Lord Norton of Louth
@lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
440 followers 510 following 57 posts
Professor of Government, University of Hull. Devoted to the study of the Constitution, Parliament, and the Conservative Party.
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lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
At today's @uniofhull.bsky.social Open Day and preparing to give 'fireside chats' in my office about the Hull Parliamentary placement programme, now in existence for almost forty years...
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expremiers.bsky.social
📘 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' is based on my PhD research under the supervision of @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social on the Office of Prime Minister Emeritus.

☺️ I'm delighted to have a chapter in his forthcoming 'Elgar Companion to Margaret Thatcher'.

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lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
Being published on 28 November. ‘A pungent and dynamic set of essays helping to explain the phenomenon that is Thatcher through the lens of history.’ -- Sir Anthony Seldon
www.amazon.co.uk/Companion-Ma...
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histparl.bsky.social
Born #OTD 1691 Arthur Onslow.

MP for Guildford 1720-1727, then representing Surrey until 1761, Onslow holds the record for the longest-serving Speaker of the Commons, holding onto the seat for 33 years

Read his bio here:
ow.ly/48YM50KRcIX
Portrait of a man stood with on hand on a table and the other held to his chest, with a scroll in his hand. He wears a long, curly grey wig. He has black robes with gold braid detail over the shoulders and sleeves, and a white lace collar and cuffs.
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expremiers.bsky.social
😊 Where 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street' began.

🤦🏻‍♂️ The first draft of my 10,000 word chapter came out at 80,000 words.

🤯 Yes, really.

⭐️ That's Margaret Thatcher for you.

#Thatcher100 #Thatcher #MargaretThatcher #ThatcherAfterDowningStreet #ExPremiers
lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
Being published on 28 November. ‘A pungent and dynamic set of essays helping to explain the phenomenon that is Thatcher through the lens of history.’ -- Sir Anthony Seldon
www.amazon.co.uk/Companion-Ma...
lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
Being published on 28 November. ‘A pungent and dynamic set of essays helping to explain the phenomenon that is Thatcher through the lens of history.’ -- Sir Anthony Seldon
www.amazon.co.uk/Companion-Ma...
lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
Extremely brief. My chapter in @iaindale.bsky.social 'British By-Elections 1769-2025' covers the by-election...
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lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
A few years ago, I had cause to remind a senior Cabinet minister that election confers electoral legitimacy: it does not confer wisdom. We are in an era of politicians neglecting this simple truth.
lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
A few years ago, I had cause to remind a senior Cabinet minister that election confers electoral legitimacy: it does not confer wisdom. We are in an era of politicians neglecting this simple truth.
Reposted by Lord Norton of Louth
histparl.bsky.social
Born #OTD 1886, A. V. Hill, Independent Conservative MP for Cambridge University, 1940-5. Before his political career, Hill was a physiologist, and in 1922 shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on muscle physiology. He is the only MP to have won a Nobel Prize in the sciences.
A black and white quarter length photographic portrait of a man. He is wearing a grey textured suit jacket, a white collared shirt and a black tie with thin white horizontal stripes. He is clean shaven except for a thick moustache, and has short side combed hair.
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histparl.bsky.social
Today we are celebrating #Railway200, as 200 years ago, #OTD 1825, the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened.

To mark this milestone, we thought we’d look at some of the ways Parliament and the railways have intersected in the last 200 years: (🧵 1/6)
@victoriancommons.bsky.social
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histparl.bsky.social
Died #OTD 1770, Sir John Cust, who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1761 to 1770.

It is tradition that an MP should feign reluctance when appointed Speaker; however, Cust may not have been faking his reluctance...
‘Why not you?’ Sir John Cust, reluctant Speaker of the House of Commons - The History of Parliament
It is one of Westminster's many traditions that, when an MP is elected to the role of Speaker of the House of Commons, they must show reluctance to accept the
ow.ly
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histparl.bsky.social
Born #OTD 1717, Horace Walpole. Son of Robert Walpole, Britain's first Prime Minister, he was an MP from 1741-68 and in 1791 became 4th earl of Orford. He is well known for building Strawberry Hill House, and writing one of the first Gothic Novels.
Painting of a man leaning with his chin in his right hand. He is propped against a table covered roughly in a red cloth, with papers scattered on it. He has pale skin and short brown hair, curled upwards at his ears. He wears a grey velvet-effect jacket over a waistcoat and shirt with frilled collar and sleeves. His left hand is in his pocket.
lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
1/1 Recently published books by members and associates of @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies and Centre for British Politics
lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
2/2 Forthcoming books by members or associates of @uniofhull.bsky.social Centre for Legislative Studies, Centre for British Politics and Centre for Conservatism Studies
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lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
My speech in committee on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill yesterday making the case for post-legislative scrutiny to be on the face of the Bill. As I argued, this should be standard for Bills that meet certain criteria. hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2025-0...
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament
Hansard record of the item : 'Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill' on Thursday 18 September 2025.
hansard.parliament.uk
lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
My speech in committee on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill yesterday making the case for post-legislative scrutiny to be on the face of the Bill. As I argued, this should be standard for Bills that meet certain criteria. hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2025-0...
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament
Hansard record of the item : 'Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill' on Thursday 18 September 2025.
hansard.parliament.uk
Reposted by Lord Norton of Louth
Reposted by Lord Norton of Louth
lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
Just received my advance copy of 'British By-Elections 1769-2025', in which I have a chapter on the 1962 Orpington By-Election
lordnortonlouth.bsky.social
Just received my advance copy of 'British By-Elections 1769-2025', in which I have a chapter on the 1962 Orpington By-Election
Reposted by Lord Norton of Louth
histparl.bsky.social
Died #OTD 1823, David Ricardo, MP for Portarlington 1819-1823, and one of the most influential classical economists. Find out more via his #HistParl bio www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-...
A half length portrait of David Ricardo. Sitting in an armchair, he is wearing a black suit jacket with a white frilled scarf tied. He is holding an unfolded piece of parchment in his left hair. He is clean shaven, and has receding greying black hair.
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drhannahwhite.bsky.social
I am delighted to announce that we are recruiting to three new roles in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s senior team.

Take a look if you want to help us grow our impact & develop our brilliant research (details of the Academy Director role will be up next week) 👇 micro.green-park.co.uk/ifg/
Institute for Government
micro.green-park.co.uk