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Special Issue: Reflections on British Parliamentary Democracy

This special issue of Parliamentary Affairs commemorates the diamond jubilee of the Hansard Society, which was founded in 1944 by Stephen King-Hall, and has published this journal since 1947. The Society was created to promote parliamentary democracy throughout the world, a theme which is reflected in the pages of Parliamentary Affairs.

This special issue focuses on the United Kingdom, examining the health of democracy from the perspective of the Westminster Parliament, looking at topics including the changing composition of MPs, the future of the Lords, the impact of constitutional change and the prospects for parliamentary reform in general. It brings together a variety of notable authors including a former Lord Chancellor, sitting MPs and peers, political commentators, civil servants, and distinguished academics.

In part a reflection on UK parliamentary democracy over the last 60 years, the special issue is also a look ahead to the prospects for reform of the way we govern ourselves - the cardinal objective of the Hansard Society.

Lord Holme of Cheltenham, Introduction

Vernon Bogdanor, Constitution and the Party System in the 20th Century

David Butler, Electoral Reform

Lord Irvine of Lairg QC, The Human Rights Act: Principle and Practice

Dawn Oliver, Constitutionalism and the Office of Lord Chancellor

Matthew Flinders, MPs and Icebergs: Parliament and Delegated Governance

Lord Norton of Louth, Regulating the Regulatory State

Kate Jenkins, Parliament, Government and the Civil Service

Peter Riddell, Prime Minister and Parliament

Peter Kellner, Britain's Culture of Detachment

Theresa May, Female Representation in Westminster

Donald Shell, Future of the Second Chamber

Tony Wright, Prospects for Parliamentary Reform

Malcolm Shaw, British Parliament in International Perspective

ORDERING INFORMATION

This special issue is available at a discounted price of just $15.00/£9.00. Download and print the order form here.