Despatch Box BlogPolitical insight from the Hansard Society research team and leading commentatorsblog / 12 Oct, 17Whose House Is It Anyway?The Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, has called for further reforms of the way the House of Commons operates, saying that, while much has changed for the better o…blog / 11 Oct, 17Opening up the Usual Channels: next steps for reform of the House of CommonsIn a speech to the Hansard Society on 11 October, of which the full text and audio recording are below, the House of Commons Speaker, the Rt Hon. John Bercow MP, prop…blog / 05 Oct, 17A troubled project - ended by a fire: restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster before 1834The troubled progress of the restoration and renewal project for the current Palace of Westminster turns out to be only a contemporary echo of a 17th and 18th century…blog / 26 Sep, 17Constitutionalism and trust: A day of discussion on the EU (Withdrawal) BillOn 12 September 2017, the morning after the House of Commons gave the EU (Withdrawal) Bill a late-night second reading, the Hansard Society and Cardiff University’s W…blog / 08 Sep, 17Who is in charge of the Palace of Westminster? Big Ben and parliamentary governanceThe summer’s row over the temporary silencing of Big Ben highlights confused and opaque decision-making structures governing the Palace of Westminster. This bodes ill…blog / 05 Sep, 17A Parliamentary Scrutiny Solution For The EU (Withdrawal) BillThe government has said that the ‘principal objective of leaving the EU is for Parliament to take back control of UK laws and policies’. The European Union (Withdrawa…blog / 03 Sep, 17A summer without select committees - and why it must never happen againThe House of Commons returns on 5 September still without its select committees. By failing to get its select committees back up and running for so long after the gen…blog / 18 Jul, 17The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – initial reflections on the Bill’s delegated powers and delegated legislationThe powers set out in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (formerly known as the ‘Great Repeal Bill’) are some of the broadest constitutionally important provisions ever seen in…blog / 21 Jun, 17The State Opening of Parliament: history, tradition and what to expectThe State Opening of Parliament is one of the most anticipated events of the parliamentary year. Beamed to television and radio networks around the world, it has beco…blog / 08 Jun, 17The Mock Elections 2017 national results are in!Results in at the national Mock Election headquarters show that the Labour Party has won the school election campaign across the country by a comfortable majority…blog / 06 Jun, 17Why schools play such an important role in creating strong and stable democraciesIn the run-up to the 2017 election, the issue of youth voting has once again returned to the fore in public debate, much as it did in 2015. Although there was an incr…blog / 05 Jun, 17Lessons for new select committees from the BHS inquiryWhen select committees in the new House of Commons look for a successful past inquiry from which to learn, they may well think of the inquiry into Sir Philip Green an…blog / 26 May, 17Deal or no deal? A parliamentary Brexit vote and the two-level gameTheir manifestos have confirmed that Labour rejects a ‘no deal’ Brexit, while the Conservatives believe ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’. This difference has impli…blog / 28 Apr, 17 A guide to the Parliament of Ethiopia - by Meheret Ayenew and Tsedey MekonnenThe Ethiopian Parliament has two houses. The main legislative body is the lower House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR) consisting of 546 directly elected members. T…blog / 26 Apr, 17Audit 14 key findings (video)Explore the key findings from the 14th annual Audit of Political Engagement in this short video and learn about the state of public attitudes towards politics in 2017…blog / 26 Apr, 17Parliamentary democracy or referendums? Public attitudes to decision-makingAfter four referendums in six years – two UK-wide and one each in Scotland and Wales – our latest annual Audit of Political Engagement shows that the public exhibit d…blog / 10 Apr, 17How research is contributing to Bangladesh's development improvements is explored by Zahir Ahmed Earlier this month the Impact Initiative brought Bangladeshi development leaders together with researchers focused on the country, to explore what has made Bangladesh…blog / 30 Mar, 17Taking back control? Initial thoughts on the Great Repeal Bill White PaperIn the newly published White Paper, the government makes much of the theme ‘taking back control’. But the paper’s content does little to alleviate the fear that it is…blog / 19 Feb, 17Government squandered public education opportunity with dismissive response to anti-Trump state visit e-petitionLast week the government had the opportunity to engage directly with 1.8 million citizens. Presented with a communication opportunity on this