Monthly Archives: March 2013

MP of the month: Joseph Holdsworth, candidate or returning officer?

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Kathryn Rix

In July 1841 Joseph Holdsworth (1789-1857), a prosperous local dyer, was elected as Liberal MP for his native town of Wakefield. Only nine months later he found himself out of Parliament, having been unseated by an election petition. Holdsworth was … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies, MP of the Month | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Victorian female franchise

Posted on March 18, 2013 by salmonphilip

Welcome to the first of our guest blogs. On BBC Radio 4 tonight Dr Sarah Richardson presents a programme about the discovery of an early Victorian poll book listing women voters (click here to listen). Female participation in non-parliamentary elections … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Guest blog, Local government, women | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

The Irish dimension

Posted on March 17, 2013 by sball1832

Following recent blogs on Scotland and on a notable Welsh MP, St. Patrick’s Day provides the ideal occasion to highlight the progress we have made in our research on Irish MPs and constituencies. In 1841 Ireland accounted for almost one … Continue reading →

Posted in Ireland | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Horsemeat in historical perspective: food adulteration in Victorian Britain

Posted on March 8, 2013 by millerhenryj

The recent scandal about beef and other ready meals containing horsemeat has shown how food can quickly become a hot political topic, with consumers and the media putting pressure on retailers and politicians for action. Following the publication of its … Continue reading →

Posted in Legislation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

From the Victorian Commons to the Victorian Lords

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Kathryn Rix

This week our assistant editor Kathryn Rix turns her attention from the House of Commons to the House of Lords, with a contribution to the Guest Historians section of the Number 10 Downing Street website. Her article looks at Prime Ministers who sat … Continue reading →

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Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, Father of the House

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Kathryn Rix

On St. David’s Day, there could be no more fitting choice for our blog than a record-breaking Welsh MP. Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, the ‘Father of the House’, died in January 1890 after almost sixty years of unbroken service representing … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies | Tagged , , | 2 Comments