Paul Seaward
@pseaward.bsky.social
History of Parliament, parliamentarism and politics in Britain and Europe from the middle ages to now; C17th English political thought and political history; Clarendon, Hobbes. A parliamentary miscellany at https://historyofparliamentblog.wordpress.com
Pinned
Paul Seaward
@pseaward.bsky.social
· Jan 23
The Naval Review - Hansard - UK Parliament
Hansard record of the item : 'The Naval Review' on Thursday 24 April 1856.
hansard.parliament.uk
Among all the treasures in Hansard, this one, an account of the disasters endured by members of the House of Lords attending the Naval Review at Spithead in 1858, is priceless:
hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1856-0...
hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1856-0...
Reposted by Paul Seaward
21 years ago today I thought, huh, looks interesting, and created a Wikipedia account. Things sort of snowballed from there. It's been fun.
21 thoughts on Wikipedia, in no particular order: 🧵
21 thoughts on Wikipedia, in no particular order: 🧵
October 30, 2025 at 9:54 PM
21 years ago today I thought, huh, looks interesting, and created a Wikipedia account. Things sort of snowballed from there. It's been fun.
21 thoughts on Wikipedia, in no particular order: 🧵
21 thoughts on Wikipedia, in no particular order: 🧵
Reposted by Paul Seaward
Our special section of the Transactions of the @royalhistsoc.org on 'Parliamentary Culture and Indigenous Traditions of Assembly in the Americas and South and East Asia, c.1500–1700', co-ed with @pseaward.bsky.social & Jim van der Meulen is out!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Parliamentary Culture and Indigenous Traditions of Assembly in the Americas and South and East Asia, c.1500–1700
Welcome to Cambridge Core
www.cambridge.org
November 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Our special section of the Transactions of the @royalhistsoc.org on 'Parliamentary Culture and Indigenous Traditions of Assembly in the Americas and South and East Asia, c.1500–1700', co-ed with @pseaward.bsky.social & Jim van der Meulen is out!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Paul Seaward
UK House of Commons: @commonsproccom.parliament.uk has launched an inquiry undertaking a detailed review of Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs) committees.parliament.uk/committee/12...
Find written questions and answers questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
#opengov #FOI -relevant
Find written questions and answers questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
#opengov #FOI -relevant
November 24, 2025 at 9:13 PM
UK House of Commons: @commonsproccom.parliament.uk has launched an inquiry undertaking a detailed review of Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs) committees.parliament.uk/committee/12...
Find written questions and answers questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
#opengov #FOI -relevant
Find written questions and answers questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
#opengov #FOI -relevant
Reposted by Paul Seaward
Here's a full list of all the new things on TheyWorkForYou from last week www.mysociety.org/2025/10/23/t...
TheyWorkForYou Update: A richer view of Parliament
A big update to TheyWorkForYou, covering APPGs, open letters, alerts, and much more.
www.mysociety.org
October 27, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Here's a full list of all the new things on TheyWorkForYou from last week www.mysociety.org/2025/10/23/t...
Reposted by Paul Seaward
This is quite a story: the US employed every strongarm tactic available, including personal threats against delegates and their families, to derail an agreement on reducing shipping emissions that was almost finalized. on.ft.com/47lq3dZ
November 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
This is quite a story: the US employed every strongarm tactic available, including personal threats against delegates and their families, to derail an agreement on reducing shipping emissions that was almost finalized. on.ft.com/47lq3dZ
Reposted by Paul Seaward
The notion of an ailing body politic feels sadly relevant today. My November blogpost reflects on a workshop held in September that explored how the notion of the body politic was deployed by republican writers in the C17 and C18.
www.rachelhammersley.com/new-blog/2025/10/28/republican-bodies
www.rachelhammersley.com/new-blog/2025/10/28/republican-bodies
November 2, 2025 at 5:54 PM
The notion of an ailing body politic feels sadly relevant today. My November blogpost reflects on a workshop held in September that explored how the notion of the body politic was deployed by republican writers in the C17 and C18.
www.rachelhammersley.com/new-blog/2025/10/28/republican-bodies
www.rachelhammersley.com/new-blog/2025/10/28/republican-bodies
Reposted by Paul Seaward
This feels like a timely story today
Cairo's historical cemeteries are getting demolished due to creeping urban development plans. Former nonresident fellow @ezz-eldin.bsky.social explores the regime's systematic operations to remove the cemeteries inside Cairo in favor of urban development operations. timep.org/2023/08/29/c...
