Parliament Matters
The King’s Speech, State Opening and the 1922 Committee
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Episode notes
As the Government sets out its legislative plans for the next Session, Ruth and Mark look at the political and parliamentary prospects for the proposals and discuss the latest on what’s happening with HS2 legislation.
They ask why Parliament has legislative Sessions that begin with State Opening and end with prorogation, and disagree over whether it’s time to abandon the pageantry!
Mark and Ruth are then off to the House of Lords to meet Professor the Lord Norton of Louth to discuss the subject of his new book, the 1922 Committee of the Conservative Party, which has risen to prominence in recent years due to the number of Conservative Party leadership elections. The 1922 Committee was not founded in 1922 and it is not a Committee, so what is it? And is the selection of party leaders by the party membership really compatible with our system of parliamentary democracy?
Further reading and resources >>
Hansard Society
Six things to look out for in Parliament in the next Session - https://hansardsociety.org.uk/publications/briefings/6-things-to-look-out-for-in-parliament-in-the-next-session
HS2 fiasco: What does it mean for Parliament? - https://hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/hs2-fiasco-what-does-it-mean-for-parliament
The King’s Speech and State Opening of Parliament: A procedural and constitutional guide - https://hansardsociety.org.uk/publications/guides/kings-speech-state-opening-parliament-guides
House of Commons Library
State Opening of Parliament: History and ceremonial (by David Torrance) - https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9501
Lord Norton’s book
The 1922 Committee: Power Behind the Scenes, Manchester University Press (2023) - https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526173300
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