Parliamentary Affairs: Essential reading for anyone interested in contemporary politics

Discounted rate for Hansard Society members

The latest issue of Parliamentary Affairs includes a focus on Devolution: Ten Years On.

This special issue of Parliamentary Affairs looks at how devolution has taken place over the past 10 years, examining the devolved institutions and how politics has developed in these differing environs, as well as the implications for Westminster.

As well as abstracts from the articles (see Editor's Notes), Parliamentary Affairs podcasts are also available. These are interviews with the authors designed to explore themes from their work. The podcasts are between 10 and 15 minutes long, and designed to inform researchers and to serve as teaching tools to stimulate discussion amongst students.

What happens if there's a hung Parliament? - March 11, 2010

A guide to process and procedures

A new pamphlet from the Hansard Society and the Study of Parliament Group, published today, examines what will happen if there is an uncertain election result - with particular focus on the implications for Parliament.

Who Governs? Forming a coalition or a minority government in the event of a hung Parliament  sets out what will happen if no party has overall control. The authors (Robert Blackburn, Ruth Fox, Oonagh Gay and Lucinda Maer) explore the constitutional process of forming a government, the role and impact that parliamentary procedure will have in the process, and examine the constitutional issues regarding the calling of a second general election. Drawing on past history, they examine the lessons to be learnt from the devolved legislatures, and international comparisons, and explore what impact, if any coalition and minority government might have on the culture of politics in the next Parliament. Finally, they assess what role constitutional and parliamentary reform may play in any post-election inter-party agreement.

Reforms Must Now Be Implemented After House of Commons Votes Unanimously For Reform - March 4, 2010

Hansard Society Welcomes Wright Committee Result

As a strong advocate of the Wright Committee proposals for reform of the House of Commons the Hansard Society has welcomed this afternoon's vote by MPs who unanimously accepted the key recommendations.

Commenting on today's outcome, Dr Ruth Fox, said, ‘Today's result is an important milestone in reform of the House of Commons. We urged MPs to support the reforms - indeed we first recommended a Business Committee for the House of Commons nearly two decades ago - so we are delighted with the unanimous support for them in the House today.'

‘There is now a clear mandate for change and the Government should move quickly to implement them. If the proposals are to be in place for the next Parliament the Standing Orders of the House need to be amended.'

MPs' expenses scandal has mixed results - March 3, 2010

Decline in relevance of Parliament - but Parliament ‘worthwhile'

Increase in dissatisfaction with MPs in general - but not own MP

The 2010 Hansard Society annual Audit of Political Engagement published today shows that while the MPs' expenses scandal has affected the public's satisfaction with and perception of MPs and the Westminster Parliament, there has not been a collapse of trust in politicians or politics.

Most significantly, there has been a big decline since the first Audit in 2004 in the perceived impact of the Westminster Parliament on people's lives, compared to other institutions. Only 19% think Parliament is one of the top three influential institutions on their everyday lives - an 11% drop from 2004. But 60% still think Parliament is ‘worthwhile', compared to only 14% who disagree.

There has been no overall collapse of trust in politicians - 26% say they trust politicians generally compared to 27% in 2004 and 73% say they distrust politicians compared to 70% in 2004. Because levels of trust were already low, the MPs' expenses scandal merely confirmed and hardened the public's widely held scepticism about politicians rather than changed their views.

Parliament must change from ‘broadcast' mode - March 1, 2010

Young voters demand more two-way communication

A  Hansard Society report - Parliament 2020: visioning the future Parliament - asking first-time voters, parliamentarians and parliament officials about their visions for a future Parliament found that all groups wanted to see Parliament using new technologies to more actively engage with citizens.

The top priorities for all three groups (first-time voters, parliamentary officials and MPs and Peers) were:

• Greater use of new technologies
• Interactive communication

The main concern of MPs and Peers was the modernisation of procedures in Parliament, and while parliamentary officials, MPs and Peers prioritised access to information, first-time voters prioritised:

• Education and outreach
• Transparency and accountability
• Diversity of representatives

‘We must nurture politicians if we want a healthy democracy' - Feb 24, 2010

Peter Riddell, Hansard Society Chair, gives the inaugural Parliamentary Affairs Annual Lecture

Thursday 25 February, 6.30pm, Macmillan Room, Portcullis House

In 2009 the reputation of politicians and politics itself reached rock bottom. Peter Riddell, Chair of the Hansard Society, in his speech at the inaugural Parliamentary Affairs Annual lecture tomorrow evening will examine the role of politicians in a modern representative democracy. He will say:

‘...We need, and should nurture, politicians if we want a vibrant and healthy democracy. Criticising politicians as a class - regardless of their individual merits, as well as weaknesses - is counter-productive and dangerous. It is likely to deter good people from putting themselves forward as candidates - and is one reason for the record retirements at the end of this Parliament. So, just as we celebrate politics as a crucial activity in a healthy democracy, so let us recognise the vital role of politicians.'

Sex education - what do young people think? Feb 23, 2010

Sex education - what do young people think?  

11-18 year-olds give their views on the sex education they receive

1 March - 19 March www.headsup.org.uk

The next online HeadsUp forum for 11-18 year-olds will be Sex education - do you get enough? The topic has never been more relevant with political parties and commentators entering into the debate, giving their views on how and when young people should receive sex education and a government consultation on the matter. But what do young people think about when and what they are being taught about sex?

Digital Citizens want to engage with politicians - Feb 10, 2010

Passive democracy is not enough

A  Hansard Society report - Digital citizens and democratic participation: An analysis of how citizens participate online and connect with MPs and Parliament - shows that for Britons who are already online, the internet has made it easier to take part in civic and political activities and that half of them prefer to use the internet to take part in democratic life.

Open letter to Harriet Harman - February 2, 2010

In an open letter to Leader of the House, Harriet Harman, seven organisations concerned with parliamentary and constitutional reform have come together to urge the Government and MPs not to act as a roadblock to reform of the House of Commons before the general election.

The Better Government Initiative, Constitution Unit, Democratic Audit, Electoral Reform Society, Hansard Society, Power 2010 and Unlock Democracy all support implementation of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Reform of the House of Commons (the ‘Wright Committee') which include:

UPDATE - Harriet Harman has given a date for discussion of the Wright Committee report as March 4 - Guardian, Tuesday 9 February 2010

Hansard Society urges MPs to reach a speedy consensus on Wright Committee recommendations - Jan 21, 2010

Changes must be in place before election

The Hansard Society, the UK's leading non-partisan political research and education charity, welcomes today's announcement that the recommendations of the House of Commons Reform Committee (the Wright Committee) will be debated on February 23 - nearly two months after their publication - and urges MPs to reach a speedy consensus so changes can be in place before the election.

Reforms suggested by the Wright Committee, such as establishment of a business committee, enshrining a commitment to set up select committees within six weeks of Parliament returning, and elections for select committee chairs and members, have serious implications for the new Parliament. If they are not implemented before the general election, we run the risk of months of delay during which a new government, of whatever political persuasion, could escape effective parliamentary scrutiny.