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Articles tagged with: History
We must reflect on the legacy of the Windrush pioneers who helped rebuild Britain
Communities
By Blondel Cluff
We must reflect on the legacy of the Windrush pioneers who helped rebuild Britain
The 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush is a chance to reflect on the pioneers who helped rebuild Britain, and explore the impact of ‘toxic’ government policies on the community.
David Lammy Says Windrush Anniversary Will Be “Bittersweet Commemoration”
Communities
David Lammy Says Windrush Anniversary Will Be “Bittersweet Commemoration”
Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMP Empire Windrush to the UK will be a “bittersweet commemoration” for him and the rest of the country.
A bureaucratic establishment: the founding of the civil service
History
By Andrew Southam
A bureaucratic establishment: the founding of the civil service
Recent anger towards the ‘blob’ from some Tories has called into question the nature of an impartial civil service. But how did this concept come into being? Andrew Southam traces its fascinating history.
How a new Parliament building could become a dreadful reality
History
By JS Curl
How a new Parliament building could become a dreadful reality
If the doomsayers are right, and Parliament burns down or is forced to relocate entirely, what comes next? Architectural historian Professor James Stevens Curl explains how the current structure came to be – and explains why he fears the worst in the future.
We must come together to make the UK a world leader on LGBT+ rights once more
Social affairs
By Angela Eagle MP and Elliot Colburn MP
We must come together to make the UK a world leader on LGBT+ rights once more
Every June, countries around the world celebrate Pride Month. We honour those who fought and indeed continue to fight to end anti-LGBT+ discrimination and oppression, as well as celebrating the value and power of human diversity.
The Slow Death of Parliamentary Scrutiny
History
By Dr Alice Lilly
The Slow Death of Parliamentary Scrutiny
One of Parliament’s core roles is to scrutinise policy and legislation. Dr Alice Lilly from the Institute for Government finds that with a Commons that has limited time to look at bills in detail, and an overworked second chamber, it is struggling to do its job properly. Illustrations by Tracy Worrall
King Charles can revitalise Britain’s soft power
Foreign affairs
By Baroness Verma
King Charles can revitalise Britain’s soft power
This month I embarked on a visit to India along with my parliamentary colleagues on the India (Trade and Investment) All-Party Parliamentary Group. I have been to India many times, seen the huge economic growth particularly over the last 20 years or so, and today India’s influence in the world is clear.
At a time of shattered loyalties and diminished trust the King’s coronation can unite us
History
By Lord Howell
At a time of shattered loyalties and diminished trust the King’s coronation can unite us
Coronations have taken place in Westminster Abbey for 900 years, the Archbishop of Canterbury always presiding. That puts our own paltry timescales in sobering perspective. This, the 40th coronation, seems the ultimate expression of the permanence of institutions while the generations come and go. Nothing changes.
The king’s dilemma: how it fell to George V to choose a new prime minister
History
By Lord Lexden
The king’s dilemma: how it fell to George V to choose a new prime minister
A century ago, it fell to King George V to select a new prime minister. Lord Lexden revisits the machinations that lay behind the eventual decision
Remembering and forgetting
Culture
By Dr Francis Young
Remembering and forgetting
Coronations are infrequent events, and that is why the ceremony is prone to dramatic evolution, writes Dr Francis Young
The coronation will be an opportunity to reflect on the role of the monarchy in 21st century Britain
History
By Lord Janvrin
The coronation will be an opportunity to reflect on the role of the monarchy in 21st century Britain
The King’s coronation will, I am sure, be a magnificent event rich in pageantry, symbolism and tradition, combining moments of intense religious significance, ceremonial flamboyance, and cultural excellence with a good excuse for a party.
What were MPs debating ahead of the Queen's coronation in 1953?
History
By Patrick Kidd
What were MPs debating ahead of the Queen's coronation in 1953?
What were MPs debating in the run up to the last coronation, 70 years ago? Issues very much of their time; and others that wouldn’t be out of place today. Patrick Kidd takes a stroll through the archives
From one coronation to another
Social affairs
By Lord Wallace of Saltaire
From one coronation to another
Lord Wallace was a chorister at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. He shares his memories with The House
Lord Great Chamberlain interview: 'I’ve been preparing for a long time mentally'
History
By Sophie Church
Lord Great Chamberlain interview: 'I’ve been preparing for a long time mentally'
It has been less than a year since Lord Carrington became the new Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the oldest offices under the crown. As the coronation comes to town, he speaks to Sophie Church about his upcoming regal responsibilities
King Charles III’s coronation is an opportunity to unite the country in pursuit of a common purpose
History
By Dean of Westminster
King Charles III’s coronation is an opportunity to unite the country in pursuit of a common purpose
Thanks to my wife’s ardently royalist grandmother, we inherited coronation memorabilia, mugs and souvenir brochures. For years neglected at the bottom of a drawer, suddenly they are being handed round.
The Coronation’s unique appeal will allow us to show how heritage is a force for good
History
By Sir Laurie Magnus
The Coronation’s unique appeal will allow us to show how heritage is a force for good
The Coronation, with its spectacular pageantry and its lineage stretching back over hundreds of years, will demonstrate once again the extraordinary resonance and interest which the British monarchy can command across the world.
This coronation will be rooted in history but reflect the nation we aspire to be
Culture
By Archbishop of York
This coronation will be rooted in history but reflect the nation we aspire to be
As I write these words rehearsals for the coronation are in full swing, the work to build the Coronation Theatre in Westminster Abbey is about to commence and we can already see viewing stands and media positions being constructed outside Buckingham Palace and elsewhere. There is the inevitable smell of new paint!
Designing For A New Reign
History
By Baroness Gisela Stuart of Edgbaston
Designing For A New Reign
As of December last year, it will have been possible to find a 50 pence piece bearing the effigy of King Charles III in your change.
Lords Diary: Lord Kirkhope
Home affairs
By Lord Kirkhope
Lords Diary: Lord Kirkhope
I remember watching Her late Majesty’s coronation as a child in 1953, in front of a 17-inch black and white television screen. That was a new chapter in our nation’s history, and I feel optimistic as we celebrate the start of this new Carolean age
In Brief: The Coronation
History
By Grant Hill-Cawthorne
In Brief: The Coronation
In an occasional series, staff from Parliament’s libraries give the House choice nuggets from the archives. This week, Professor Grant Hill-Cawthorne, Librarian of the House of Commons and Managing Director of Research and Information, looks back at coronations past.
What The Coronation Means
History
By Andrew Gimson
What The Coronation Means
Andrew Gimson takes us on a tour of coronations past and reveals how, far from being an affront to democracy, the ceremony will act as an affirmation of it
The Baroness Benjamin interview: 'When you smile, you are a winner'
Home affairs
By Tali Fraser
The Baroness Benjamin interview: "When you smile, you are a winner"
Arriving in Britain as a young girl from Trinidad, much-loved children’s TV presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin never expected to have any kind of relationship with the King, let alone play a key role in his coronation ceremony. She tells Tali Fraser about their connection to the Commonwealth, being let down on Windrush and why it pays to keep smiling. Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer
The true origin of the 1922 Committee
Political parties
By Lord Norton of Louth
The true origin of the 1922 Committee
Lord Norton corrects misunderstandings around how the 1922 Committee came into being
The Good Friday Agreement will not be revived by repeating old debates
History
By Lord Bew
The Good Friday Agreement will not be revived by repeating old debates
A certain sickly sentimentality has already descended on the commemoration of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.