News and coverage

News

News and coverage

News, press releases, selected coverage, and media appearances and contributions.

Hansard Society staff are happy to speak to the media about our research and recommendations. The Society’s research team features regularly in broadcast, print and online media, and staff write and contribute to news and comment articles.

Latest

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What's coming up in Parliament this week? 20-24 January 2025

The projected costs of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will be considered by MPs, and the Public Bill Committee examining the Bill will meet to decide its schedule of work. Backbench debates focus on the impact of food and diet on obesity; financial education; and Holocaust Memorial Day. MPs will consider the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill and the Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill. Peers will consider amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill. The Home Affairs Committee will hear from Professor Alexis Jay, chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

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.

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

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What's coming up in Parliament this week? 13-17 January 2025

MPs will consider proposed amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill. The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary will face oral questions from MPs. Backbenchers will lead a debate on hospice and palliative care, intended to inform the wider debate about the assisted dying bill. Several Cabinet Ministers, including the Leader of the House of Commons, will appear before select committees. The Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill will complete all its stages in the House of Lords in a day. Peers will commence Committee stage scrutiny of the Mental Health Bill.

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.