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.
-
All-Women Shortlists: 30 Years On
During the 1993 Labour Party Conference, all-women shortlists were endorsed by the party. In the following general election in 1997,…
-
75 Years of the NHS – reform, reorganisation and restructure
Fittingly, the NHS celebrated its 75th anniversary in the wake of a major reform. Such ‘once in a lifetime’ reorganisations…
-
How MPs navigated changing constituency boundaries
The Boundary Commissions for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland submitted their 2023 Boundary Reviews in June, presenting their recommendations…
-
The National Health Service’s Anniversaries as a Political Tradition
To mark the National Health Service’s (NHS) seventy-fifth anniversary, guest blogger Dr Andrew Seaton discusses his new book, Our NHS:…
-
75 Years of the NHS – on the campaign trail
Last month, the NHS celebrated its 75th anniversary. Since its formation, the NHS has played a key role in politics.…
-
Parliamentarians on their past: Memories of the 1983 General Election
In June, the History of Parliament were delighted to welcome an audience to the first lecture of our contemporary history…
-
Mo Mowlam and the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement
25 years ago this month the basis for peace in Northern Ireland – the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement – was signed…
-
What is in a role: differing views about MPs’ focus
For many MPs beginning their career before 2005, they started their job with no induction process or job description. Volunteer…
-
Women, Petitions and Parliament in the Twentieth Century
To mark Women’s History Month 2023, guest blogger Henry Miller, Associate Professor (Research) at Durham University, explores how women continued…
-
A tribute to Betty Boothroyd
In today’s blog, we pay tribute to Betty Boothroyd, the first female Speaker of the Commons, who sadly died yesterday.…
-
Oral History Project internship and PhD opportunity: come and work with us!
These are exciting times for our Oral History project, as we have two opportunities to come and work with us……
-
‘Helping the Disabled to Live to Capacity’: rediscovering Dr Margaret Agerholm through parliamentary history
Over the past few weeks UK Heritage institutions have been marking Disability History Month, and in today’s blog we hear…