Membership

Individual membership

Support our work to improve the way Parliament works and champion a more informed public debate about Parliament and parliamentary democracy

People walking over Westminster Bridge towards the UK Houses of Parliament
People walking over Westminster Bridge towards the UK Houses of Parliament

As a charity, the Society depends on our valuable network of members and supporters to help us develop ideas to improve the way Parliament works and champion more informed public debate about Parliament and parliamentary democracy.

The individual membership options and benefits are set out below. Join us!

Standard

£50 per year

Our most popular membership package for those who want to help support our work.

  • Hansard Society welcome pack

  • Subscription to 'Despatch Box', our weekly parliamentary and constitutional digest newsletter

  • Subscription to our monthly e-newsletter

  • Invitation to an Annual Conference with presentations from Hansard Society staff and guest speakers

  • Attendance at the AGM

  • Discounts and priority booking for Hansard Society events and training across the year

Terms and conditions

1. The Hansard Society welcomes individuals with an interest in and/or experience in parliamentary democracy. Applicants must submit an application form, a statement of interest and intention (up to 250 words) and payment when applying to join.

2. Each application will be assessed in relation to the Society’s objects by the Board of Trustees or a sub-group of the Board designated for the purpose. The Board may also choose to delegate the role to the Director. The Trustees and Director will have absolute discretion in approving membership.

3. Applicants not approved for membership shall have the right of appeal to the Chair of the Society whose decision is final. There will be no further right of appeal.

4. Membership of the Society shall not be refused on the basis of nationality, residency status, race, colour, creed or any other characteristics protected by law.

5. Once approved and accepted individual membership is valid for one year and renewable annually on the anniversary of the acceptance of their application.

6. No member shall be entitled to vote or enjoy any benefits of the Hansard Society as long as subscription payments are in arrears.

7. Payment for individual membership will be taken on submission of the application. In the event of an application being rejected a full refund of the membership fee will be given.

8. Individual membership will be suspended once payment is more than one month in arrears.

9. If a member pays the membership fee within three months of the due date, the individual membership will then restart – and be renewable annually - from that new date. The only requirement for re-joining within this time-period will be repayment of the annual subscription (the current year amount). The member will not be required to pay a re-joining fee or repeat the application process.

10. If a suspended member does nor re-join within three months of the due date, the membership will be deemed to have been terminated. A member who wishes to re-join after their membership has terminated will be required to re-join as a new applicant.

11. Once payment has been received, individuals who join the Hansard Society or who renew their membership will be entitled to a refund only within the first six months of their membership period, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

12. Membership of the Society may be terminated at the discretion of the Board of Trustees if the applicant is deemed to have behaved contrary to the objects of the Society and/or in a vexatious manner and/or to have brought the reputation of the Hansard Society into disrepute. The Trustees will have absolute discretion in terminating membership.

13. The Board of Trustees shall have power to appoint as Honorary Members distinguished persons whose association with the Hansard Society may be considered advantageous, or who have rendered a special service to the Hansard Society. Honorary members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership, but they shall not be entitled to vote.

14. Members are permitted to list their affiliation with the Hansard Society on résumés, in publications and for other biographical purposes. Members may join groups within networking and social media websites that show an affiliation to the Hansard Society, for example on Facebook or LinkedIn. However, members are not permitted to use their Hansard Society affiliation in a way that would suggest they represent the Hansard Society (e.g. on personal business cards, publications or when writing articles or giving media interviews, or on other public platforms).

15. All membership data will be stored according to the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. The Society’s Privacy Policy sets out how the Society uses any personal data provided by members, what members’ rights are in relation to that data, and how those rights can be exercised.

Premium

£90 per year

Premium membership includes everything in our Standard membership but with a hard copy of our quarterly journal, Parliamentary Affairs, delivered direct to your door.

  • Subscription (print) to Parliamentary Affairs

  • Hansard Society welcome pack

  • Subscription to 'Despatch Box', our weekly parliamentary and constitutional digest newsletter

  • Subscription to our monthly e-newsletter

  • Invitation to an Annual Conference with presentations from Hansard Society staff and guest speakers

  • Attendance at the AGM

  • Discounts and priority booking for Hansard Society events and training across the year

Terms and conditions

1. The Hansard Society welcomes individuals with an interest in and/or experience in parliamentary democracy. Applicants must submit an application form, a statement of interest and intention (up to 250 words) and payment when applying to join.