scale, more thought and…blog / 14 Feb, 17'Bonfire of the quangos' legislation fizzles outThe forthcoming Great Repeal Bill will be the most prominent piece of enabling legislation since the controversial Public Bodies Act 2011…blog / 07 Feb, 17Parliaments around the world: what can architecture teach us about democracy?In a recent study of the plenary halls of every UN member-state legislature, Amsterdam-based architectural firm XML analysed the relationships between space, decision…blog / 31 Jan, 17Trump, state visits and Parliament: precedent and processHistorically, it would be more unusual for US President Trump to have a state visit, or make an address in Westminster Hall, than not. The furore surrounding Presiden…blog / 20 Jan, 17Why Parliament needs a 'good Brexit'There are two scenarios for the way in which Parliament’s handling of Brexit affects its position in the UK’s democratic system – one in which Brexit strengthens the…blog / 24 Nov, 16"You can look, but don't touch!" Making the legislative process more accessibleCan technology help change the culture and practice of parliamentary politics, particularly around the legislative process…blog / 21 Nov, 16Culture, design and filter bubbles: looking back at #FutureParliamentTo mark Parliament Week – a programme of activities connecting people across the UK with the Westminster Parliament – the Hansard Society hosted a half-day event to l…blog / 20 Oct, 16Will the Great Repeal Bill be another ‘Abolish Parliament’ bill?The government heralds its proposed ‘Great Repeal Bill’ as the Bill to ‘give Parliament its sovereignty back’ upon Brexit…blog / 20 Jul, 16Is Parliament Ready for Brexit?After probably the most momentous month in British politics since 1945, there’s one Leave decision that virtually all MPs and peers seem agreed on, and are even looki…blog / 13 Jul, 16'Can-Do' Rather Than 'Yah Boo' - Will Theresa May Change the Practice of Politics?Having served as Home Secretary since 2010, Theresa May has been understandably silent on a number of key issues beyond her departmental remit…blog / 24 Jun, 16It's Brexit… So What Now for Parliament?A referendum is a blunt political instrument to deal with complex political questions, but now that it is over Parliament will have to deal with the consequences afte…blog / 09 Jun, 16Lifting the Lid: The European Union Referendum (Voter Registration) Regulations 2016Our Lifting the Lid series aims to open up the delegated legislation process to reveal the stories behind some recently published Statutory Instruments. This week: Th…blog / 26 May, 16A guide to the Parliament of Bangladesh - the Jatiya Sangsad (or House of the Nation) - by Nizam Ahmed The Bangladeshi Parliament - the Jatiya Sangsad (or House of the Nation) - is a 350 member unicameral Parliament; 300 members are elected directly and 50 seats are re…blog / 18 Apr, 16Audit of Political Engagement 13 infographic posters - The Election EffectFollowing one of the most unexpected general election results in modern times, this year’s Audit of Political Engagement (2016) explores whether there has been a post…blog / 16 Apr, 16The EU Referendum: Audit of Political Engagement 13 infographicNow in its 13th year, each Audit measures the ‘political pulse’ of the nation, providing a unique benchmark to gauge public opinion across Great Britain with regard t…blog / 05 Apr, 16A new generation get the key to the DáilIreland’s 32nd parliament met for the first time on 10 March 2016 following a general election which returned a highly-fragmented party system and failed to offer an…blog / 31 Mar, 16Corbyn's 'Save Our Steel' e-petition shows why the rules governing the recall of Parliament need to changeIn a time of crisis Parliament is hamstrung if it is in recess. MPs are not masters of their own House because, in accordance with House of Commons Standing Order 13…blog / 21 Mar, 16Research as political scrutiny - Emma Crewe talks about our work in Ethiopia and BangladeshEmma was in South Africa recently with our Ethiopian colleague Nega Wubie to speak at the Impact Initiative conference on ‘Research as Political Scrutiny’. She took…blog / 23 Feb, 16Lifting the Lid: The European Union Referendum (Date of Referendum etc.) Regulations 2016Our Lifting the Lid series aims to open up the delegated legislation process and reveal the stories behind recently published Statutory Instruments. This week: The Eu…blog / 26 Jan, 16Lifting the Lid: The Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2015Our ‘Lifting the Lid’ blog series aims to open up the delegated legislation process by revealing the stories behind some recently published Statutory Instruments. Thi…blog / 13 Jan, 16Reflections on the Strathclyde ReviewFollowing the Tax Credits regulations vote last October[^1], the Prime Minister asked Lord Strathclyde to conduct a ‘rapid review’ of Statutory Instruments to conside…blog / 14 Dec, 15Delegated Legislation: Frequently Asked QuestionsIt is widely reported that the Strathclyde review, which has been tasked with considering the policy powers