MPs and the Second World War

Ahead of Remembrance Day, and with 2025 marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, Dr Kathryn Rix, Assistant Editor of our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project, follows up her series on MPs and the First World War by looking at the 23 MPs commemorated in the Commons chamber who died during the Second World War. On 6 July 1943 the Speaker … Continue reading MPs and the Second World War

‘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 show every Thursday afternoon discussing the figures commemorated in Parliament Square. Here she shares some of what she has learned…. Even if the statues in Parliament Square are not ‘Made of Stone’, as the introductory music to our feature on Matt Chorley’s Radio 5live programme … Continue reading ‘Made of Stone’ (or not): Statues in Parliament Square

Scrutinising Wartime Britain: The Commons Committees on National Expenditure 1917-20 and 1939-45

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Philip Aylett. On 25 February, Philip will discuss ‘Scrutinising Wartime Britain: The Commons Committees on National Expenditure 1917-20 and 1939-45’. The seminar takes place on 25 February 2025, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It will be hosted online via Zoom. Details of how to join the discussion are available here. The two world wars … Continue reading Scrutinising Wartime Britain: The Commons Committees on National Expenditure 1917-20 and 1939-45

Prime Ministers’ Funerals

A look back at the different Prime Ministers who received public funerals… Tomorrow former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s funeral will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral. Public funerals for Prime Ministers have been fairly rare in recent years, but Baroness Thatcher is by no means alone in receiving this honour from the state. The first Prime Minister to have a public funeral was William Pitt … Continue reading Prime Ministers’ Funerals