Jennifer Davey
@jhdavey.bsky.social
Historian and Director of The History of Parliament (@histparl.bsky.social). On substack https://historyofparliament.substack.com/. Views are my own.
Not sure I like the sound of panicked blackberries, but this does explain why my youngest was able to pick handfuls of berries in our Suffolk garden at the weekend. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Blackberries 'panic' in Suffolk and ripen early due to heatwaves
Farmers say summer ripening will have knock-on effects for birds.
bbc.co.uk
#ICYMI yesterday the Georgian Lords posted for @histparl.bsky.social on references to the #Odyssey and Iliad in Parliament and more general political commentary from the 19th century and onwards... #skystorians
The Georgian Lords@georgianlords.bsky.social · 2d agoNew post from Robin Eagles of the Georgian Lords looking into political references to the Iliad and Odyssey from Wellington to the present... historyofparliament.com/2026/08/04/t...
For more on Pat Munro, see this post from our assistant editor @kathrynrix.bsky.social for @histparl.bsky.social : historyofparliament.com/2026/03/02/p...
‘One of the greatest Rugby players who ever sat in the House’: Pat Munro MP - The History of Parliament
Pat Munro made his debut as a Scotland rugby international on 4 February 1905 at Inverleith, Edinburgh, taking on Wales in the Home Nations Championship (the
historyofparliament.com
UK Parliamentary Constituencies (since 1885)@parlconst.bsky.social · 10h agoPatrick Munro was a Scottish rugby international, who played for his country 13 times from 1905 to 1911. Later he became Governor of Khartoum. In 1931, he was elected Conservative MP for Llandaff & Barry, which he held until his death in 1942 while on a Home Guard training exercise at Westminster.
🧵Thread🧵 Following the news that voters in the Clacton by-election will be choosing between a whopping 34 candidates, the #HistParl team have been thinking about the history of ballots.
Clacton by-election ballot list costing four times more
The list of 34 candidates standing in the Clacton by-election is nearly a metre long.
bbc.co.uk
New post from Robin Eagles of the Georgian Lords looking into political references to the Iliad and Odyssey from Wellington to the present... historyofparliament.com/2026/08/04/t...
Politics, popular celebration and the Trojan War - The History of Parliament
The recent release of Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, The Odyssey, has sparked debate in many quarters for its depiction of Odysseus’ efforts to get back
historyofparliament.com
🚨New Substack🚨 It is currently the Summer Recess for both Houses of Parliament, allowing MPs, Peers and parliamentary staff the opportunity to take some time off. @jhdavey.bsky.social has explored its long history and how MPs have historically enjoyed their time away from Westminster. ☀️🌴
Summer Recess
It is the Summer Recess for both Houses of Parliament, allowing MPs, Peers and parliamentary staff the opportunity to take some time off.
historyofparliament.substack.com
Excellent and forensic @victoriancommons.bsky.social blog on the Speakership election of 1835 victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2026/07/29/s...
The Speakership election of 1835
In this article Dr Kathryn Rix and Dr Martin Spychal discuss a pivotal vote in the early nineteenth-century Commons – the selection of the Speaker in February 1835. They explore popular reaction to…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
🚨New Substack🚨 Last week our director @jhdavey.bsky.social attended Lord Forsyth's first major speech as Lord Speaker. In the latest post for 'Scribble Book', she explores both the role and its place in the long history of House of Lords reform.
The Lord Speaker and Lords’ Reform
Last week, I attended an event hosted by the Hansard Society, where Lord Forsyth of Drumlean delivered his first major public speech since being elected Lord Speaker.
historyofparliament.substack.com
Following the changes made by the 'Great' Reform Act of 1832, who was able to vote? From potwalloper to scot and lot voters, Dr Philip Salmon explores each type of post-1832 voting qualification. @victoriancommons.bsky.social
Who could vote? From potwallopers to ten-pounders: post-1832 franchises explained
Philip Salmon examines who could vote following the changes made by the ‘Great’ Reform Act of 1832. This article covers the system which was in operation until the next major Reform Act in 1867.
historyofparliament.com
For those who want a break from Burnham news… NEW @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report out today by @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social, Saudamini Sigdel and I on how govt can better engage with researchers & bring their evidence, insights and expertise into policy making.
