Support and connect with us

About

Support and connect with us

Connect with us and support our work to improve the way Parliament works and champion a more informed public debate about parliamentary democracy.

Membership and donations

Will you support our work by becoming a member of the Hansard Society or making a donation?

Become a member

Statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. CC

Amid growing concern about the increase in executive power and the side-lining of Parliament, there has never been a more important time to support us in developing solutions to improve the way Parliament works and to champion more informed public debate about Parliament and parliamentary democracy.

Our members form a valuable network of people who care about Parliament, public life and politics and want our parliamentary institutions to prosper in the future.

If you are currently unable to commit to becoming a member, please consider making a single or recurring donation and support our work to improve the way Parliament works!

Become a member

Come to our events

Members / Holding Government to Account - Democracy and the National Audit Office

Each year MPs approve trillions of pounds of public spending. But can they really follow the money? Our guest speakers – Dr Henry Midgley, Professor Laurence Ferry and Aileen Murphie of Durham University − will be discussing how Parliament scrutinises Government expenditure and holds Ministers to account for it. 6.30-7.45pm, Tuesday 14 January 2025 online via Zoom This is a meeting for Hansard Society members and their friends. Not already a member of the Hansard Society? Join us now!

Members / Mapping the Constitution with David Torrance

Dr David Torrance spoke to us about his major new project for the House of Commons Library: Mapping the UK Constitution. 6:00pm-7:15pm on Tuesday, 10 December 2024, at the Palace of Westminster followed by refreshments at a nearby venue This is a meeting for Hansard Society members and their friends. Not already a member of the Hansard Society? Join us now!

Webinars / The Assisted Dying Bill: Making sense of the parliamentary process

The Assisted Dying Bill is a Private Member’s Bill (PMB). Although the legislative stages for PMBs are the same as for Government bills, the rules that apply are different, creating distinct procedural hurdles that PMBs must navigate. This online discussion featured a discussion between a panel of impartial experts about the parliamentary process affecting this Bill. If you were unable to join us for the live event, a recording is now being made available. The live event took place between 6:00pm and 7:15pm on Tuesday 26 November 2024 Post-event recording will be available from 27 November 2024 (Tickets: £10)

Members / The Modernisation Committee’s potential for reform

The House of Commons has appointed a new Modernisation Committee and issued a call for views on what it should address. So what is the Modernisation Committee, and what should it be doing? Our Director, Dr Ruth Fox, led Hansard Society members in an online discussion on Modernisation Committee reforms. 6:30-7:45pm, Tuesday 19 November 2024 online via Zoom This is a meeting for Hansard Society members and their friends. Not already a member of the Hansard Society? Join us now!

Members / Annual General Meeting - with Sir Peter Riddell

Our Annual General Meeting updated Members on the work of the Society and provided a look ahead to our future plans. Our special guest speaker was Hansard Society member Sir Peter Riddell, former political editor and chief political commentator at The Times and author of numerous books about Parliament and politics. Sir Peter joined us to discuss the general election campaign and the challenges facing the new Parliament. 6:00-7:30pm, 12 June 2024 This is a Members-only hybrid event: in person at our base in Westminster, and on Zoom.

Latest / Highlights

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 30 June - 4 July 2025

MPs will vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. Motions objecting to ratification of the UK–Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago will be debated by Peers. MPs will debate the proscription of Palestine Action. Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces MPs’ oral questions and the Defence Secretary John Healey MP faces select committee scrutiny. MPs will formally approve the continued existence of the armed forces for the next 12 months, as required annually. Consideration of the Bill to create an Armed Forces Commissioner may also be completed this week. The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill returns to the Lords for Report Stage while Peers will also scrutinise the Renters’ Rights and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

News / What Westminster gets wrong about the NHS - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 98

We are joined this week by two guests who bring invaluable insight into the intersection of health policy and parliamentary life. Dr. Sarah Wollaston and Steve Brine – both former MPs, health policy experts, and co-hosts of the podcast Prevention is the New Cure – share their experiences of how the House of Commons handles health and social care. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

News / Assisted dying bill: Special series #14 - MPs back assisted dying bill in historic vote - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 97

This week, we reflect on a landmark moment in UK parliamentary history: the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons, moving one step closer to legalising assisted dying in England and Wales. We are joined once again by former House of Commons Clerk Paul Evans to examine how this Private Member’s Bill navigated the political and procedural obstacles in its path and to explore what lies ahead in the House of Lords. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

Guides / How does Parliament approve Government spending? A procedural guide to the Estimates process

In order to incur expenditure the Government needs to obtain approval from Parliament for its departmental spending plans. The annual Estimates cycle is the means by which the House of Commons controls the Government’s plans for the spending of money raised through taxation.

Blog / What role does Parliament play in the Spending Review?

The UK Spending Review outlines how Government funds will be allocated over several years. Unlike the Budget, which raises revenue, the Review decides how it is spent. But how is it approved? What role does Parliament play if it doesn’t vote on the Review itself? This blog explores how the Spending Review works, how it differs from the Budget, and how Parliament holds the Government to account through the Estimates process.