Events / Members

Annual General Meeting - with Sir Peter Riddell

12 Jun 2024
Bird's-eye view of the Palace of Westminster, UK Houses of Parliament

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.

The agenda and associated papers for the meeting will be sent direct to Members in advance of the meeting. Our Annual Report and Accounts are available online.

  • Approval of the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting

  • Report of the Directors and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

  • Re-appointment of Independent Examiners

  • Re-appointment of Trustees

  • Reflections on the last year and future plans: update by the Rt Hon the Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Chair) and Dr Ruth Fox (Director) followed by Q & A.

  • Any other business

With the general election taking place on 4 July 2024, Sir Peter will be looking at the election campaign and the challenges which are set to face new and returning Members of Parliament. With the possibility of a sudden great change in the composition of the House of Commons, we will consider what can be learnt from the past and what opportunities now exist for progress.

Sir Peter Riddell CBE

The Rt Hon Sir Peter Riddell CBE is the former Political Editor and Chief Political Commentator at The Times and the author of twelve books on politics, Parliament and political careers. He served as Chair of the Hansard Society from 2007-2012 and then as Director of the Institute for Government until 2016. He was subsequently appointed as the Commissioner for Public Appointments until he stepped down in Autumn 2021. He has always had close links with the academic world and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a recipient of the British Academy President’s Medal.

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 13-14 May 2026

Parliament returns on Wednesday with the State Opening and the King’s Speech marking the start of a new parliamentary session. Many traditions will be observed, including presentation of the Outlawries Bill and the Select Vestries Bill and an order instructing the Metropolitan Police to prevent “stoppages in the street”. In the Commons, the Speaker will remind MPs of their duties and responsibilities, before debate begins on the Loyal Address. The Education Committee will take evidence on the benefits of children reading for pleasure, and the Home Affairs Committee will consider responses to antisemitism.

10 May 2026
Read more

Briefings / The assisted dying bill: How could the Parliament Act be used?

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – the bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales – fell at the close of the 2024-2026 parliamentary session, after running out of time in the House of Lords. Attention has now shifted to whether the bill could return in the next session and, if so, whether it could be enacted using the procedures set out in the Parliament Act. This briefing explains the Parliament Act procedure, examines previous uses of the Act and the procedural lessons that may be drawn from them, and looks at the constitutional issues involved.

07 May 2026
Read more

News / What now? The local election fallout hits Westminster - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 141

Labour’s disastrous local election results have intensified speculation about Keir Starmer’s future. But if pressure on the leadership continues to grow, how exactly do Labour’s leadership rules work – and what would it take to mount a serious challenge? Now that the Scottish and Welsh elections are over, attention will turn to governing. How do the devolved parliaments return to business? And in Wales, where the Senedd will install a non-Labour First Minister and government for the first time in its history, how will the process work? Could a new administration trigger fresh tensions with Westminster and Whitehall? Listen and subscribe: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Acast · YouTube · Other apps · RSS

09 May 2026
Read more

News / Dynamic alignment and Henry VIII powers: What will the Government’s EU reset mean for Parliament? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 139

A major “EU reset” bill could allow Ministers to dynamically align UK law with EU rules using so-called Henry VIII powers, raising fresh questions about Parliament’s role and scrutiny. We are joined by Professor Catherine Barnard to explore the trade-offs and implications. We also examine Parliament’s surprise block on Church of England governance reforms and ask whether shutting down Parliament for a two-week prorogation – when it cannot be recalled – is wise in an increasingly unstable world. Listen and subscribe: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Acast · YouTube · Other apps · RSS

17 Apr 2026
Read more

Submissions / Written Parliamentary Questions - Our evidence to the House of Commons Procedure Committee

The use of Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs) is rising sharply. Since July 2024, MPs have tabled questions at unprecedented levels. By late 2025 MPs were tabling over 600 per sitting day, more than double the long-term average. WPQs are a cornerstone of parliamentary scrutiny, helping MPs obtain information, challenge government policy and put issues on the public record. But this surge raises important questions about how Parliament balances transparency and accountability with the practical limits of the system. The House of Commons Procedure Committee is now examining the issue and has just published our submission containing our latest data and analysis.

06 Mar 2026
Read more