About / Who we are

Our history

7 Apr 2019
Queen Elizabeth Tower, UK Houses of Parliament

Parliament’s ‘critical friend’: a short history of the Hansard Society

Seeing the Prime Minister, Mr Churchill, and his Deputy, Mr Attlee, sitting on a sofa in the Smoking Room of the House of Commons in August 1944, at the height of the War, an independent MP, Stephen King-Hall, summoned up the courage to approach them to see if he could interest them in his ‘Friends of Hansard’ idea.

King-Hall believed that the record of parliamentary debates was an excellent vehicle for proclaiming the principles and workings of parliamentary democracy at a time when they were under imminent threat. King-Hall, whose maiden speech had focused on the lack of interest shown by both the public and Parliament in Hansard, believed that the record could be not only an instrument of propaganda but also a teaching aid for the expansion of parliamentary democracy after the War.

Having listened to the idea, Churchill asked, ‘How much do you want to start this up?’ ‘One pound from each of you if you approve the idea, and you will be the first Friends’, replied King-Hall. Churchill and Attlee duly handed over the money. So began a venture that for 75 years has sought, through education and research, to promote the principles of parliamentary democracy at home and abroad.

King-Hall’s vision took off rapidly and the informal ‘Friends’ of Hansard soon had to be replaced by a more formal ‘Society’, with the support of prominent donors including Her Majesty the Queen. King-Hall’s promotional prowess was such that, by early 1947, weekly sales of Hansard had grown to over 12,000, and the daily editions to over 5,000, prompting the Ministry of Information to warn that it would run out of paper if sales continued at such a pace.

Research and education enquiries were soon being received from around the globe – 400 a day at their height – and an American and African section were established to cope with the response. Your Parliament, the first ever handbook guide to Westminster, sold 40,000 copies and was translated into five languages. Thousands of schoolchildren came to Westminster Central Hall to take part in meetings and debates with Members and staff from the House. And the first ever public exhibition in Parliament was organised as part of the Festival of Britain in 1951, attracting thousands of visitors.

To the outside observer, the Hansard Society had become an independent public relations and education service for Westminster, and the advancement of Hansard was now just part of that work.

The presentation and promotion of Parliament to the public became core to the Society’s role. It is here that the Society has had the greatest influence on Westminster, pushing it to become a more outward-looking, public-facing institution.

Many of the Society’s early projects laid the groundwork for Parliament’s own information, visitor and education services. The Society was instrumental in the campaign to televise Parliament, and our 2005 Commission on the Communication of Parliamentary Democracy, chaired by Lord Puttnam, revolutionised Westminster’s approach to outward-facing communications, both on- and offline. We piloted the first online consultation forums for select committees, and hosted the first ever public hustings for the election of the Speaker of the House of Commons and subsequently the Lord Speaker.

Registered as a charity since December 1999, the Hansard Society remains dedicated to its founding principle of support for parliamentary democracy.

News / Parliament’s spying scandal: Why was the China case dropped? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 110

It’s been a tumultuous week in Westminster, with three ministerial statements on the China spying case and fresh questions about the collapse of charges against two alleged spies. We are joined by Cambridge public law expert Professor Mark Elliott to untangle the legal and political fallout, from espionage claims inside MPs’ offices to confusion over whether China was ever designated an “enemy state.” We also explore looming government challenges — the Budget, Afghan data leak, local election setbacks — and the membership of the new Select Committee to consider the assisted dying legislation in the House of Lords. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

17 Oct 2025
Read more

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 13-16 October 2025

Parliament returns this week after a three-week recess. MPs may address developments in Israel and Gaza, the collapse of the China spying case, plans for digital ID, and recent immigration announcements. They will also scrutinise four Bills, question four departmental ministerial teams, debate baby loss and badger culling, and hear evidence from tax experts, energy executives, and travel and immigration experts. In the Lords, the membership of the new Select Committee to consider the Assisted Dying Bill will be confirmed. Peers will examine six Government Bills, debate the National Policy Statement for Ports, and question the Border Security Commander. Two new Peers, Liz Lloyd and Jason Stockwood, will take their seats following their recent ministerial appointments.

12 Oct 2025
Read more

News / Former Prime Ministers: The role of Parliament in life after No 10 - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 109

In this episode, we speak with Peter Just, author of a new book, Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street. Peter explores how Thatcher reinvented herself after her departure to maintain her status as an international figure, and how she remained a parliamentary thorn in John Major’s side. We also compare her parliamentary afterlife with that of other Prime Ministers, and consider the value that former leaders can bring to the institution of Parliament. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

03 Oct 2025
Read more

Briefings / Assisted dying - The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Rolling news

Stay informed with updates and analysis on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill as it moves through Parliament. Learn about the debates, procedures, decisions, and key milestones shaping the assisted dying legislation.

15 May 2025
Read more

News / What are the Usual Channels? A short history of Westminster whipping - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 108

In this episode, we talk to political journalist Seb Whale about his new book, The Usual Channels, which reveals the hidden world of Westminster’s whips. Seb charts how party discipline has evolved – from the stormy politics of the 1970s and the Maastricht battles of the 1990s to the legendary “black book,” the Brexit showdowns and the short-lived Liz Truss premiership. He explains how the whips’ office has adapted to a modern Parliament – especially with the influx of women MPs – and why, even today, whips still wield decisive influence over MPs’ careers and remain indispensable despite the pressures of contemporary politics. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

26 Sep 2025
Read more