# Parliament Matters

A podcast by Hansard Society. Join two of the UK's leading parliamentary experts, Mark D'Arcy and Ruth Fox, as they guide you through the often mysterious ways our politicians do business and explore the running controversies about the way Parliament works. Each week they will analyse how laws are made and ministers held accountable by the people we send to Westminster. They will be debating the topical issues of the day, looking back at key historical events and discussing the latest research on democracy and Parliament. Why? Because whether it's the taxes you pay, or the laws you've got to obey... Parliament matters! Mark D'Arcy was the BBC's parliamentary correspondent for two decades. Ruth Fox is the Director of the parliamentary think-tank the Hansard Society. • ❓ Submit your questions on all things Parliament to Mark and Ruth via our website here: hansardsociety.org.uk/pm#qs • 📱 Follow us across social media @HansardSociety and... • ✅ 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. Parliament Matters is a Hansard Society production supported by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust •…

Feed: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/6537a8ac217b660012c59633

## Latest episodes

- [The Budget: Who checks the Chancellor?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/d69d8efe9366) (2026-10-23, 61 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6ada698b23f48c4f2482b750/media.mp3
- [Parliament under pressure: Select committees in the age of lawfare](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/78d846e9e223) (2026-10-16, 68 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6ad10269e039ee8e85f2ff2a/media.mp3
- [This is No Way to Run a Country: A conversation with former veterans minister Johnny Mercer](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/f3e9fc8c3c16) (2026-10-01, 40 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6abd4548205819f3d7d809d0/media.mp3
- [PMQs: Parliament Matters Questions](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/9b48c38537e4) (2026-09-17, 70 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6aac199abafe1ba4562bc953/media.mp3
- [MPs reject the assisted dying bill: What happened, and what next?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/68c4db0c0d7d) (2026-09-11, 54 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6aa4420e2e8bb8424cb0ab73/media.mp3
- [Andy Burnham’s rewired state: Can Parliament provide the circuit breaker?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/23d0d40fdbaa) (2026-09-03, 57 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a99aeabbe980579611b3775/media.mp3
- [Joanna Cherry: The SNP, Westminster, and a decade of political battles](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/c29c81e91e39) (2026-08-20, 42 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a8598441ad8716bb6105fc7/media.mp3
- [Unparliamentary: Colourful tales from the Canadian Parliament](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/8191e13adb56) (2026-08-06, 40 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a7098f92031aa1a28db3c1f/media.mp3
- [Labour’s last chance saloon? Burnham’s new Cabinet faces familiar parliamentary problems](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/ddf11cd610c9) (2026-07-23, 63 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a623d107d20badb281e930d/media.mp3
- [How do we protect politicians in a dangerous age?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/3af2574a3dc4) (2026-07-17, 72 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a5a860e62e50b14bdb9e024/media.mp3
- [Nigel Farage leaves Parliament: What now happens to the standards investigation?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/791a5c61e129) (2026-07-09, 75 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a4fe7defe878dc8e2a6ffcd/media.mp3
- [New PM, new Clerk of the House of Commons: A new chapter at Westminster?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/1040da36d4e9) (2026-07-02, 69 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a46a8d08890f0eef3b73be7/media.mp3
- [The Burnham question: A new approach to whipping Westminster?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/4ceac9854e51) (2026-06-25, 48 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a3d65dd13f23e0ab6d3c02c/media.mp3
- [Andy Burnham’s March on Westminster: How Could He Become Prime Minister?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/3335e832c1fa) (2026-06-19, 67 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a358077f1612f1c69d23e5b/media.mp3
- [Brexit, 10 years on: Parliament and the democratic crisis](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/e0614b5fb448) (2026-06-11, 53 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a2aed4c622531b86442d3d2/media.mp3
- [The Cabinet Manual: Why Britain's constitutional "highway code" needs updating](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/5da86463dd17) (2026-06-04, 64 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a21abd9be8560e74b2d4bfa/media.mp3
- [The £5m question: Who funds our politicians?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/3cff17c3b0c7) (2026-05-28, 22 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a181da9847a83997e892a92/media.mp3
- [Is the Government censoring the Mandelson Papers?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/1986747605e3) (2026-05-21, 71 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a0f5bf711eba3cf156b8c18/media.mp3
- [Labour’s leadership tangle: What does it mean for Parliament?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/88065ae5554b) (2026-05-15, 74 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6a06e822382d6c40300ad253/media.mp3
- [What now? The local election fallout hits Westminster](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/d0a909e574f8) (2026-05-09, 42 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69fe3b802ba0ef2ccaf8e651/media.mp3
- [Keir Starmer’s week of parliamentary torture over Mandelson appointment](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/dd00ff657d0c) (2026-04-24, 72 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69eaba236e5b90839a85ea30/media.mp3
- [Dynamic alignment and Henry VIII powers: What will the Government’s EU reset mean for Parliament?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/dbc288a41f6c) (2026-04-17, 61 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69e1f838a0cdd3989c9b844a/media.mp3