of the House of Lords, may recommend that the Upper House…blog / 03 Dec, 15How the Strathclyde review could empower the government and not the House of CommonsIf the Strathclyde review neuters House of Lords influence on delegated legislation it will empower the government not the House of Commons…blog / 01 Dec, 15Lifting the Lid: The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015Our ‘Lifting the Lid’ blog series aims to open up the delegated legislation process by revealing the stories behind some recently published Statutory Instruments. Thi…blog / 10 Nov, 15Lifting the Lid: The Prison and Young Offender Institution (Amendment) Rules 2015Our ‘Lifting the Lid’ blog series aims to open up the delegated legislation process by revealing the stories behind some recently published Statutory Instruments. Thi…blog / 26 Oct, 15Licence to kill? Should the House of Lords veto the Tax Credits Statutory Instrument?Just 20 lines of legislation may threaten a constitutional stand-off if the House of Lords vetoes the Tax Credits (Income Thresholds and Determination of Rates) (Amen…blog / 11 Oct, 15Public attitudes to "People's PMQs" infographicFind out what the key findings are in our latest survey on public attitudes to Prime Minister’s Questions in five graphics…blog / 04 Sep, 15Why Labour's 2015 campaign is a warning to a Jeremy Corbyn leadershipProfessor Steven Fielding analyses the Corbynite diagnosis of Labour’s failure in May and explains why the prospective leader could suffer a similar fate…blog / 03 Sep, 15Populist personalities? The Big Five Personality Traits and party choice in the 2015 UK general electionJames Dennison examines the association between personality traits and party choice in the 2015 UK General Election…blog / 02 Sep, 15Why won't the SNP be misbehaving in Westminster?Professor James Mitchell explains why the SNP’s Westminster contingent will avoid anything that risks undermining the party’s position in Edinburgh…blog / 27 May, 15The First 100 Days: A Survival Guide for New MPsCongratulations on your election. There are over 60 million people in Britain and you are one of just 650 people entitled to use the letters ‘MP’ after your name…blog / 21 May, 15Digital didn't win it, but it did shape the campaignLabour got the most mentions, but how many of those were positive? And UKIP were ahead of the Conservatives on tweets but it didn’t turn into seats. Social media rumb…blog / 19 May, 15Why the Edstone failed - in a biblical wayThe Edstone is one of the abiding images of the 2015 General Election. 8ft 6 inches tall and made out of solid limestone, the Edstone was inscribed with six pledges f…blog / 12 May, 15Do mock elections really matter?Why even casting your ballot in school elections can have a lasting effect on youth political engagement…blog / 03 Apr, 15Making Plans for Nigel (Dodds): the General Election and Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland’s part in the General Election, often seen as peripheral, has already attracted more interest than usual…blog / 29 Jan, 15Rip it up and start again: parliamentary politics, destruction and renewalLondon Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down; London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady…blog / 16 Dec, 14What's good for the goose is good for the ganderPolitical scientists have known for a long time that talking politics to family and friends makes a difference to how people vote. Early election studies in the 1950s…blog / 12 Dec, 14What to do with women in 2015: ‘Perhaps sit them in the corner’?At the outset the 2010 General Election was all set to be the mumsnet election – decided at the school gates…blog / 09 Dec, 14The Delegated Legislation Journey: From Idea to ImplementationLearn about the complex journey, from idea to implementation, involved in making delegated legislation in this six-step infographic. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, conse…blog / 05 Dec, 14In a close contest, will money make a difference?In the run-up to any election, attention often turns to party finance. In the US, for example, coverage of Presidential campaigns often refers to how much candidates…blog / 27 Nov, 14Suppose they gave a war and no one came?‘Suppose they gave a war and no one came?’ became a catchphrase of the US peace movement in the 1960s. What happened over the last week in British politics couldn’t h…blog / 25 Nov, 14After Rochester and Strood. Where next?The Danish Nobel prize winning physicist Nils Bohr observed that prediction is very difficult, especially about the future. He wasn’t thinking about the 2015 general…blog / 18 Nov, 14Labour: the 35% solution?Ed Miliband’s recent speech, in which he confirmed the lines along which his party will campaign during the six months up to the 2015 election, was seen by the media…blog / 13 Nov, 14The Significance of the Rochester and Strood By-ElectionLess than a week from now we will witness the latest and most likely the last parliamentary by-election before the 2015 general election. The by-election in Rochester…
