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Support and connect with us

Connect with us and support our work to improve the way Parliament works and champion a more informed public debate about parliamentary democracy.

Membership and donations

Will you support our work by becoming a member of the Hansard Society or making a donation?

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Statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. CC

Amid growing concern about the increase in executive power and the side-lining of Parliament, there has never been a more important time to support us in developing solutions to improve the way Parliament works and to champion more informed public debate about Parliament and parliamentary democracy.

Our members form a valuable network of people who care about Parliament, public life and politics and want our parliamentary institutions to prosper in the future.

If you are currently unable to commit to becoming a member, please consider making a single or recurring donation and support our work to improve the way Parliament works!

Become a member

Come to our events

Members / Holding Government to Account - Democracy and the National Audit Office

Each year MPs approve trillions of pounds of public spending. But can they really follow the money? Our guest speakers – Dr Henry Midgley, Professor Laurence Ferry and Aileen Murphie of Durham University − will be discussing how Parliament scrutinises Government expenditure and holds Ministers to account for it. 6.30-7.45pm, Tuesday 14 January 2025 online via Zoom This is a meeting for Hansard Society members and their friends. Not already a member of the Hansard Society? Join us now!

Members / Mapping the Constitution with David Torrance

Dr David Torrance spoke to us about his major new project for the House of Commons Library: Mapping the UK Constitution. 6:00pm-7:15pm on Tuesday, 10 December 2024, at the Palace of Westminster followed by refreshments at a nearby venue This is a meeting for Hansard Society members and their friends. Not already a member of the Hansard Society? Join us now!

Webinars / The Assisted Dying Bill: Making sense of the parliamentary process

The Assisted Dying Bill is a Private Member’s Bill (PMB). Although the legislative stages for PMBs are the same as for Government bills, the rules that apply are different, creating distinct procedural hurdles that PMBs must navigate. This online discussion featured a discussion between a panel of impartial experts about the parliamentary process affecting this Bill. If you were unable to join us for the live event, a recording is now being made available. The live event took place between 6:00pm and 7:15pm on Tuesday 26 November 2024 Post-event recording will be available from 27 November 2024 (Tickets: £10)

Members / The Modernisation Committee’s potential for reform

The House of Commons has appointed a new Modernisation Committee and issued a call for views on what it should address. So what is the Modernisation Committee, and what should it be doing? Our Director, Dr Ruth Fox, led Hansard Society members in an online discussion on Modernisation Committee reforms. 6:30-7:45pm, Tuesday 19 November 2024 online via Zoom This is a meeting for Hansard Society members and their friends. Not already a member of the Hansard Society? Join us now!

Members / Annual General Meeting - with Sir Peter Riddell

Our Annual General Meeting updated Members on the work of the Society and provided a look ahead to our future plans. Our special guest speaker was Hansard Society member Sir Peter Riddell, former political editor and chief political commentator at The Times and author of numerous books about Parliament and politics. Sir Peter joined us to discuss the general election campaign and the challenges facing the new Parliament. 6:00-7:30pm, 12 June 2024 This is a Members-only hybrid event: in person at our base in Westminster, and on Zoom.

Latest / Highlights

News / The end of hereditary peers in the House of Lords? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 49

MPs debated the bill to abolish hereditary peers’ right to sit and vote in the House of Lords. But what were the opposition’s arguments? We reflect on the Government's first 100 days: is it improving legislative standards? Twenty Private Members’ Bills were announced this week: which ones may get traction? And a new Speaker’s Conference on the safety of MPs and candidates has been established. So, what is it, and what might it do?

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What's coming up in Parliament this week? (14-18 October)

This week, attention will be on the 20 MPs set to present their Private Members' Bills in the House of Commons on Wednesday, with particular focus on Kim Leadbeater’s 'assisted dying' bill. MPs will debate key Government legislation, including a bill to remove the remaining 90 hereditary peers from the House of Lords and another bill aimed at strengthening protections against terrorism through Martyn’s Law. Meanwhile, media reports suggest the formal internal party processes to choose members of the House of Commons Select Committees will begin this week.

Briefings / 14 things to look out for in Parliament this Autumn

When parliamentarians return to Westminster on October 7, all eyes will be on the Budget — the major parliamentary event on the immediate horizon. However, as the Government’s legislative agenda picks up speed and select committees get underway, there will be many other important developments to track. In the months ahead, we’ve identified 14 key issues worth watching closely, particularly as some of them may provide crucial signals about how this Government’s approach to and treatment of Parliament compares to its predecessors.

Blog / Select committee chair elections: what do the results tell us about the new Parliament?

The House of Commons recently held elections for the chairs of its select committees in the new Parliament. But how did this year's elections compare to those of previous years? Were they more competitive? How well were women and ethnic minority MPs represented among the candidates and winners? And what level of parliamentary experience do the newly elected chairs bring to the table?

News / Electing party leaders: who should decide? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 48

The Conservative leadership race is heating up, but should MPs alone choose their leader? Should MPs who resign their party's whip face by-elections? On 29 November, MPs are expected to debate the controversial 'assisted dying' bill - will it stymie other Private Members’ Bills? Meanwhile, Nigel Farage is pushing for a parliamentary debate and vote on the government's deal regarding the Chagos Islands. Will he get his way?