- [Will key Government bills pass by the end of the parliamentary Session?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/698646e6d49c) (2026-03-27, 68 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69c5db5a88f1e891322eaf42/media.mp3
- [Who really decides Immigration Rules: Parliament or the Home Secretary?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/411b834126d8) (2026-03-20, 53 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69bc948a62f6c66afe763ce5/media.mp3
- [Jury trials under threat? The Courts and Tribunals Bill explained](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/8eb6ebebaef1) (2026-03-13, 57 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69b3706e25f345603a46b40a/media.mp3
- [Is the assisted dying bill being filibustered?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/3c56bbbf4eba) (2026-03-10, 39 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69af72b908944255d583a713/media.mp3
- [Starmer, Iran, and Parliament’s role in war powers](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/18d33d31a0e6) (2026-03-06, 54 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69aa331fc2eb2fc3ab035b7a/media.mp3
- [Mandelson, Andrew and Epstein: Should there be parliamentary committee of inquiry?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/30a0a316d88e) (2026-02-28, 61 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69a23cbcbbda7540f48b7b9d/media.mp3
- [The forgotten pioneer: Who was Margaret Bondfield, Britain’s first female Cabinet Minister?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/853bf6caf106) (2026-02-20, 71 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69972af5e1d87731191126a6/media.mp3
- [What happens when you lose the party whip?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/21ee5801c90c) (2026-02-13, 69 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/698e145a7301331f1f2528a2/media.mp3
- [A Humble Address: How MPs confronted the Mandelson scandal](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/32e3e608c304) (2026-02-06, 60 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6985430808b5442943c1163a/media.mp3
- [Why MPs can’t just quit: The curious case of the Chiltern Hundreds](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/a9a1294b87d8) (2026-02-01, 49 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/697e7577db08d05cf6a0e4e3/media.mp3
- [Assisted dying bill: How could the Parliament Act be used?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/c8d3c8d8336d) (2026-01-30, 46 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/697c157239a9cd7f18e5cd78/media.mp3
- [Should MPs Who Switch Parties Be Forced to Face a By-Election?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/53e4ed6ed7bf) (2026-01-23, 62 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69733804680e40968b6d9460/media.mp3
- [Who really sets MPs’ pay – And why you might be wrong about it](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/6145645cc463) (2026-01-21, 50 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/696fd2083738e9e7d18e337b/media.mp3
- [Kemi’s pre-emptive strike on Robert Jenrick](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/81589d536d3d) (2026-01-16, 89 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6969a59417bb88de8d24f333/media.mp3
- [Growing the Greens: Parliament, polling and Zack Polanski](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/e742a6203219) (2026-01-14, 59 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6966b0c5d6e0ec6b283c04be/media.mp3
- [Are UK elections under threat?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/ae6ae1177781) (2026-01-09, 38 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69607211d8ac698e7e4063e5/media.mp3
- [The King and Parliament: The relationship between politics and the royals](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/f1dcb8c9ac55) (2026-01-03, 51 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6958335c6446068fdc4861a0/media.mp3
- [Is being Prime Minister an impossible job?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/6917d29ed2c3) (2025-12-23, 56 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/694abc0944fae3e802c5380c/media.mp3
- [What's coming up over the Christmas/New Year recess](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/fb2ee6902ad9) (2025-12-22, 2 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/694979384c1c9c7f2b6b2346/media.mp3
- [Choosing a new Lord Speaker](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/ee8796f50ee9) (2025-12-19, 93 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6944bbb589ee5e06fdb00798/media.mp3
- [Where are the Reform UK peers?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/c560c6daf96a) (2025-12-13, 61 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/693cb652f3a6f9e20a4d1a15/media.mp3
- [2024: The year our party system finally broke?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/a2401078710a) (2025-12-05, 66 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69322e54a63c6eaa5927bf92/media.mp3
- [101 resolutions and a Finance Bill. How the Budget becomes law](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/bda501949840) (2025-11-28, 67 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69291ce6c4da9138ec62c021/media.mp3
- [Is the House of Lords going slow on the assisted dying bill?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/0af191cbaec9) (2025-11-22, 68 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69212b5875ae15fa66ae164f/media.mp3
- [The assisted dying bill: A conversation with its sponsor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/78a9b8f2bdd3) (2025-11-14, 48 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6916713ee4a19aaf079b24a2/media.mp3
- [Do petitions work? Inside the Commons Committee that actually decides](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/0d75fefde177) (2025-11-11, 31 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/6912714acb5f8761fb82633f/media.mp3
- [Parliament, the Monarch & the birth of party politics — How did it happen?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/08a58b5e6d58) (2025-11-07, 41 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/690cf32d120d3662b7c4ca0f/media.mp3
- [Why did Nigel Farage’s Ten Minute Rule Bill fail?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1714627828/042223f1a740) (2025-10-31, 57 min): audio https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6537a8ac217b660012c59633/e/69041e3a95ee8b18152b25ba/media.mp3

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.