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Martin Spychal

@martinspychal.bsky.social
3.9K followers 1.9K following 84 posts

Senior Research Fellow & Digital Humanities Lead, History of Parliament, House of Commons, 1832-1945 project. History, politics, prints, cats. Author of 'Mapping the State' OUT NOW. bit.ly/3RQmUeK

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Reposted by Martin Spychal
History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 10h
Frederick Hyde will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 'The Arrow Affair and British Identity during the 1857 Election'. 📍 Senate House, London / Online 🗓️Tuesday 20 October 2026 ⏱️5:30-6:30pm Find out more about the paper and how to attend below.
historyofparliament.com
China on the Hustings: The Arrow Affair and British Identity during the 1857 General Election - The History of Parliament
Frederick Hyde of the University of Southampton, discusses ‘China on the Hustings: The Arrow Affair and British Identity during the 1857 General Election’.
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Reposted by Martin Spychal
History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Robert Spankie, MP for Finsbury 1832-35, had an unusual pre-parliamentary career. @martinspychal.bsky.social explores his route from parliamentary reporter to serving as a controversial advocate-general of Bengal.
historyofparliament.com
Robert Spankie: From parliamentary reporter to Member of Parliament
Robert Spankie, who was returned for Finsbury in 1832, had an unusual pre-parliamentary career. Dr Martin Spychal, Senior Research Fellow on our House of
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Congratulations to our research fellow Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones and @colmpm.bsky.social for organising such an interesting workshop on modern British political history yesterday, held @ihr.bsky.social
Photo of a tall white building with multiple floors and lots of windows.
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
@kathrynrix.bsky.social & I recently received a lovely email from Peter Sargant, an independent researcher & collector, about our recent article on the 1835 Speakership election. Peter shared this letter from his collection, which was sent from the Commons to Dunfermline straight after the vote 1/5
A letter sent from the Commons immediately after the 1835 Speakership division by James Erskine Wemyss, MP for Fifeshire on 19 Feb. 1835. Arriving in Dunfermline on 21 Feb., it advises Sir John Erskine that Abercromby had won the division by 316 to 310 votes. His statement that Abercromby won with a majority of 10 contradicts his own figures and reflects confusion at the time about the exact tally. Many thanks to Peter Sargant for sharing this correspondence with us. Image © Peter Sargant 2026.  

Transcription: 
House of Commons
February: 19/35
Abercromby 316
Sutton 310
M for A 10
James Wemyss
London Feb Nineteen 1835
Sir John Erskine of Torrie, Dunfermline
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
We’ve added the image to our article, which you can read here: historyofparliament.com/2026/07/17/s... 5/5
historyofparliament.com
The Speakership election of 1835 - The History of Parliament
In this article Dr Kathryn Rix and Dr Martin Spychal of our House of Commons, 1832-1868 project discuss a pivotal vote in the early nineteenth-century Commons
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Note the ‘free’ postage sign on the Parliament postmark from 19 Feb. (probably sent around 6.30pm) and the receipt post mark 21 Feb. The Scottish press also reported the vote debate & tally on 21 Feb. - a reminder of the speed news travelled between London and Scotland in the early 19C! 4/5
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Given the confusion surrounding the final vote tallies (discussed in our article) it was no surprise to see Wemyss report a different final tally to parliamentary reporters (including Hansard), and also get his maths wrong in stating the final majority 3/5
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
The letter was sent by the ‘independent Reformer’ and MP for Fifeshire, James Erskine Wemyss, MP for Fifeshire. The recipient in Dunfermline was his uncle, Sir John Erskine of Torrie (1776-1836). 2/5
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
@kathrynrix.bsky.social & I recently received a lovely email from Peter Sargant, an independent researcher & collector, about our recent article on the 1835 Speakership election. Peter shared this letter from his collection, which was sent from the Commons to Dunfermline straight after the vote 1/5
A letter sent from the Commons immediately after the 1835 Speakership division by James Erskine Wemyss, MP for Fifeshire on 19 Feb. 1835. Arriving in Dunfermline on 21 Feb., it advises Sir John Erskine that Abercromby had won the division by 316 to 310 votes. His statement that Abercromby won with a majority of 10 contradicts his own figures and reflects confusion at the time about the exact tally. Many thanks to Peter Sargant for sharing this correspondence with us. Image © Peter Sargant 2026.  

