Emma Peplow
@emmapeplow.bsky.social
Head of Contemporary History, History of Parliament Trust. Oral History, Politics, Parliament and some cricket
We have a rare and exciting opportunity to join our team as Director of Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College. Application deadline is 9am on 29th June 2026. Please share this with people you think would be interested.
Director of the Churchill Archives Centre | Churchill College, Cambridge
Application deadline: 09:00 am BST on Monday 29th June
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Just published this co-authored article with my brilliant colleague @kathrynrix.bsky.social on the controversial 1835 election of the Commons Speaker! @histparl.bsky.social @victoriancommons.bsky.social historyofparliament.com/2026/07/17/s... 1/4
The Speakership election of 1835 - The History of Parliament
In this article Dr Kathryn Rix and Dr Martin Spychal of our House of Commons, 1832-1868 project discuss a pivotal vote in the early nineteenth-century Commons
historyofparliament.com
We're excited to be taking part in an upcoming workshop, 'Re-Thinking Westminster Hall', on 17 September. Find out more about the day's themes, as well as how to join our discussions on this historic space, over on our website:
'Re-Thinking Westminster Hall': Workshop September 2026 - The History of Parliament
Workshop taking place on September 17 2026.
historyofparliament.com
The UK is soon to have its sixth Prime Minister in five years. In the latest entry for Scribble Book, @jhdavey.bsky.social has looked back over Britain's political history for previous moments of executive instability, to understand why some prime ministerial tenures can be so short...
Too many Prime Ministers?
Some historical examples of executive instability
historyofparliament.substack.com
We are sad to hear that Ann Widdecombe, Conservative MP for Maidstone (1987-2010) has died. Ann was well-known for her socially conservative views and later career as a TV personality. In her interview for our Oral History Project, she described sitting in the Commons for the first time as an MP.👇
🚨New article 🚨 Have you just heard that an MP has resigned by ‘taking the Chiltern Hundreds’? Our Senior Research Fellow, @martinspychal.bsky.social, explains the practice and explores its historical context…
How does an MP resign? The Chiltern Hundreds & the Manor of Northstead - The History of Parliament
Have you just heard that an MP has resigned by ‘taking the Chiltern Hundreds’? Our Senior Research Fellow, Dr Martin Spychal, explains the practice and
historyofparliament.com
Nearly 14 years at @histparl.bsky.social and I've just drafted my first biography. Must be some sort of record-!
In Parliament this week (6-10 July)? Stop by the Upper Waiting Hall and find out about 1960s-70s feminist MPJoyce Butler in this mini-exhibition by @teadevotee.bsky.social www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk/news-events/...
History Fellow Dr Lyndsey Jenkins showcases the life of Joyce Butler, MP for Wood Green, in Parliament - Mansfield College
mansfield.ox.ac.uk
Sir Robert Peel died on this day in 1850. Dr Philip Salmon explores the twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834-35, 1841-46) and his significant role in founding the modern Conservative party. @victoriancommons.bsky.social
Sir Robert Peel and the modern Conservative party
Sir Robert Peel, twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834-35, 1841-46), entered Parliament at only 21 years of age. He went on to establish the
historyofparliament.com
William Coningham, Liberal MP for Brighton, 1857-64, was born #OnThisDay 1815. He was a leading figure in the Victorian art world and an unlikely early English socialist. Find out more about him in our article: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/m...
MP of the month: William Coningham
One of the most striking features of researching Victorian MPs is the extraordinary range of abilities and interests they often possessed beyond the Commons chamber. Previous blogs have highlighted…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
Come & hear about @histparl.bsky.social's Oral History of Parliament on 24 June @19:00. With clips from David Blunkett, Malcolm Rifkind, Gisela Stuart & others,the session explores who makes it to Westminster, how Parliament has changed & who challenged its ways www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/westminste...
Westminster as told to the History of Parliament’s Oral History Project
‘A mix between arcane procedure and schoolboy-ish behaviour’? Westminster as told to the History of Parliament’s Oral History Project
eventbrite.co.uk
Today the voters of Makerfield will elect their new MP after weeks of media speculation. @emmapeplow.bsky.social has delved into our oral history archive to gather reflections on another by-election that took place under the media spotlight: Christchurch 1993.
Christchurch 1993: By-election Campaigning in the Glare of the Media
Dr Emma Peplow uses our oral history archive interviews to look back at a very different by-election, but one that also took place under full media spotlight: Christchurch 1993.
historyofparliament.com
2026 marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted. As Dr Robin Eagles explores, the former Prime Minister the duke of Grafton spoke in the Lords calling for conciliation with America. He also used the speech to clear up the official record of remarks he had made previously...
Correcting the record: conciliation and reconciliation over America in 1776
Just a few months before the Declaration of Independence, last minute efforts were made to reconcile Britain and the American colonies. Dr Robin Eagles shows
historyofparliament.com
In case you missed it, our director @jhdavey.bsky.social appeared on @mattchorley.bsky.social's show discussing Hansard! Follow the link below to listen along (from 1hr 8mins).
