Who Governs? Forming a coalition or a minority government in the event of a hung Parliament

Authors: Professor Robert Blackburn (Professor of Constitutional Law at King’s College London) and Dr Ruth Fox (Director of the Hansard Society’s Parliament & Government Programme), Oonagh Gay (Chair, Study of Parliament Group), Lucinda Maer (Senior Research Clerk, House of Commons Library).

The Hansard Society and the Study of Parliament Group have published a new pamphlet on hung Parliaments on Thursday March 11. Who Governs? Forming a coalition or a minority government in the event of a hung Parliament examines what will happen in the event of an uncertain general election result this year – with particular focus on the implications for Parliament, but also looking at issues such as financial markets, how long it will take to resolve and the role of the Queen.

Download the full briefing paper here.

For press queries please contact Virginia Gibbons on 020 7438 1225 or mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk

Next HeadsUp forum - Sex Education :: Do you get enough?

The next HeadsUp forum is on Sex Education and will take place from 1-19 March. HeadsUp is for 11-18 year olds that want to discuss the political issues that matter to them, with the people that make the decisions that affect them.

Decision-makers involved so far include:

 - Annette Brooke MP
 - Mike Hancock MP
 - Jenny Anderson AM
 - Janet Ryder AM
 - Bethan Jenkins AM
 - Anna Martinez - Sex Education Forum

There is lots of information about sexual issues and sex education on the forum so that the young people involved can have a well informed debate.

Visit the student BackUp infomation here. There are also comprehensive Teachers' Notes to introduce your class to the topics and some activities to get you started online and offline. Visit the Teachers' notes here.

Independent MPs – what can they bring to Parliament?

Tuesday March 16 at 6.30pm, Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

Speakers:
- Professor Philip Cowley (academic and author of Revolts and Rebellions: Parliamentary Voting Under Blair)
- Chris Mullin MP (Labour MP for Sunderland South)
- Cllr Diane Park (independent PPC for Halifax)
- Dr Richard Taylor (independent MP for Wyre Forest)

This Democracy Forum will debate the effectiveness of independent MPs, whether it is likely that the forthcoming general election will produce a higher proportion of independents and what this means for the operation of Parliament and politics in general. Will independent MPs spend more time in their constituencies at the expense of Parliament? Can a large number of independent MPs without the influence of whips effect real change? How will independent MPs with diverging views work cohesively together?

This event is free to attend, please email hans_admin@hansard.lse.ac.uk to register or   register here.

Parliamentary Reform Lecture Series - 9, 15 & 18 March

Since its inception the Hansard Society has made many influential recommendations for parliamentary reform. In the run up to the general election the Hansard Society has asked the three main parties to lay out their party's plans for parliamentary reform, should that party form the new government. The lectures, Chaired by Peter Riddell (Chair of the Hansard Society), continuing after the very successful lecture given by Jack Straw MP on Monday March 9, are as follows:

David Howarth MP (Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Solicitor General) - March 15, 6pm.
Please note that this lecture starts a half hour earlier than the others, at 6pm. David Howarth will examine the Liberal Democrat's priorities for reform of Parliament.

Sir George Young MP (Shadow Leader of the House of Commons) - March 18, 6.30pm
Sir George Young will discuss the Conservative Party's parliamentary reform agenda.

NOTE: When you sign up using the online registration system or by emailing hans_admin@hansard.lse.ac.uk please tell us if you would like to attend all three lectures, or specify which lectures you would like to attend. 

The 7th Annual Audit of Political Engagement

The 2010 Hansard Society annual Audit of Political Engagement has been released. The Audit this year has a special focus on MPs and Parliament, raises a number of topical issues in the context of MPs' expenses and the forthcoming general election, and provides longer term reflections on the level of continuity and change charted in the Audit findings over the course of this Parliament.

It shows that while the MPs' expenses scandal has affected the public's satisfaction with and perception of MPs and the Westminster Parliament, there has not been a change in the level of trust people say they have in politicians or politics. However, a significant finding of the Audit this year is that there has been a big decline since 2004 in the perceived impact of the Westminster Parliament on people's lives, compared to other institutions. Only 19% think Parliament is one of the top three influential institutions on their everyday lives - an 11% drop from 2004. But 60% still think Parliament is 'worthwhile', compared to only 14% who disagree. 

Read the key findings here

Download the full 2010 Hansard Society annual Audit of Political Engagement.

Listen to the launch event

See the photos from the launch

Read the press release for the 2010 Hansard Society annual Audit of Political Engagement.