Parliamentary Affairs (vol 71, issue 1, 2018)

Journal

Parliamentary Affairs (vol 71, issue 1, 2018)

1 Jan 2018

Articles on topics including divisions within the Parliamentary Conservative Party following the Brexit referendum, a new analysis of representatation and majoritarianism in the UK House of Commons, Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster, and the affect of parenthood and gender on political leadership.

Articles

Policy, Office and Votes: Conservative MPs and the Brexit ReferendumLuke Moore
Incitement to Hatred and Countering Terrorism: Policy Confusion in the UK and AustraliaKatharine Gelber
Majoritarianism Reinterpreted: Effective Representation and the Quality of Westminster DemocracyFelicity Matthews
Representing the Region on the Floor: Socioeconomic Characteristics of Electoral Districts and Legislative SpeechmakingHanna Bäck, Marc Debus
Digital Communication and Representational Interactivity: an Analysis of www.WriteToThem.com in ScotlandHartwig Pautz
Parliament and the Representation of Indigenous Issues: The Canadian CaseMichael D Morden
The Politics of Parliamentary Restoration and Renewal: Decisions, Discretion, DemocracyMatthew Flinders, Leanne-Marie Cotter, Alix Kelso, Alex Meakin
The Politics of Symbols: Reflections on the French Government’s Framing of the 2015 Terrorist AttacksFlorence Faucher, Laurie Boussaguet
Politics and Parenthood: An Examination of UK Party Leadership Elections (editors' choice)Jessica C Smith

Latest / Highlights

News / The King and Parliament: The relationship between politics and the royals - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 122

In this episode we are joined by author and former royal correspondent Valentine Low to explore the evolving relationship between Downing Street and the Palace and why it matters for Parliament. Drawing on his book Power and the Palace, we explore how royal influence has shifted from Queen Victoria’s overt political interventions to Elizabeth II’s studied neutrality. Along the way, we connect historical episodes – where monarchs helped shape diplomacy and constitutional outcomes – to today’s flashpoints, from the prorogation and dissolution of Parliament to referendums and royal finances and the looming constitutional headaches of future hung parliaments.

News / Is being Prime Minister an impossible job? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 121

Why do UK Prime Ministers seem to burn out so quickly? We are joined by historian Robert Saunders to examine why the role has become so punishing in recent years. From Brexit and COVID to fractured parties, rigid governing conventions and relentless media scrutiny, the discussion explores what has gone wrong – and what kind of leadership and political culture might be needed to make the job survivable again.

News / Choosing a new Lord Speaker: Peers question candidates Lord Forsyth and Baroness Bull - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 120

In this exclusive episode we bring you the full recording of the official hustings for the next Lord Speaker, held in the House of Lords and chaired by Hansard Society director and podcast co-host Ruth Fox. Peers question candidates Lord Forsyth and Baroness Bull on impartiality, self-regulation, public trust, governance and security, and the looming decisions on restoration and renewal – offering a rare insight into how the House chooses its presiding officer and the challenges facing Parliament at a critical moment.

News / 2024: The year our party system finally broke? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 118

This week we spotlight our new book Britain Votes 2024, featuring research by leading political scientists such as public opinion expert Professor Sir John Curtice. We explore how Labour secured a landslide on just a third of the vote, why the election broke so many records, and what these reveal about the fragility of UK democracy. We also cover the Budget fallout, the role of the Treasury Committee in the appointment of the new head of the OBR, more backbench dissent, ex-MPs shifting to the Greens and Reform, and a brewing row over delayed mayoral elections.

News / 101 resolutions and a Finance Bill. How the Budget becomes law - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 117

It’s Budget week, so we look at what happens after the Chancellor sits down and how the days announcements are converted into the Finance Bill. We speak to Lord Ricketts, Chair of the European Affairs Committee, about whether Parliament is prepared to scrutinise the “dynamic alignment” with EU laws that may emerge from the Government’s reset with Brussels. And we explore the latest twists in the assisted dying bill story, where a marathon battle is looming in the New Year after the Government allocated 10 additional Friday sittings for its scrutiny. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.