Cairo's Historic Cemeteries: Erasing Egypt’s History for Sisi’s New Republic
Cairo is home to countless historical cemeteries that boast the city’s rich heritage, culture and architecture. However, these sites are currently getting demolished due to creeping urban development ...
timep.org
November 1, 2025 at 9:52 AM
This feels like a timely story today
Reposted by Paul Seaward
NEW BLOG: The Modernisation Committee: revisiting past experience
The committee's new chair, Alan Campbell, might usefully study the committee’s 1997–2010 predecessor
Tom Fleming & @hannahkelly.bsky.social summarise the key findings from a new article reviewing the previous committee's record
The committee's new chair, Alan Campbell, might usefully study the committee’s 1997–2010 predecessor
Tom Fleming & @hannahkelly.bsky.social summarise the key findings from a new article reviewing the previous committee's record
The Modernisation Committee: revisiting past experience
September's government reshuffle means that there is a new Leader of the Commons, and therefore a change to the leadership of the House’s Modernisation Committee. The new chair, Alan Campbell, might usefully study the committee’s 1997–2010 predecessor. In this post, Tom Fleming and Hannah Kelly summarise the key findings from a new article reviewing that earlier committee's record.
constitution-unit.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:13 PM
NEW BLOG: The Modernisation Committee: revisiting past experience
The committee's new chair, Alan Campbell, might usefully study the committee’s 1997–2010 predecessor
Tom Fleming & @hannahkelly.bsky.social summarise the key findings from a new article reviewing the previous committee's record
The committee's new chair, Alan Campbell, might usefully study the committee’s 1997–2010 predecessor
Tom Fleming & @hannahkelly.bsky.social summarise the key findings from a new article reviewing the previous committee's record
Reposted by Paul Seaward
Really enjoyed recording this discussion with David Runciman, covering threats to democracy, early 20thc theories of oligarchy, how algorithmic social media is changing politics, the problem with 19thc approaches to suffrage - and much, much more!
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
In today’s episode David & @dmk1793.bsky.social try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had about this series. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever had a real democracy anyway?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
In today’s episode David & @dmk1793.bsky.social try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had about this series. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever had a real democracy anyway?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
October 26, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Really enjoyed recording this discussion with David Runciman, covering threats to democracy, early 20thc theories of oligarchy, how algorithmic social media is changing politics, the problem with 19thc approaches to suffrage - and much, much more!
Reposted by Paul Seaward
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
October 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
Reposted by Paul Seaward
Deze cartoon over #covid blijft actueel.
Uiterst zorgwekkend dat verkiezingsdebatten elke keer weer vrijwel uitsluitend over die eerste gehypete golven gaan, terwijl politici en media dondersgoed (kunnen) weten welke heel veel grotere golven er op ons afkomen.
De olifant in de kamer.
#DontLookUp
Uiterst zorgwekkend dat verkiezingsdebatten elke keer weer vrijwel uitsluitend over die eerste gehypete golven gaan, terwijl politici en media dondersgoed (kunnen) weten welke heel veel grotere golven er op ons afkomen.
De olifant in de kamer.
#DontLookUp
October 25, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Deze cartoon over #covid blijft actueel.
Uiterst zorgwekkend dat verkiezingsdebatten elke keer weer vrijwel uitsluitend over die eerste gehypete golven gaan, terwijl politici en media dondersgoed (kunnen) weten welke heel veel grotere golven er op ons afkomen.
De olifant in de kamer.
#DontLookUp
Uiterst zorgwekkend dat verkiezingsdebatten elke keer weer vrijwel uitsluitend over die eerste gehypete golven gaan, terwijl politici en media dondersgoed (kunnen) weten welke heel veel grotere golven er op ons afkomen.
De olifant in de kamer.
#DontLookUp
Reposted by Paul Seaward
Do you have a memory so vivid you can relive it as if it's happening all over again?
Researchers - incl. Professor of Modern History, Alexandra Walsham - have launched a public survey to help unlock the secrets of vivid memory & find ways to help better recall past experiences.
Add your memories ⬇️
Researchers - incl. Professor of Modern History, Alexandra Walsham - have launched a public survey to help unlock the secrets of vivid memory & find ways to help better recall past experiences.
Add your memories ⬇️
October 22, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Do you have a memory so vivid you can relive it as if it's happening all over again?
Researchers - incl. Professor of Modern History, Alexandra Walsham - have launched a public survey to help unlock the secrets of vivid memory & find ways to help better recall past experiences.
Add your memories ⬇️
Researchers - incl. Professor of Modern History, Alexandra Walsham - have launched a public survey to help unlock the secrets of vivid memory & find ways to help better recall past experiences.
Add your memories ⬇️
Reposted by Paul Seaward
We are thrilled to share the CFP for our Symposium, Politics and Culture of the Late Stuart Court, 1649-1714. We hope to bring together a range of interdisciplinary research on this complex and understudied period! #EarlyModern #CfP
October 21, 2025 at 10:59 AM
We are thrilled to share the CFP for our Symposium, Politics and Culture of the Late Stuart Court, 1649-1714. We hope to bring together a range of interdisciplinary research on this complex and understudied period! #EarlyModern #CfP
Reposted by Paul Seaward
The House gave the speaker recess authority (‘when no question is pending’) in 1993.
As for adjournment authority (‘at any time’ during a district work period):
As for adjournment authority (‘at any time’ during a district work period):
October 19, 2025 at 2:26 PM
The House gave the speaker recess authority (‘when no question is pending’) in 1993.
