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Support and connect with us

Connect with us and support our work to improve the way Parliament works and champion a more informed public debate about parliamentary democracy.

Membership and donations

Will you support our work by becoming a member of the Hansard Society or making a donation?

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Statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. CC

Amid growing concern about the increase in executive power and the side-lining of Parliament, there has never been a more important time to support us in developing solutions to improve the way Parliament works and to champion more informed public debate about Parliament and parliamentary democracy.

Our members form a valuable network of people who care about Parliament, public life and politics and want our parliamentary institutions to prosper in the future.

If you are currently unable to commit to becoming a member, please consider making a single or recurring donation and support our work to improve the way Parliament works!

Become a member

Come to our events

Members / Holding Government to Account - Democracy and the National Audit Office

Each year MPs approve trillions of pounds of public spending. But can they really follow the money? Our guest speakers – Dr Henry Midgley, Professor Laurence Ferry and Aileen Murphie of Durham University − will be discussing how Parliament scrutinises Government expenditure and holds Ministers to account for it. 6.30-7.45pm, Tuesday 14 January 2025 online via Zoom This is a meeting for Hansard Society members and their friends. Not already a member of the Hansard Society? Join us now!

Members / Mapping the Constitution with David Torrance

Dr David Torrance spoke to us about his major new project for the House of Commons Library: Mapping the UK Constitution. 6:00pm-7:15pm on Tuesday, 10 December 2024, at the Palace of Westminster followed by refreshments at a nearby venue This is a meeting for Hansard Society members and their friends. Not already a member of the Hansard Society? Join us now!

Webinars / The Assisted Dying Bill: Making sense of the parliamentary process

The Assisted Dying Bill is a Private Member’s Bill (PMB). Although the legislative stages for PMBs are the same as for Government bills, the rules that apply are different, creating distinct procedural hurdles that PMBs must navigate. This online discussion featured a discussion between a panel of impartial experts about the parliamentary process affecting this Bill. If you were unable to join us for the live event, a recording is now being made available. The live event took place between 6:00pm and 7:15pm on Tuesday 26 November 2024 Post-event recording will be available from 27 November 2024 (Tickets: £10)

Members / The Modernisation Committee’s potential for reform

The House of Commons has appointed a new Modernisation Committee and issued a call for views on what it should address. So what is the Modernisation Committee, and what should it be doing? Our Director, Dr Ruth Fox, led Hansard Society members in an online discussion on Modernisation Committee reforms. 6:30-7:45pm, Tuesday 19 November 2024 online via Zoom This is a meeting for Hansard Society members and their friends. Not already a member of the Hansard Society? Join us now!

Members / Annual General Meeting - with Sir Peter Riddell

Our Annual General Meeting updated Members on the work of the Society and provided a look ahead to our future plans. Our special guest speaker was Hansard Society member Sir Peter Riddell, former political editor and chief political commentator at The Times and author of numerous books about Parliament and politics. Sir Peter joined us to discuss the general election campaign and the challenges facing the new Parliament. 6:00-7:30pm, 12 June 2024 This is a Members-only hybrid event: in person at our base in Westminster, and on Zoom.

Latest / Highlights

News / Should Parliament, rather than Ministers, oversee public inquiries? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 67

With the Government still under pressure to set up an independent inquiry into child grooming gangs should Parliament have a role in setting up inquiries into state failures and national disasters? Currently, Ministers take crucial decisions about who should chair an inquiry and what its precise remit should be. But a House of Lords Committee last year proposed giving Parliament a greater say and adopting a more systematic approach to implementing inquiry recommendations.

Briefings / The Assisted Dying Bill: A guide to the Private Member's Bill process

This briefing explains what to watch for during the Second Reading debate of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 29 November. It outlines the procedural and legislative issues that will come into play: the role of the Chair in managing the debate and how procedures such as the 'closure' and 'reasoned amendments' work. It looks ahead to the Committee and Report stage procedures that will apply if the Bill progresses beyond Second Reading. It also examines the government's responsibilities, such as providing a money resolution for the Bill and preparing an Impact Assessment, while addressing broader concerns about the adequacy of Private Members’ Bill procedures for scrutinising controversial issues.

News / The 'Musk Factor': Is the world's richest man driving Parliament's agenda? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 66

This week, we examine how Elon Musk’s tweets have steered the UK parliamentary agenda in the first sitting days of the New Year. From a viral petition demanding a general election, to intense debates on child sexual exploitation and grooming gangs, Musk’s influence has left its mark on this week’s key political discussions. Ruth and Mark also unpack the rise of identical parliamentary questions and share their plans to cover the Assisted Dying Bill’s next stages later this month.

News / Parliament's role in a failed state: A conversation with Sam Freedman - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 62

In this special episode of Parliament Matters, we sit down with author and researcher Sam Freedman to explore the themes of his book, Failed State. Freedman delivers a sharp critique of Britain’s governance, examining how bad laws and weak parliamentary scrutiny are contributing to systemic dysfunction.

News / Whipping Yarns: A rebel whip's tale - A conversation with former MP Steve Baker - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 65

In our latest ‘Whipping Yarn’ we sit down with Steve Baker, whose reputation as the "Hard Man of Brexit" made him a key figure in the UK’s departure from the EU. Baker reflects on his pivotal role as the "Rebel Commander" in orchestrating rebellions during the Brexit years, his methods of leadership, and the toll politics has taken on his mental health. The episode offers an unfiltered look into the mechanisms of political rebellion, party dynamics, and the personal costs of parliamentary life.