Transcription: 
House of Commons
February: 19/35
Abercromby 316
Sutton 310
M for A 10
James Wemyss
London Feb Nineteen 1835
Sir John Erskine of Torrie, Dunfermline
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Lord Ronald Gower was born on this day in 1845. Gower was MP for Sutherland (1867-73) and a prominent figure in British LGBTQ+ history. Our colleague @martinspychal.bsky.social has explored his life and career over a series of articles. 🧵
historyofparliament.com
Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916): the life of a queer MP at the time of the Second Reform Act
Dr Martin Spychal introduces his series of articles on Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916), who was elected as MP for Sutherland in 1867. This is the first of five
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Following last week's article on who could vote after the 1832 Reform Act, this week we're considering 'where' people voted. Our colleague @martinspychal.bsky.social discusses the impact of reform on England's electoral politics. @victoriancommons.bsky.social
historyofparliament.com
Reappraising England’s reformed electoral map, 1832-1868: the impact of the 1832 Reform Act - The History of Parliament
As my book, Mapping the State, explores, and the History of Parliament’s 1832-1868 Commons project is discovering, it is the rich complexity of England’s
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Jennifer Davey @jhdavey.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Really brilliant @histparl.bsky.social research here 👇
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Just published this co-authored article with my brilliant colleague @kathrynrix.bsky.social on the controversial 1835 election of the Commons Speaker! @histparl.bsky.social @victoriancommons.bsky.social historyofparliament.com/2026/07/17/s... 1/4
historyofparliament.com
The Speakership election of 1835 - The History of Parliament
In this article Dr Kathryn Rix and Dr Martin Spychal of our House of Commons, 1832-1868 project discuss a pivotal vote in the early nineteenth-century Commons
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
We also discuss how unofficial division lists were published after the vote. Parliamentary votes were not officially recorded until 1836. This led to many errors, which have persisted in histories of the debate. We provide a *hopefully* definitive list of corrections to that available on Hansard 4/4
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
It was the first debate in a temporary Commons following the fire of 1834. @kathrynrix.bsky.social has discovered some amazing detail on the debate itself (including vandalism by the sitting Speaker’s wife) and how divisions were taken prior to the installation of two division lobbies (in 1836) 3/4
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Lots of brilliant description of an era-defining political vote @ Westminster and reaction to it throughout the country – including some technical detail on how breaking news was communicated nationally in the 1830s… 2/4
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Just published this co-authored article with my brilliant colleague @kathrynrix.bsky.social on the controversial 1835 election of the Commons Speaker! @histparl.bsky.social @victoriancommons.bsky.social historyofparliament.com/2026/07/17/s... 1/4
historyofparliament.com
The Speakership election of 1835 - The History of Parliament
In this article Dr Kathryn Rix and Dr Martin Spychal of our House of Commons, 1832-1868 project discuss a pivotal vote in the early nineteenth-century Commons
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1975/2... 5/5
legislation.gov.uk
House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I’m not a constitutional lawyer (so may be wrong here), but the phrase ‘office of profit’ is probably now legally defunct/irrelevant as the 1957 & 1975 HOC disqualifications acts defined the Chiltern Hundreds and the Manor of Northstead as ‘disqualifying offices’ for an MP 4/5
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Some stewardships that were used to vacate a seat still had a nominal fee in the 18C. The Steward of the Manor of East Hendred had a salary of £1 3/5
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
e.g. the steward of the Chiltern hundreds was once responsible for overseeing crown estates in the Chiltern hundreds (for which the office holder received fees). By 1750 new tax and judicial frameworks had superseded these feudal systems, but the office (or job) was still on the books 2/5
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Martin Spychal @martinspychal.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
No problems! They key is they were once profitable offices, so in the early 18C these jobs still technically retained the status of ‘office or place of profit under the king’ 1/5
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
🚨New article 🚨 Have you just heard that an MP has resigned by ‘taking the Chiltern Hundreds’? Our Senior Research Fellow, @martinspychal.bsky.social, explains the practice and explores its historical context…
historyofparliament.com
How does an MP resign? The Chiltern Hundreds & the Manor of Northstead - The History of Parliament
Have you just heard that an MP has resigned by ‘taking the Chiltern Hundreds’? Our Senior Research Fellow, Dr Martin Spychal, explains the practice and
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Malik Al Nasir @malikalnasir.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Here’s the latest article I contributed to in The Guardian, @theguardian.com concerning baptisms of the enslaved in England during the 18th and 19th centuries. www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ju... #MalikAlNasir #ChrisOsuh #Guardian #Slavery #Baptism #ManchesterCathederal #IndianaMundi #Enslavement
theguardian.com
Baptism record at Manchester Cathedral offers insight into Black Mancunian life in Georgian-era England
A parish entry reveals an argument that proved pivotal to the abolitionist cause, at a time when an estimated 20,000 Black people were living in the country
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Laura C Forster @lauracforster.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
'...the book is a complete success, and it should become a staple of reading lists on international political-ideological interactions' Thanks to Alex Middleton for this generous & thoughtful review!