2. Each application will be assessed in relation to the Society’s objects by the Board of Trustees or a sub-group of the Board designated for the purpose. The Board may also choose to delegate the role to the Director. The Trustees and Director will have absolute discretion in approving membership.

3. Applicants not approved for membership shall have the right of appeal to the Chair of the Society whose decision is final. There will be no further right of appeal.

4. Membership of the Society shall not be refused on the basis of nationality, residency status, race, colour, creed or any other characteristics protected by law.

5. Once approved and accepted individual membership is valid for one year and renewable annually on the anniversary of the acceptance of their application.

6. No member shall be entitled to vote or enjoy any benefits of the Hansard Society as long as subscription payments are in arrears.

7. Payment for individual membership will be taken on submission of the application. In the event of an application being rejected a full refund of the membership fee will be given.

8. Individual membership will be suspended once payment is more than one month in arrears.

9. If a member pays the membership fee within three months of the due date, the individual membership will then restart – and be renewable annually - from that new date. The only requirement for re-joining within this time-period will be repayment of the annual subscription (the current year amount). The member will not be required to pay a re-joining fee or repeat the application process.

10. If a suspended member does nor re-join within three months of the due date, the membership will be deemed to have been terminated. A member who wishes to re-join after their membership has terminated will be required to re-join as a new applicant.

11. Once payment has been received, individuals who join the Hansard Society or who renew their membership will be entitled to a refund only within the first six months of their membership period, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

12. Membership of the Society may be terminated at the discretion of the Board of Trustees if the applicant is deemed to have behaved contrary to the objects of the Society and/or in a vexatious manner and/or to have brought the reputation of the Hansard Society into disrepute. The Trustees will have absolute discretion in terminating membership.

13. The Board of Trustees shall have power to appoint as Honorary Members distinguished persons whose association with the Hansard Society may be considered advantageous, or who have rendered a special service to the Hansard Society. Honorary members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership, but they shall not be entitled to vote.

14. Members are permitted to list their affiliation with the Hansard Society on résumés, in publications and for other biographical purposes. Members may join groups within networking and social media websites that show an affiliation to the Hansard Society, for example on Facebook or LinkedIn. However, members are not permitted to use their Hansard Society affiliation in a way that would suggest they represent the Hansard Society (e.g. on personal business cards, publications or when writing articles or giving media interviews, or on other public platforms).

15. All membership data will be stored according to the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. The Society’s Privacy Policy sets out how the Society uses any personal data provided by members, what members’ rights are in relation to that data, and how those rights can be exercised.

Concession

£15 per year

Concession membership includes all the benefits of our Standard membership. The concession rate is available to:

  • Under 30s

  • Students

  • Unwaged receiving welfare benefits

  • Retired with a low income

Recognising that some people face financial barriers to political engagement and participation, we hope this discounted membership will allow more people to support for our work championing the cause of parliamentary democracy.

We are grateful to those who support the Hansard Society through donations and our standard and premium memberships, allowing us to offer a wider concessionary rate.

Terms and conditions

1. The Hansard Society welcomes individuals with an interest in and/or experience in parliamentary democracy. Applicants must submit an application form, a statement of interest and intention (up to 250 words) and payment when applying to join.

2. Each application will be assessed in relation to the Society’s objects by the Board of Trustees or a sub-group of the Board designated for the purpose. The Board may also choose to delegate the role to the Director. The Trustees and Director will have absolute discretion in approving membership.

3. Applicants not approved for membership shall have the right of appeal to the Chair of the Society whose decision is final. There will be no further right of appeal.

4. Membership of the Society shall not be refused on the basis of nationality, residency status, race, colour, creed or any other characteristics protected by law.

5. Once approved and accepted individual membership is valid for one year and renewable annually on the anniversary of the acceptance of their application.

6. No member shall be entitled to vote or enjoy any benefits of the Hansard Society as long as subscription payments are in arrears.

7. Payment for individual membership will be taken on submission of the application. In the event of an application being rejected a full refund of the membership fee will be given.

8. Individual membership will be suspended once payment is more than one month in arrears.

9. If a member pays the membership fee within three months of the due date, the individual membership will then restart – and be renewable annually - from that new date. The only requirement for re-joining within this time-period will be repayment of the annual subscription (the current year amount). The member will not be required to pay a re-joining fee or repeat the application process.

10. If a suspended member does nor re-join within three months of the due date, the membership will be deemed to have been terminated. A member who wishes to re-join after their membership has terminated will be required to re-join as a new applicant.

