Contemporary History
This collection of articles highlights the ongoing research of the Contemporary History section, drawing upon interviews from our Oral History Project to explore various events, themes and issues in British political history since the Second World War.
-
‘We approached each other slowly like medieval knights with lances’: Hamilton versus Bell, Tatton, 1997
One of the highlights of the 1997 general election was the contest in Tatton. The Conservative Neil Hamilton, then under…
-
Special Episode live from the Houses of Parliament
Live Episode: Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament On 4 June 2025 the History of Parliament…
-
The Political is Personal
Episode 6: Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament One point that all of our oral history…
-
Historically Underepresented MPs
Episode 5: Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament During much of the twentieth century, the stereotypical…
-
The Role of Whips and Party Splits
Episode 4: Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament Westminster is a place built on relationships, both…
-
Finding a Seat
Episode 3: Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament For many MPs the hardest part of a…
-
Joining the Party
Episode 2: Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament Many of us have an interest in politics…
-
Welcome to the House
Episode 1: Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament What was it like to arrive in Parliament…
-
Christchurch 1993: By-election Campaigning in the Glare of the Media
On Thursday the voters of Gorton and Denton will elect their new MP after weeks of media speculation. This by-election had…
-
Crossing the Floor: Tales from the Oral History Project
Following some recent, high-profile, political defections, Alfie Steer and Dr Emma Peplow have delved into the History of Parliament’s Oral…
-
‘A negative achievement’: Behind the scenes of the House of Lords Act 1999
Ahead of major pieces of legislation designed to reform the composition of the House of Lords, and our recent event…
-
‘Made of Stone’ (or not): Statues in Parliament Square
For the past few months our Head of Contemporary History, Dr Emma Peplow, has been on Matt Chorley’s Radio 5live…