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Come & hear about @histparl.bsky.social's Oral History of Parliament on 24 June @19:00. With clips from David Blunkett, Malcolm Rifkind, Gisela Stuart & others,the session explores who makes it to Westminster, how Parliament has changed & who challenged its ways www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/westminste...
eventbrite.co.uk
Westminster as told to the History of Parliament’s Oral History Project
‘A mix between arcane procedure and schoolboy-ish behaviour’? Westminster as told to the History of Parliament’s Oral History Project
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
In a new article for @histparl.bsky.social our editor Dr Philip Salmon explores when and how some women could vote, long before they acquired the parliamentary franchise in 1918: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2026/06/17/v...
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
Votes for women before and after 1832
The role of women in Victorian politics continues to be a significant theme in many of our Victorian Commons posts. Articles on this site by Jennifer Davey, Sarah Richardson, Kathryn Rix,…
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John Levin @anterotesis.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
And more #PublicDomain books I've got Google to release from 'snippet view': Maps and Plans in the Public Record Office: books.google.co.uk/books?id=zys... Sample Census 1966 books.google.co.uk/books?id=fyo... Consolidated list of Govt publications, 1925: books.google.co.uk/books?id=cyd...
books.google.co.uk
Maps and Plans in the Public Record Office: British Isles, c. 1410-1860
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Tune in to Matt Chorley's show on BBC Radio 5 Live at 15:45 to hear our colleague @alfiesteer.bsky.social discuss political diaries! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Radio 5 Live - Listen Live - BBC Sounds
Listen live to Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Professor Eloise Davies will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 'the politics of Convocation in early Stuart England'. 📍 Online - Zoom 🗓️Tuesday 2 June 2026 ⏱️5:30-6:30pm Find out more about the paper and how to attend below:
historyofparliament.com
Between Parliament and king: the politics of Convocation in early Stuart England - The History of Parliament
Professor Eloise Davies of the University of Florida, will be discussing the politics of convocation in early Stuart England.
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Tom Hulme @tomhulme.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
I was on BBC Radio Ulster Talkback today with @williamcrawley.bsky.social talking about "Belfastmen: An Intimate History of Life before Gay Liberation" - listen here from 12:47pm! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Radio Ulster - Listen Live - BBC Sounds
Listen live to Radio Ulster on BBC Sounds
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IHR British History in the Long C18th Seminar @long18thsem.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
ICYMI: Join us tomorrow from 5:30pm, in person at the IHR or online to hear @amdharrington.bsky.social discuss her PhD research in a paper titled: ‘Empire’s Imagined Spaces: Time, Connection, and the Making of British Imperial Identities, 1757-1840’ Register 👎 www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
history.ac.uk
Empire’s Imagined Spaces: Time, Connection, and the Making of British Imperial Identities, 1757-1840
British History in the Long 18th Century Seminar
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
With the upcoming Makerfield by-election sure to grab headlines, our colleague @martinspychal.bsky.social appeared on last Friday's Today in Parliament to discuss the process in which MPs can effectively resign their seat - by taking the Chiltern Hundreds. Listen from 14:39:
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
If you missed @martinspychal.bsky.social yesterday, this catch-up link is now live, with Martin's segment explaining the oddities of the Chiltern Hundreds starting at around 14:39.
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Our senior research fellow @martinspychal.bsky.social will be featuring on Today in Parliament at 11:30 p.m. on BBC Radio 4, talking about why MPs 'take the Chiltern Hundreds' to resign from the Commons. It will be available on catch up here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - Today in Parliament, 22/05/2026
Sean Curran reports as rank-and-file MPs get the chance to bring in their own laws.
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
After the recent prorogation and subsequent State Opening of Parliament, Dr Kathryn Rix takes us back to 1834, where four prorogations took place in the same year! However, as she explores, not all these prorogations happened in the same place: @victoriancommons.bsky.social
historyofparliament.com
Four prorogations and a conflagration: Parliament and its buildings in 1834
Dr Kathryn Rix of our House of Commons 1832-1945 project looks at the makeshift arrangements made for the prorogation in the aftermath of the devastating Westminster fire of October 1834.
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Joe Cozens @joecozens.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
200 years ago the handloom weavers of Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire engaged in a 10-day rising, destroying over 1,100 power looms. To learn more check out our interactive StoryMap: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9a84... #19thCentury #skystorians @sslh.bsky.social @esriuk.bsky.social
storymaps.arcgis.com
Witnessing the Weavers’ Rising of 1826
A digital mapping project created by The National Archives and The Open University
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Dr Jeremy Crump will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 'Parliamentary politics in the London boroughs, 1832-68'. 📍 Senate House, London / Online 🗓️Tuesday 19 May 2026 ⏱️5:30-6:30pm Find out more about the paper and how to attend below:
historyofparliament.com
Parliamentary politics in the London boroughs, 1832-68
Dr Jeremy Crump of the Institute of Historical Research will be discussing parliamentary politics in the London boroughs between 1832 and 1868.