11. Once payment has been received, individuals who join the Hansard Society or who renew their membership will be entitled to a refund only within the first six months of their membership period, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

12. Membership of the Society may be terminated at the discretion of the Board of Trustees if the applicant is deemed to have behaved contrary to the objects of the Society and/or in a vexatious manner and/or to have brought the reputation of the Hansard Society into disrepute. The Trustees will have absolute discretion in terminating membership.

13. The Board of Trustees shall have power to appoint as Honorary Members distinguished persons whose association with the Hansard Society may be considered advantageous, or who have rendered a special service to the Hansard Society. Honorary members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership, but they shall not be entitled to vote.

14. Members are permitted to list their affiliation with the Hansard Society on résumés, in publications and for other biographical purposes. Members may join groups within networking and social media websites that show an affiliation to the Hansard Society, for example on Facebook or LinkedIn. However, members are not permitted to use their Hansard Society affiliation in a way that would suggest they represent the Hansard Society (e.g. on personal business cards, publications or when writing articles or giving media interviews, or on other public platforms).

15. All membership data will be stored according to the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. The Society’s Privacy Policy sets out how the Society uses any personal data provided by members, what members’ rights are in relation to that data, and how those rights can be exercised.

International

£35 per year

International membership includes everything in our Standard membership, except the welcome pack, and is available to anyone based outside the UK. We particularly welcome alumni of the Hansard Scholars programme.

  • Subscription to 'Despatch Box', our weekly parliamentary and constitutional digest newsletter

  • Subscription to our monthly e-newsletter

  • Invitation to an Annual Conference with presentations from Hansard Society staff and guest speakers

  • Attendance at the AGM

  • Discounts and priority booking for Hansard Society events and training across the year

Terms and conditions

1. The Hansard Society welcomes individuals with an interest in and/or experience in parliamentary democracy. Applicants must submit an application form, a statement of interest and intention (up to 250 words) and payment when applying to join.

2. Each application will be assessed in relation to the Society’s objects by the Board of Trustees or a sub-group of the Board designated for the purpose. The Board may also choose to delegate the role to the Director. The Trustees and Director will have absolute discretion in approving membership.

3. Applicants not approved for membership shall have the right of appeal to the Chair of the Society whose decision is final. There will be no further right of appeal.

4. Membership of the Society shall not be refused on the basis of nationality, residency status, race, colour, creed or any other characteristics protected by law.

5. Once approved and accepted individual membership is valid for one year and renewable annually on the anniversary of the acceptance of their application.

6. No member shall be entitled to vote or enjoy any benefits of the Hansard Society as long as subscription payments are in arrears.

7. Payment for individual membership will be taken on submission of the application. In the event of an application being rejected a full refund of the membership fee will be given.

8. Individual membership will be suspended once payment is more than one month in arrears.

9. If a member pays the membership fee within three months of the due date, the individual membership will then restart – and be renewable annually - from that new date. The only requirement for re-joining within this time-period will be repayment of the annual subscription (the current year amount). The member will not be required to pay a re-joining fee or repeat the application process.

10. If a suspended member does nor re-join within three months of the due date, the membership will be deemed to have been terminated. A member who wishes to re-join after their membership has terminated will be required to re-join as a new applicant.

11. Once payment has been received, individuals who join the Hansard Society or who renew their membership will be entitled to a refund only within the first six months of their membership period, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

12. Membership of the Society may be terminated at the discretion of the Board of Trustees if the applicant is deemed to have behaved contrary to the objects of the Society and/or in a vexatious manner and/or to have brought the reputation of the Hansard Society into disrepute. The Trustees will have absolute discretion in terminating membership.

13. The Board of Trustees shall have power to appoint as Honorary Members distinguished persons whose association with the Hansard Society may be considered advantageous, or who have rendered a special service to the Hansard Society. Honorary members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership, but they shall not be entitled to vote.

14. Members are permitted to list their affiliation with the Hansard Society on résumés, in publications and for other biographical purposes. Members may join groups within networking and social media websites that show an affiliation to the Hansard Society, for example on Facebook or LinkedIn. However, members are not permitted to use their Hansard Society affiliation in a way that would suggest they represent the Hansard Society (e.g. on personal business cards, publications or when writing articles or giving media interviews, or on other public platforms).

15. All membership data will be stored according to the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. The Society’s Privacy Policy sets out how the Society uses any personal data provided by members, what members’ rights are in relation to that data, and how those rights can be exercised.