aspire to make politics a long-term career.

Evidence from the A Year in the Life study shows:

• The 2010 new intake of MPs initially expected a 60-hour week (plus eight hours travel) but six months on were working a 69- hour week;

•They split their working time 63% in Westminster and 37% in their constituencies - but constituency casework takes up the largest share of their time (28%), followed by constituency meetings/events (21%) and the Commons Chamber (21%);

•A vast number of the new intake report that long working hours and Westminster/constituency demands have a detrimental effect on their personal and family lives - comments such as ‘overwhelming', ‘devastating' and ‘a struggle' are common;

•Over half of new MPs (56%) took a salary cut on becoming an MP.
Building on success - why we need to review the select committee system
Beyond the headlines: Has trust in politicians really declined?
New MPs struggle with work/life balance - but most see politics as a long-term career
Improving the House of Lords working practices

Learning about British politics from the inside