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Episode 3: 'In this extended third article in his series on Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire 1865-1893, Dr Martin Spychal explores the life of ‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’. Philly was enslaved at the domestic residence of McLagan’s father in Demerara (modern-day Guyana) at the time of McLagan’s birth.'
historyofparliament.com
‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’ (c.1790-unknown): mother and enslaved domestic worker of Barbados and Guyana - The History of Parliament
In this extended third article in his series on Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire 1865-1893, Dr Martin Spychal explores the life of ‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’.
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Emma Peplow @emmapeplow.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
It was lovely to speak to Matt Chorley again yesterday about politicians smoking (really do need to find a media outlet that will let me say how hard working MPs all are or something!) And great to make it on to his podcast! It's here about 23minutes in: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Matt Chorley's Urgent Questions - Can Trump serve a third term? - BBC Sounds
Plus… is smoking bad for your political health?
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Dr Kathryn Rix @kathrynrix.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
A great paper yesterday from @brendantam.bsky.social - best of luck Brendan with the final stages of the PhD!
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Brendan Tam @brendantam.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
I am grateful for the opportunity to present a portion of the political sociability chapter of my PhD (which I am currently reworking). Come along/tune in to hear my thoughts on the dynamics of political sociability and the rhetoric of political friendship in the late Hanoverian period.
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Did you catch a collection of clips from our oral history archive on Radio 4 this morning? Listen back to 'Yesterday in Parliament' to hear @emmapeplow.bsky.social discuss Westminster drinking culture in the late 20th c., through the voices of some of the MPs who were there. [Listen from 19:00]
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - Yesterday in Parliament, 30/04/2026
News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
‘Philly’ or ’Filly’ was enslaved in Guyana by the father of Peter McLagan, Scotland’s first Black MP. @martinspychal.bsky.social explores Philly’s life in Barbados and Guyana before, and after, the abolition of slavery, and considers whether Philly could have been Peter McLagan's mother.
historyofparliament.com
‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’ (c.1790-unknown): mother and enslaved domestic worker of Barbados and Guyana - The History of Parliament
In this extended third article in his series on Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire 1865-1893, Dr Martin Spychal explores the life of ‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’.
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Continuing his series on Scotland's first Black MP, Peter McLagan, @martinspychal.bsky.social explores the life of 'Philly'/'Filly', who was enslaved in Guyana by McLagan's father at the time of McLagan's birth. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2026/04/30/p...
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’ (c.1790-unknown): mother and enslaved domestic worker of Barbados and Guyana
In this extended third article in his series on Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire 1865-1893, Dr Martin Spychal explores the life of ‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’. Philly was enslaved at the domestic resi…
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
This ties in well with the theme of the first Parliaments, Politics and People seminar of summer term. @brendantam.bsky.social will be speaking about political sociability in late Hanoverian Britain. Find out here how to join in person or online on Tues 5 May: historyofparliament.com/2026/04/29/t...
historyofparliament.com
The role of political sociability in establishing and maintaining political friendship and alliances in late-Hanoverian Britain, 1760-1837 - The History of Parliament
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 5 May, BrendanTam of the University of Warwick, will be discussing political sociability and
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Following recent debates about drinking in Parliament, @emmapeplow.bsky.social has delved into the oral history archive to find out what former MPs thought of Westminster's drinking culture, and how it has changed since the 1960s. historyofparliament.com/2026/04/28/d...
historyofparliament.com
‘You could drink to your heart’s content’: Drinking in Parliament, a hangover from the 1970s? - The History of Parliament
In a recent interview, the newly elected MP for Gorton and Denton, Hannah Spencer, has criticised fellow-MPs drinking whilst in Westminster. For Emma Peplow,
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University of London Press @uolpress.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
'a work of impressive scholarship which deserves to be widely read, & not just by political historians, but all those interested in the making of the modern state.' Brilliant review of Mapping the State by @martinspychal.bsky.social from @parlhistjournal.bsky.social. uolpress.co.uk/book/mapping...
uolpress.co.uk
Mapping the State - University of London Press
The 1832 Reform Act was a landmark moment in the development of modern British politics. By overhauling the country’s ancient representative system, the legislation reshaped constitutional arrangement...
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Liam J. Liburd @liamliburd.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Fascinating stuff.
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Victorian Commons @victoriancommons.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Later this month we will have a new article from @martinspychal.bsky.social as part of his series on Peter McLagan, Scotland's first Black MP. Here's a reminder of Martin's first article on McLagan and the process of researching his background: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2025/06/12/p...
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
Peter McLagan (1823-1900): Scotland’s first Black MP
This is the first article in a new series for the Victorian Commons on Peter McLagan (1823-1900), by Dr Martin Spychal, Senior Research Fellow on our House of Commons 1832-1868 project. McLagan was…
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