As for adjournment authority (‘at any time’ during a district work period):
As for adjournment authority (‘at any time’ during a district work period):
Reposted by Paul Seaward
“Yet another threat to humanity”
World’s oceans losing their greenness, study finds. Researchers say decline in phytoplankton suggests weakened planetary capacity to absorb CO2.
Dire implications for climate, food chain & oxygen levels.
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
World’s oceans losing their greenness, study finds. Researchers say decline in phytoplankton suggests weakened planetary capacity to absorb CO2.
Dire implications for climate, food chain & oxygen levels.
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
World’s oceans losing their greenness through global heating, study finds
Researchers say decline in phytoplankton suggests weakened planetary capacity to absorb carbon dioxide
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:37 PM
“Yet another threat to humanity”
World’s oceans losing their greenness, study finds. Researchers say decline in phytoplankton suggests weakened planetary capacity to absorb CO2.
Dire implications for climate, food chain & oxygen levels.
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
World’s oceans losing their greenness, study finds. Researchers say decline in phytoplankton suggests weakened planetary capacity to absorb CO2.
Dire implications for climate, food chain & oxygen levels.
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Paul Seaward
The indolence of ſome, the inattention of others, or the love of amuſement in many...
I love this sort of commentary you get in very old books of precedents.
I love this sort of commentary you get in very old books of precedents.
October 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Paul Seaward
The History of Parliament team were very sad to hear of the recent death of Professor Michael Rush.
A pioneering scholar of parliament, Professor Rush's work on the social background of MPs and resulting Database stands as a fundamental source for generations of historians and political scientists.
A pioneering scholar of parliament, Professor Rush's work on the social background of MPs and resulting Database stands as a fundamental source for generations of historians and political scientists.
October 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The History of Parliament team were very sad to hear of the recent death of Professor Michael Rush.
A pioneering scholar of parliament, Professor Rush's work on the social background of MPs and resulting Database stands as a fundamental source for generations of historians and political scientists.
A pioneering scholar of parliament, Professor Rush's work on the social background of MPs and resulting Database stands as a fundamental source for generations of historians and political scientists.
Michael Rush and the Database historyofparliament.com/2025/10/15/m...
Michael Rush and the Database - The History of Parliament
We were sad to hear recently of the death of Professor Michael Rush of the University of Exeter. Michael was a pioneering and indefatigable scholar of
historyofparliament.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Michael Rush and the Database historyofparliament.com/2025/10/15/m...
‘The sect of Alarmists’: The Third Party and the reluctant leadership of William Windham, 1793-4 historyofparliament.com/2025/10/02/t...
‘The sect of Alarmists’: The Third Party and the reluctant leadership of William Windham, 1793-4 - The History of Parliament
In this latest post, the Georgian Lords welcomes a guest article by James Orchin, PhD student at Queen's University, Belfast, re-examining William Windham's
historyofparliament.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:40 AM
‘The sect of Alarmists’: The Third Party and the reluctant leadership of William Windham, 1793-4 historyofparliament.com/2025/10/02/t...
But the chamber of the House of Commons never was and never could be a place to be an effective legislator and thinker. It's not really what it can be for. It's for (and has been since the at least the late C18th) the presentation of a case to the public, not for the creative discussion of them.
It's become self-fulfilling. It ought to be one of the places they are most effective, but because it has become a place of 'now to give a speech for the Facebook video', it isn't a place to be an effective legislator and thinker. I don't know how we can fix that.
October 13, 2025 at 1:10 PM
But the chamber of the House of Commons never was and never could be a place to be an effective legislator and thinker. It's not really what it can be for. It's for (and has been since the at least the late C18th) the presentation of a case to the public, not for the creative discussion of them.
Reposted by Paul Seaward
« Il est grand temps de rejoindre nos voisins européens, qui ont tous recours à la proportionnelle »
« Il est grand temps de rejoindre nos voisins européens, qui ont tous recours à la proportionnelle »
Quatre députés issus de Renaissance, du MoDem, du Parti socialiste et des Ecologistes ont déposé, lundi 13 octobre au matin, une proposition de loi visant à instaurer le mode de scrutin proportionnel aux élections législatives, ce qui contribuerait, expliquent-ils, dans une tribune au « Monde », « à débloquer le pays ».
www.lemonde.fr
October 13, 2025 at 9:44 AM
« Il est grand temps de rejoindre nos voisins européens, qui ont tous recours à la proportionnelle »
Reposted by Paul Seaward
Just published w/ @snfschlee.bsky.social & @ryanswift93.bsky.social! We find that accompanying interviewees around the UK Parliament "allowed us to directly experience the estate...and the ongoing negotiations and interactions which produce it as a living site". www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Go-along research in the UK Parliament
The current deadlock surrounding the prospective Restoration and Renewal of the UK Parliamentary Estate is attributable to several perceived risks. Th…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Just published w/ @snfschlee.bsky.social & @ryanswift93.bsky.social! We find that accompanying interviewees around the UK Parliament "allowed us to directly experience the estate...and the ongoing negotiations and interactions which produce it as a living site". www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...