blog / 12 Oct, 17Whose House Is It Anyway?The Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, has called for further reforms of the way the House of Commons operates, saying that, while much has changed for the better o…
blog / 11 Oct, 17Opening up the Usual Channels: next steps for reform of the House of CommonsIn a speech to the Hansard Society on 11 October, of which the full text and audio recording are below, the House of Commons Speaker, the Rt Hon. John Bercow MP, prop…
blog / 05 Oct, 17A troubled project - ended by a fire: restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster before 1834The troubled progress of the restoration and renewal project for the current Palace of Westminster turns out to be only a contemporary echo of a 17th and 18th century…
blog / 26 Sep, 17Constitutionalism and trust: A day of discussion on the EU (Withdrawal) BillOn 12 September 2017, the morning after the House of Commons gave the EU (Withdrawal) Bill a late-night second reading, the Hansard Society and Cardiff University’s W…
blog / 08 Sep, 17Who is in charge of the Palace of Westminster? Big Ben and parliamentary governanceThe summer’s row over the temporary silencing of Big Ben highlights confused and opaque decision-making structures governing the Palace of Westminster. This bodes ill…
blog / 05 Sep, 17A Parliamentary Scrutiny Solution For The EU (Withdrawal) BillThe government has said that the ‘principal objective of leaving the EU is for Parliament to take back control of UK laws and policies’. The European Union (Withdrawa…
blog / 03 Sep, 17A summer without select committees - and why it must never happen againThe House of Commons returns on 5 September still without its select committees. By failing to get its select committees back up and running for so long after the gen…
blog / 18 Jul, 17The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – initial reflections on the Bill’s delegated powers and delegated legislationThe powers set out in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (formerly known as the ‘Great Repeal Bill’) are some of the broadest constitutionally important provisions ever seen in…
blog / 21 Jun, 17The State Opening of Parliament: history, tradition and what to expectThe State Opening of Parliament is one of the most anticipated events of the parliamentary year. Beamed to television and radio networks around the world, it has beco…
blog / 08 Jun, 17The Mock Elections 2017 national results are in!Results in at the national Mock Election headquarters show that the Labour Party has won the school election campaign across the country by a comfortable majority…
blog / 06 Jun, 17Why schools play such an important role in creating strong and stable democraciesIn the run-up to the 2017 election, the issue of youth voting has once again returned to the fore in public debate, much as it did in 2015. Although there was an incr…
blog / 05 Jun, 17Lessons for new select committees from the BHS inquiryWhen select committees in the new House of Commons look for a successful past inquiry from which to learn, they may well think of the inquiry into Sir Philip Green an…
blog / 26 May, 17Deal or no deal? A parliamentary Brexit vote and the two-level gameTheir manifestos have confirmed that Labour rejects a ‘no deal’ Brexit, while the Conservatives believe ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’. This difference has impli…
blog / 28 Apr, 17 A guide to the Parliament of Ethiopia - by Meheret Ayenew and Tsedey MekonnenThe Ethiopian Parliament has two houses. The main legislative body is the lower House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR) consisting of 546 directly elected members. T…
blog / 26 Apr, 17Audit 14 key findings (video)Explore the key findings from the 14th annual Audit of Political Engagement in this short video and learn about the state of public attitudes towards politics in 2017…
blog / 26 Apr, 17Parliamentary democracy or referendums? Public attitudes to decision-makingAfter four referendums in six years – two UK-wide and one each in Scotland and Wales – our latest annual Audit of Political Engagement shows that the public exhibit d…
blog / 10 Apr, 17How research is contributing to Bangladesh's development improvements is explored by Zahir Ahmed Earlier this month the Impact Initiative brought Bangladeshi development leaders together with researchers focused on the country, to explore what has made Bangladesh…
blog / 30 Mar, 17Taking back control? Initial thoughts on the Great Repeal Bill White PaperIn the newly published White Paper, the government makes much of the theme ‘taking back control’. But the paper’s content does little to alleviate the fear that it is…
blog / 19 Feb, 17Government squandered public education opportunity with dismissive response to anti-Trump state visit e-petitionLast week the government had the opportunity to engage directly with 1.8 million citizens. Presented with a communication opportunity on this scale, more thought and…