Jennifer Davey@jhdavey.bsky.social · 2mo agoReally enjoyed talking to @mattchorley.bsky.social yesterday about all things Hansard. You can listen here (roughly 1hr8mins in) www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
We are very sad to hear that Michael Meadowcroft, Liberal MP for Leeds West (1983-1987) has died. Michael was an influential thinker and famously opposed the merger with the SDP. In an interview for our Oral History project, he described his libertarian philosophy and independent personality. 👇
This collaboration allows participants to access the Making History collection in full. Making History was a successor project to our re-launched Interviews with Historians collection www.history.ac.uk/resources/di... & feature eminent historians reflecting on their lives and professional practices
Interviews with Historians
Interviews with Historians was a landmark series of interviews between prominent historians. This page introduces the collection and gives access to the interviews.
history.ac.uk
Institute of Historical Research@ihr.bsky.social · 2mo agoWe are collaborating with the Uni of Portsmouth on a project to assess the value of digital cultural heritage. The project gives you access to our Making History collection of oral histories. Best of all, you are offered a cash incentive! The project’s website is here: tinyurl.com/makinghistor...
Lovely to talk to Trevor Phillips on Times Radio just now about MPs and their occupations - and for once say something positive about how difficult the job is!
After the recent prorogation and subsequent State Opening of Parliament, Dr Kathryn Rix takes us back to 1834, where four prorogations took place in the same year! However, as she explores, not all these prorogations happened in the same place: @victoriancommons.bsky.social
Four prorogations and a conflagration: Parliament and its buildings in 1834
Dr Kathryn Rix of our House of Commons 1832-1945 project looks at the makeshift arrangements made for the prorogation in the aftermath of the devastating Westminster fire of October 1834.
historyofparliament.com
The start of the Chelsea Flower Show this week (and the weekend's forecast sunshine!) has got our director @jhdavey.bsky.social thinking about the parliamentary history of gardening... Read all about it in our latest 'Scribble Book' post, over on Substack:
Parliament, Flowers and Gardening
This week it is the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (complete with gnomes), which got me thinking about the parliamentary history of flowers and gardening (alas, not gnomes, about which there does not seem to...
open.substack.com
This parliamentary milestone seems like an opportune moment to share our assistant editor @kathrynrix.bsky.social's research on the 23 parliamentarians commemorated in the Commons chamber for their deaths while on Second World War service: historyofparliament.com/2025/11/07/m...
MPs and the Second World War - The History of Parliament
Ahead of Remembrance Day, and with 2025 marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, Dr Kathryn Rix, Assistant Editor of our House of Commons,
historyofparliament.com
James Heale@jaheale.bsky.social · 3mo agoThe last remaining person in Parliament who served in the Armed Forces in the Second World War retired on Wednesday. Labour peer Lord Christopher, aged 101, bowed out, 81 years after WWII ended.
📣Join us for Oral History Festival 2026! 📆4 July, Nottingham A full day of interactive workshops exploring the many ways of doing and using oral history, from emotional labour and wellbeing, to co-production, creative storytelling, and LGBTQ+ archiving. 🎟️Find out more: ohs.org.uk/oral-history...
Oral History Festival - Oral History Society
BOOK YOUR PLACE The Festival will take place on Saturday 4 July 2026 at Nottingham Trent University (City Campus) and offers a full day of interactive workshops exploring the many ways of doing and us...
ohs.org.uk
The exhibit to commemorate the centenary of the British General Strike launched last Friday at @newcastleuni.bsky.social Phillip Robinson Library. A later installation will also feature oral histories collected that explore themes of postmemory and the meaning of 1926 within current trade unions.
As debates following the King's Speech continue in Parliament today, on our website Dr Paul Hunneyball has been looking into the ceremony of the state opening in the early modern period. Read the article here:
State opening processions in early modern England
Ceremonial processions were a key feature of the state opening of Parliament in the early modern period, just as they are today, but with some differences...
historyofparliament.com
Our very own Tom Chidwick is mentioned in today’s @thetimes.com Diary! While Heath denied the ‘monstrous allegations made about a lack of courtesy shown in my own home’, his friends conceded that he hadn’t accompanied Thatcher to the door so they wouldn’t be photographed together …
speaking of State Openings, back in 2022 @pseaward.bsky.social and I tried to find the earliest instance of the "government whip held as a hostage" story, and couldn't trace it earlier than the 70s. A little advance - here it is in 1966.
Tomorrow, MPs and Peers will gather in Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament, where the three arms of parliament - the Monarch, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons - meet. But what exactly is this ceremony? Find out more below.
Tomorrow's state opening of Parliament will be a fresh opportunity for members of the House of Lords to sport their finest. In the 18th century, some peers made a conscious effort to wear tired, old robes, to emphasize the antiquity of their titles: historyofparliament.com/2026/04/01/r... #HistParl
Dressing the part: robes ancient and modern - The History of Parliament
Dr Robin Eagles considers the symbolism of the robes worn by members of the House of Lords both in Parliament and at coronations...
historyofparliament.com
The full interview transcripts are available on our website along with this blog piece from me summarising the main themes.
A clear sense of purpose can make ministers’ difficult job worthwhile | Institute for Government
Steve Baker, Danny Alexander and Gillian Keegan reflect on their ministerial careers.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Today at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, we publish a brand new set of Ministers Reflect interviews with Steve Baker, Gillian Keegan and Danny Alexander. They discussed what makes for effective ministerial leadership, the challenges of the role and their proudest achievements in post...