Category Archives: Uncategorized
Improving standards in legislation
The House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee yesterday published its report on ensuring standards in the quality of legislation. (You can read the report here.) I gave oral and written evidence to the committee. I was pleased that … Continue reading
I may be going to prison….
Okay, it is only to visit. Yesterday, was another full day. In the morning, I was giving a talk to parliamentarians from different countries about the efficacy of parliaments in scrutinising legislation. Between 1.00 and 2.30 p.m. I had to … Continue reading
Another day….
Just thought I would report on today’s events, mainly to demonstrate that I have not forgotten you, dear readers. It’s been fairly busy, although the most time-consuming part of the day will be my evening’s work – essay marking. The … Continue reading
Get your copy…
I had a short article in The House magazine last week to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the 1922 Committee. I opened with: ‘The 1922 Committee is a body with a somewhat confusing name. It wasn’t founded in … Continue reading
Available from all good bookshops…
The 2nd edition of Parliament in British Politics was published on Friday. A book launch was held in the Politics Department on Thursday. The picture shows some of the enthusiastic students holding up one of the flyers for the book. … Continue reading
It’s a book
The Voice of the Backbenchers – my history of the 1922 Committee – was launched on Tuesday at a reception, attended by the Prime Minister, to mark the 90th anniversary of the 1922 Committee. It is published by the Conservative History … Continue reading
Publication week
This week sees the publication of both the 2nd edition of Parliament in British Politics (Palgrave Macmillan) and my short monograph, The Voice of the Backbenchers. The 1922 Committee: the first 90 years, 1923-2013 (Conservative History Group). To mark the … Continue reading
What’s in a name?
I have previously commented on the range of names by which I have been addressed in correspondence: ‘Mr Louth’, ‘Mr LNO Louth’, ‘Professor Norton of Louth’, ‘Mr Lord Norton of Louth’, ’Lord Louth’ and so on. Some of the salutations in … Continue reading
Margaret Thatcher
There were two post-war Prime Ministers who presided over transformative governments: Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher. In my typology of Prime Ministers, Attlee was a reformer, implementing a radical programme drawn up by the party; Margaret Thatcher was an innovator, … Continue reading
It may be a book…
Many thanks for all the suggestions as to how to describe my new publication on the 1922 Committee. The entries were on a par with a caption competition (but without the prize!). I rather liked the suggestions of describing it as … Continue reading