Government and academia: How government can better engage with researchers | Institute for Government
Government has made great strides in opening itself up to inputs from the UK’s world-leading university sector – but it can do still more.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Stop scrolling!!! A puffling* has been spotted in Purbeck, Dorset for the first time in 30 years! *Baby puffin (yes, they have the cutest name)
Really brilliant @histparl.bsky.social research here 👇
Martin Spychal@martinspychal.bsky.social · 3w agoJust 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
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
🚨New Substack🚨 As former Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, prepares to become Prime Minister, @jhdavey.bsky.social has been thinking about other moments in Britain’s past when Manchester — and the surrounding area — played a pivotal role in shaping the political agenda.
Manchester and the Politics of Victorian Britain
In recent weeks, domestic politics has been dominated by a politician from Manchester, which got me thinking about other moments in Britain’s past when Manchester — and the surrounding area — played a...
historyofparliament.substack.com
imo if politics is hard (for whatever reason) it is perhaps not surprising that PMs find it hard to govern...more here 👇
History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · 3w agoThe 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...
🚨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
or any Law under which he has come by his election to Parliament, and holds a seat in Parliament. And the practice is, unless there is some ground or colour of positive objection of the nature I have indicated, to grant the office without making further inquiry. [26 July 1880]
Gladstone's 1880 description of 'The common practice' in considering applications for the Chiltern Hundreds etc: is to consider especially … whether the gentleman who asks for the office can by any possibility be escaping from any duty he owes to Parliament, ...
At the 1784 general election, Viscount Nevill was elected for Seaford, apparently without knowing of his candidature. When he heard a rival had died in Monmouthshire, he resigned so he could sit there, but delayed seeking the Chiltern Hundreds "until he was certain he would meet with no opposition"
And more here (without the geographical bits, better left to @vch-home.bsky.social historyofparliamentblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/04/r...
Resignation
‘The acceptance of the Chiltern Hundreds is a dodge which was discovered in the middle of the 18th century, by which the immemorial rule of Parliament, that a man could not resign, was evaded, and …
historyofparliamentblog.wordpress.com
Victoria County History@vch-home.bsky.social · 4w agoHow this office became attached to the process of resigning from parliament is really one for our friends @histparl.bsky.social and summarised with some *suspiciously familiar* (ahem) historical context via @ukparliament.parliament.uk's webpages:
🚨New on Scribble Book🚨 For those who might be feeling a bit tired after the England match last night, @jhdavey.bsky.social has delved into Hansard to find some football related contributions over the years. ⚽
It’s Coming Home…?
A quick round-up of football related contributions in Hansard (for those who might be a bit tired today).
historyofparliament.substack.com
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
News of England taking the lead against Congo has reached the House of Lords, and the steel bill
New peers and bishops taking their places in the Lords for the first time faced a range of fees to pay the palace officials. Archbishops and dukes were expected to pay the doorkeepers £4, marquesses £3 10s., earls and the bishops of London, Durham and Winchester £3, viscounts and barons paid £2.
#OnThisDay 1836 Hansard gave an insight into some of the people who kept the 19thC House of Commons running, with a debate on the salaries of the door-keepers, waiting-room attendant and deputy house-keeper. For more on the 19thC Commons staff, see victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2021/07/26/h...
Half a century at the table: John Henry Ley and the staff of the House of Commons
Inspired by the #OnePlaceServants blogging prompt from the Society for One Place Studies, we turn our focus away from MPs to looking at the staff who kept the Palace of Westminster running, from th…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
As the UK recovers from last week's heatwave, @jhdavey.bsky.social has written in Scribble Book about when Parliament had to deal with a heatwave fifty years ago.
Remember 1976!
Parliament and heatwaves
historyofparliament.substack.com
Our colleague Dr Robin Eagles was a guest on the latest @hrp-palaces.bsky.social podcast on 'George III – 'Tyrant' King of the American Colonies?'. Give it a listen below: historicroyalpalaces.libsyn.com/george-iii-t...
Historic Royal Palaces Podcast: George III – 'Tyrant' King of the American Colonies?
In the Declaration of Independence, signed on 4th July 1776, King George III is cast as a ‘tyrant’. How fair is this representation? In this episode, Kew Palace curator Polly Putnam is joined by...
historicroyalpalaces.libsyn.com