blog / 14 Feb, 17'Bonfire of the quangos' legislation fizzles outThe forthcoming Great Repeal Bill will be the most prominent piece of enabling legislation since the controversial Public Bodies Act 2011…
blog / 07 Feb, 17Parliaments around the world: what can architecture teach us about democracy?In a recent study of the plenary halls of every UN member-state legislature, Amsterdam-based architectural firm XML analysed the relationships between space, decision…
blog / 31 Jan, 17Trump, state visits and Parliament: precedent and processHistorically, it would be more unusual for US President Trump to have a state visit, or make an address in Westminster Hall, than not. The furore surrounding Presiden…
blog / 20 Jan, 17Why Parliament needs a 'good Brexit'There are two scenarios for the way in which Parliament’s handling of Brexit affects its position in the UK’s democratic system – one in which Brexit strengthens the…
blog / 24 Nov, 16"You can look, but don't touch!" Making the legislative process more accessibleCan technology help change the culture and practice of parliamentary politics, particularly around the legislative process…
blog / 21 Nov, 16Culture, design and filter bubbles: looking back at #FutureParliamentTo mark Parliament Week – a programme of activities connecting people across the UK with the Westminster Parliament – the Hansard Society hosted a half-day event to l…
blog / 20 Oct, 16Will the Great Repeal Bill be another ‘Abolish Parliament’ bill?The government heralds its proposed ‘Great Repeal Bill’ as the Bill to ‘give Parliament its sovereignty back’ upon Brexit…
blog / 20 Jul, 16Is Parliament Ready for Brexit?After probably the most momentous month in British politics since 1945, there’s one Leave decision that virtually all MPs and peers seem agreed on, and are even looki…
blog / 13 Jul, 16'Can-Do' Rather Than 'Yah Boo' - Will Theresa May Change the Practice of Politics?Having served as Home Secretary since 2010, Theresa May has been understandably silent on a number of key issues beyond her departmental remit…
blog / 24 Jun, 16It's Brexit… So What Now for Parliament?A referendum is a blunt political instrument to deal with complex political questions, but now that it is over Parliament will have to deal with the consequences afte…
blog / 09 Jun, 16Lifting the Lid: The European Union Referendum (Voter Registration) Regulations 2016Our Lifting the Lid series aims to open up the delegated legislation process to reveal the stories behind some recently published Statutory Instruments. This week: Th…
blog / 26 May, 16A guide to the Parliament of Bangladesh - the Jatiya Sangsad (or House of the Nation) - by Nizam Ahmed The Bangladeshi Parliament - the Jatiya Sangsad (or House of the Nation) - is a 350 member unicameral Parliament; 300 members are elected directly and 50 seats are re…
blog / 18 Apr, 16Audit of Political Engagement 13 infographic posters - The Election EffectFollowing one of the most unexpected general election results in modern times, this year’s Audit of Political Engagement (2016) explores whether there has been a post…
blog / 16 Apr, 16The EU Referendum: Audit of Political Engagement 13 infographicNow in its 13th year, each Audit measures the ‘political pulse’ of the nation, providing a unique benchmark to gauge public opinion across Great Britain with regard t…
blog / 05 Apr, 16A new generation get the key to the DáilIreland’s 32nd parliament met for the first time on 10 March 2016 following a general election which returned a highly-fragmented party system and failed to offer an…
blog / 31 Mar, 16Corbyn's 'Save Our Steel' e-petition shows why the rules governing the recall of Parliament need to changeIn a time of crisis Parliament is hamstrung if it is in recess. MPs are not masters of their own House because, in accordance with House of Commons Standing Order 13…
blog / 21 Mar, 16Research as political scrutiny - Emma Crewe talks about our work in Ethiopia and BangladeshEmma was in South Africa recently with our Ethiopian colleague Nega Wubie to speak at the Impact Initiative conference on ‘Research as Political Scrutiny’. She took…
blog / 23 Feb, 16Lifting the Lid: The European Union Referendum (Date of Referendum etc.) Regulations 2016Our Lifting the Lid series aims to open up the delegated legislation process and reveal the stories behind recently published Statutory Instruments. This week: The Eu…
blog / 26 Jan, 16Lifting the Lid: The Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2015Our ‘Lifting the Lid’ blog series aims to open up the delegated legislation process by revealing the stories behind some recently published Statutory Instruments. Thi…
blog / 13 Jan, 16Reflections on the Strathclyde ReviewFollowing the Tax Credits regulations vote last October[^1], the Prime Minister asked Lord Strathclyde to conduct a ‘rapid review’ of Statutory Instruments to conside…
blog / 14 Dec, 15Delegated Legislation: Frequently Asked QuestionsIt is widely reported that the Strathclyde review, which has been tasked with considering the policy powers of the House of Lords, may recommend that the Upper House…
