Upcoming Events

Parliamentary Reform Lecture Series - 9, 15 & 18 March

2010-02-11T11:30:00Z

Since its inception the Hansard Society has made many influential recommendations for parliamentary reform. In the run up to the general election the Hansard Society has asked the three main parties to lay out their party's plans for parliamentary reform, should that party form the new government. The lectures, Chaired by Peter Riddell (Chair of the Hansard Society), continuing after the very successful lecture given by Jack Straw MP on Monday March 9, are as follows:

David Howarth MP (Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Solicitor General) - March 15, 6pm.
Please note that this lecture starts a half hour earlier than the others, at 6pm. David Howarth will examine the Liberal Democrat's priorities for reform of Parliament.

Sir George Young MP (Shadow Leader of the House of Commons) - March 18, 6.30pm
Sir George Young will discuss the Conservative Party's parliamentary reform agenda.

So far...

Jack Straw MP (Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice) - March 9, 6.30pm.
Jack Straw started his lecture by saying that there is nothing more important than the distribution and exercise of power, and that parliamentary reform is a part of this. He went on to discuss Labour's record on parliamentary reform since 1997 and said that the most significant achievement of this was the removal of the majority of hereditary peers from the House of Lords and said that the cultural change in Westminster over the past decade has been great, citing the example of the UK Youth Parliament sitting in both Houses. He discussed upcoming reforms such as the referendum on AV, the Wright Committee proposals and the commitment to the full removal of hereditary peers from the House of Lords, at the same time pointing out that having a wholly appointed House of Lords is unsustainable for a modern democracy.

Read the full speech
Listen to the speech
Listen to the Q&A

The three lectures will culminate in a pamphlet containing the lectures, as well as an introductory chapter from Dr. Ruth Fox, director of the Hansard Society's Parliament & Government Programme.

NOTE: When you sign up using the online registration system or by emailing hans_admin@hansard.lse.ac.uk please tell us if you would like to attend all three lectures, or specify which lectures you would like to attend.

Independent MPs – what can they bring to Parliament?

2010-02-01T10:01:00Z

Tuesday March 16 at 6.30pm, Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

Speakers:

Professor Philip Cowley (academic and author of Revolts and Rebellions: Parliamentary Voting Under Blair),
Chris Mullin MP (Labour MP for Sunderland South)
Cllr Diane Park (independent PPC for Halifax)
Dr Richard Taylor (independent MP for Wyre Forest)

Chair: Fiona Booth (Chief Executive, Hansard Society)

This Democracy Forum will debate the effectiveness of independent MPs, whether it is likely that the forthcoming general election will produce a higher proportion of independents and what this means for the operation of Parliament and politics in general. Will independent MPs spend more time in their constituencies at the expense of Parliament? Can a large number of independent MPs without the influence of whips effect real change? How will independent MPs with diverging views work cohesively together?

This event is free to attend, please email hans_admin@hansard.lse.ac.uk to register.