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!
We are delighted to welcome Dr David Torrance, the constitutional expert, author and researcher for the House of Commons Library. David will talk about his fascinating new project, mapping the UK Constitution.
Our meeting is hosted by the Chair of our Board of Trustees, Baroness Taylor of Bolton, alongside our Director, Dr Ruth Fox.
After the talk and Q&A with David, there will be an opportunity for socialising and refreshments at a nearby accessible bar.
The United Kingdom Constitution – A Mapping Exercise is a uniquely detailed Research Briefing written by David Torrance and published by the House of Commons Library.
First published on 26 November 2024, the work is “intended as a navigational aid to what can often appear an endless and impenetrable mass of constitutional information”. In nearly 300 pages, David captures the great range of formal and informal rules, conventions and procedures that determine how our country is run.
Dr David Torrance has worked for the House of Commons Library since 2018. He brings a wealth of expertise, with two decades of experience as a journalist and broadcaster focusing on Scottish politics. He’s authored several notable works, including biographies of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, as well as his latest book, The Wild Men: The Remarkable Story of Britain’s First Labour Government.
We are currently recruiting for a new Treasurer and three new Trustees to join our Board. If you have experience in financial management, fundraising, digital communications and stakeholder partnerships we particularly want to hear from you!
On Friday 12 September, the House of Lords will debate the Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. We explore what lies ahead for the Bill in the Upper House with Sir David Beamish, former Clerk of the Parliaments – the Lords’ most senior official. Sharing an insider’s guide to the Chamber’s unique, self-regulating procedures, Sir David explains how the legislative process differs from the Commons, and what that could mean for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill’s potentially long and contested passage. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.
In this episode we speak with historian Jonathan Healey about one of the most extraordinary days in parliamentary history when King Charles I entered the Commons Chamber with soldiers aiming to arrest five MPs. This dramatic moment, vividly recounted in Healey’s new book The Blood in Winter, marked a crucial turning point toward civil war. We explore the power struggles, propaganda, and the geography that shaped the fate of a nation and the Westminster Parliament. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.
Legal expert Joshua Rozenberg joins us this week to unpack the legal and constitutional ramifications of one of the most troubling intersections of government secrecy, national security, and parliamentary accountability in recent memory. Thousands of Afghans who had worked with British forces were placed at risk of Taliban revenge attacks after a catastrophic government data leak in 2022 exposed their details. In response, ministers secured a “super-injunction” – so secret that even its existence could not be reported – effectively silencing public debate and preventing parliamentary scrutiny for almost two years. The breach, only revealed this week, led to a covert resettlement scheme which has already cost taxpayers millions of pounds. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.
In our 100th episode, we take stock of Parliament one year after the 2024 general election. With a fractured opposition, a dominant Labour government, and a House of Commons still governed by rules designed for a two-party system, how well is this new Parliament really functioning? Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.