blog / 03 Dec, 15How the Strathclyde review could empower the government and not the House of CommonsIf the Strathclyde review neuters House of Lords influence on delegated legislation it will empower the government not the House of Commons…
blog / 01 Dec, 15Lifting the Lid: The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015Our ‘Lifting the Lid’ blog series aims to open up the delegated legislation process by revealing the stories behind some recently published Statutory Instruments. Thi…
blog / 10 Nov, 15Lifting the Lid: The Prison and Young Offender Institution (Amendment) Rules 2015Our ‘Lifting the Lid’ blog series aims to open up the delegated legislation process by revealing the stories behind some recently published Statutory Instruments. Thi…
blog / 26 Oct, 15Licence to kill? Should the House of Lords veto the Tax Credits Statutory Instrument?Just 20 lines of legislation may threaten a constitutional stand-off if the House of Lords vetoes the Tax Credits (Income Thresholds and Determination of Rates) (Amen…
blog / 11 Oct, 15Public attitudes to "People's PMQs" infographicFind out what the key findings are in our latest survey on public attitudes to Prime Minister’s Questions in five graphics…
blog / 04 Sep, 15Why Labour's 2015 campaign is a warning to a Jeremy Corbyn leadershipProfessor Steven Fielding analyses the Corbynite diagnosis of Labour’s failure in May and explains why the prospective leader could suffer a similar fate…
blog / 03 Sep, 15Populist personalities? The Big Five Personality Traits and party choice in the 2015 UK general electionJames Dennison examines the association between personality traits and party choice in the 2015 UK General Election…
blog / 02 Sep, 15Why won't the SNP be misbehaving in Westminster?Professor James Mitchell explains why the SNP’s Westminster contingent will avoid anything that risks undermining the party’s position in Edinburgh…
blog / 27 May, 15The First 100 Days: A Survival Guide for New MPsCongratulations on your election. There are over 60 million people in Britain and you are one of just 650 people entitled to use the letters ‘MP’ after your name…
blog / 21 May, 15Digital didn't win it, but it did shape the campaignLabour got the most mentions, but how many of those were positive? And UKIP were ahead of the Conservatives on tweets but it didn’t turn into seats. Social media rumb…
blog / 19 May, 15Why the Edstone failed - in a biblical wayThe Edstone is one of the abiding images of the 2015 General Election. 8ft 6 inches tall and made out of solid limestone, the Edstone was inscribed with six pledges f…
blog / 12 May, 15Do mock elections really matter?Why even casting your ballot in school elections can have a lasting effect on youth political engagement…
blog / 03 Apr, 15Making Plans for Nigel (Dodds): the General Election and Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland’s part in the General Election, often seen as peripheral, has already attracted more interest than usual…
blog / 29 Jan, 15Rip it up and start again: parliamentary politics, destruction and renewalLondon Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down; London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady…
blog / 16 Dec, 14What's good for the goose is good for the ganderPolitical scientists have known for a long time that talking politics to family and friends makes a difference to how people vote. Early election studies in the 1950s…
blog / 12 Dec, 14What to do with women in 2015: ‘Perhaps sit them in the corner’?At the outset the 2010 General Election was all set to be the mumsnet election – decided at the school gates…
blog / 09 Dec, 14The Delegated Legislation Journey: From Idea to ImplementationLearn about the complex journey, from idea to implementation, involved in making delegated legislation in this six-step infographic. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, conse…
blog / 05 Dec, 14In a close contest, will money make a difference?In the run-up to any election, attention often turns to party finance. In the US, for example, coverage of Presidential campaigns often refers to how much candidates…
blog / 27 Nov, 14Suppose they gave a war and no one came?‘Suppose they gave a war and no one came?’ became a catchphrase of the US peace movement in the 1960s. What happened over the last week in British politics couldn’t h…
blog / 25 Nov, 14After Rochester and Strood. Where next?The Danish Nobel prize winning physicist Nils Bohr observed that prediction is very difficult, especially about the future. He wasn’t thinking about the 2015 general…
blog / 18 Nov, 14Labour: the 35% solution?Ed Miliband’s recent speech, in which he confirmed the lines along which his party will campaign during the six months up to the 2015 election, was seen by the media…
blog / 13 Nov, 14The Significance of the Rochester and Strood By-ElectionLess than a week from now we will witness the latest and most likely the last parliamentary by-election before the 2015 general election. The by-election in Rochester…
