Houses Parliament

Houses Parliament

History of Parliament - A Beginners Guide to UK Politics

The UK Parliament is one of the oldest representative assemblies in the world, with its current two-chamber (bi-cameral) system beginning in the mid 14th Century. The table below shows the major events and key dates for the House of Lords, House of Commons and the Palace of Westminster over the last 1,000 years.

1000 - 1099

The origins of Parliament.The Witans (or Witenagemot) were councils consulted by Saxon Kings and attended by the king's own ministers, religious leaders and magnates.

1200 - 1299

Counties, cities and boroughs began to send representatives to the Witans (now known as curia regis). In 1215, the Magna Carta was sealed by King John at Runnymede.

1341

Two houses began to emerge. One was known as the Commons, and consisted of shire and borough representatives; the other, known as the Upper House was comprised of religious leaders (Lords Spiritual) and magnates (Lords Temporal).

1363

The first Clerk of the Parliament, Robert de Melton, was appointed.

1377

The first Speaker of the House of Commons was elected, Thomas Hungerford.

1415

The first Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons, Nicholas Maudit, was appointed.

1523

First known request by a Speaker (Thomas More) for free speech.

1536

Wales first represented in the House of Commons.

1539

Up until this point, the Lords Spiritual consisted of bishops, abbots and priors. After the suppression of the monasteries in 1539, only bishops attended and the Lords Temporal formed the majority for the first time.

1605

An attempt was made to blow up the Houses of Parliament - the Gunpowder Plot. It was organised by Robert Catesby to remove the anti-Catholic Monarchy which was in place. However, the plot failed, and Guy Fawkes was arrested for placing the explosives in the cellar under the House. Catesby was executed.

1606

Guy Fawkes executed.

1640 - 1660

The long Parliament - the fifth and last Parliament of Charles I. This parliament ran throughout the time of the English Civil War (1642 - 1651), when the King's authority was challenged by Parliament. This led to the running of the country by the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell.

1688 - 1689

Glorious Revolution took place. led to the abdication of James II, and his replacement by William III and Mary II.

1689

Bill of Rights (including the Declaration of Rights) was published on February 13th , established the authority of Parliament over the King.

1707

Last Royal veto on a bill passed by both Houses (Queen Anne, the Scottish Militia Bill).

1707

Scottish Parliament was abolished, members instead returned to the House of Commons at Westminster. First Parliament of Great Britain met 23 October.

1801

Act of Union (with Ireland). Irish Parliament abolished in return for Irish representation at Westminster. 100 Irish MPs added to the House.

1803

Newspaper reporters first allocated seats in the public gallery.

1806

Cobbett's Parliamentary History first appeared, one of the first proper records of the Houses of Parliament.

1811

William Cobbett sold his business to Thomas Curson Hansard. The reports developed into being a complete record of all that is said in the Houses of Parliament, and is still known today as Hansard.

1812

Spencer Perceval was assassinated by John Bellingham, the only UK Prime Minister in history to be murdered.

1832

Great Reform Act was published, which removed rotten boroughs and increased the number of individuals entitled to vote. For the first time the seats for the House of Commons were distributed according to population.

1834

The Houses of Parliament were badly damaged by fire, with only Westminster Hall remaining relatively undamaged. A public competition to design a new building was won by Charles Barry. He was assisted by Augustus Welby Pugin.

1847

The Bishopric of Manchester Act 1847 (and later Acts), limited the number of bishops entitled to sit in the House of Lords.

1852

New Houses of Parliament opened.

1867

The first debate in the House of Commons on women's suffrage was initiated by John Stuart Mill.

1911

Parliament Act. Prompted by the House of Lords' rejection of the People's Budget, this Act removed the right of veto from the Lords except on bills to extend the life of Parliament. Lords permitted delaying powers of one month for money bills, and 2 years for other legislation. Duration of Parliament reduced to 5 years.

1918

4th Reform Act. Representation of the People Act. This increased the electorate from its pre-war level of 8 million to 21 million; gave the vote to men over 21 fulfilling 6 months' residence qualification, and to women over 30 meeting occupancy requirements.

1918

Countess Constance Markiewicz elected as the first woman MP. However,she did not take her seat, in common with other Sinn Fein Members.

1919

Viscountess Nancy Astor the first woman to take her seat, following a by-election in the Plymouth Sutton division.

1928

Voting age for women lowered to 21.

1941

10th May - the House of Commons chamber was destroyed by enemy action; MPs met in the House of Lords until their chamber was rebuilt.

1949

The Parliament Act 1949 further reduced the House of Lords delaying powers over bills.

1950

New Commons Chamber (designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott), was completed. First meeting 26 October.

1958

The Life Peerages Act 1958 permitted the creation of life peers and peeresses, giving women the right to sit and vote in the House of Lords.

1969

Voting age reduced to 18.

1978

Radio coverage of the House of Commons began.

1979

First British woman Prime Minister elected: Rt Hon Margaret Thatcher.

1989

Television coverage of the House of Commons began.

1992

The first woman Speaker was elected: Rt Hon Betty Boothroyd.

1999

The House of Lords Act 1999 removed the right of most hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House.This restricted membership of hereditary peers in the House of Lords to 92.

1999

Devolution of powers. On 1 July extensive powers were transferred to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales. Devolution to the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive took place on December 2.

2002

Webcasting proceedings in the House of Commons was launched, at www.parliamentlive.tv

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