Parliament Matters

War powers, Rwanda ‘mayhem’ and Ian Dunt on the state of Westminster


Listen Later

The Rwanda Bill is through the Commons. Rishi Sunak has faced down his internal critics and diffused a backbench rebellion. The Bill now heads off to the House of Lords: What mayhem awaits it?


This week’s air strikes against Houthi camps in Yemen to protect Red Sea shipping also prompted debate about the role Parliament should play when the Government deploys military force. Dr James Strong joins us in the studio to discuss Parliament and war powers.


And one of the best books about Westminster for many years has been penned by the political commentator Ian Dunt. As luck would have it, Ruth and Mark were with Ian at the parliamentary nerdathon, the Study of Parliament Group annual conference, in Oxford. So, they got him to talk about his diagnosis of the problems with Parliament and his solutions.


  • 🎓 Access resources about issues mentioned in this episode here: hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliament-matters-podcast-e16
  • 🔗 Does Parliament decide on war? Revisiting the Syria vote 10 years on – James Strong
  • 🔗 Why are MPs speaking more often but for less time? Five possible reasons – Caroline Bhattacharya and Stephen Holden Bates
  • ❓ Send your questions to us on all things Parliament here: hansardsociety.org.uk/pmuq
  • 📱 Follow us across social media @HansardSociety
  • ✅ Subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates related to the Parliament Matters podcast and the wider work of the Hansard Society: hansardsociety.org.uk/nl
  • 🪙 Support the Hansard Society by making a donation. We don't have a wealthy founder or an endowment. That's why donations are so important – they help to support our work AND our independence: hansardsociety.org.uk/donate


Parliament Matters is a Hansard Society production supported by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust • Produced by Luke Boga Mitchell, Hansard Society

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Parliament MattersBy Hansard Society


More shows like Parliament Matters

View all
The Week in Westminster by BBC Radio 4

The Week in Westminster

28 Listeners

Political Fix by Financial Times

Political Fix

150 Listeners

Any Questions? and Any Answers? by BBC Radio 4

Any Questions? and Any Answers?

43 Listeners

The New Statesman: politics and culture by The New Statesman

The New Statesman: politics and culture

152 Listeners

The Political Party by Avalon

The Political Party

67 Listeners

Westminster Hour by BBC Radio 4

Westminster Hour

47 Listeners

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson by BBC Radio 4

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

105 Listeners

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards by Steve Richards

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

48 Listeners

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government by Institute for Government

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

18 Listeners

Westminster Insider by POLITICO

Westminster Insider

42 Listeners

The News Agents by Global

The News Agents

1,045 Listeners

Electoral Dysfunction by Sky News

Electoral Dysfunction

102 Listeners

How To Win An Election by Times Radio

How To Win An Election

25 Listeners

Political Currency by Persephonica

Political Currency

115 Listeners

Not Another One by Steve Richards, Miranda Green, Tim Montgomerie and Iain Martin

Not Another One

22 Listeners