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Parliament Matters

Hansard Society
Parliament
Assisted Dying Bill
House Of Lords
Assisted Dying
Labour Party
House Of Commons
Conservative Party
UK Parliament
Keir Starmer
Terminally Ill Adults End Of Life Bill
Brexit
Public Bill Committee
Rwanda Bill
Hansard Society
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
Legislation
Palliative Care
Termally Ill Adults End Of Life Bill
UK Politics
Donald Trump

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, look... more

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Latest Episodes

Canada’s Parliament shares its Westminster roots with the UK, but it has developed its own distinctive traditions, procedures and political culture. In this episode, Charlie Feldman – former President of the Canadian Study of Parliament Group and aut... more

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Andy Burnham has unveiled his ministerial team. So, we assess what his appointments reveal about the Government’s priorities, the political calculations behind them, and the parliamentary tests that lie ahead.

We begin with the appointment of the n... more

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Following the murder of Ann Widdecombe, we reflect on the dangers facing those in Parliament and public life. Earlier this year, former Lord Chancellor Sir Robert Buckland was appointed to lead the independent review into the circumstances surroundin... more

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Nigel Farage has quit the House of Commons to force a by-election in his constituency. In a blistering attack on what he called the media “pile-on” and a political stitch-up by the Westminster establishment, he insisted that the “people of Clacton sh... more

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Recent Guests

John Davis
Professor of Government at King's College London
King's College London
Episode: Labour’s last chance saloon? Burnham’s new Cabinet faces familiar parliamentary problems
Robert Buckland
Former Lord Chancellor, MP for 16 years
Parliamentary politics
Episode: How do we protect politicians in a dangerous age?
Diane Hayter
Baroness Hayter, Labour peer
House of Lords
Episode: New PM, new Clerk of the House of Commons: A new chapter at Westminster?
Duncan Hames
Director of UK Policy at Transparency International
Transparency International
Episode: The £5m question: Who funds our politicians?
Sir Jeremy Wright
Conservative MP, Senior MP on the Intelligence and Security Committee
House of Commons
Episode: Is the Government censoring the Mandelson Papers?
Tony Grew
Parliamentary journalist, Parley feed on X
Parley/Parley feed
Episode: Keir Starmer’s week of parliamentary torture over Mandelson appointment
Matthew England
Hansard Society legislative guru
Hansard Society
Episode: Will key Government bills pass by the end of the parliamentary Session?
Jonathan Featonby
Representative, Refugee Council
Refugee Council
Episode: Who really decides Immigration Rules: Parliament or the Home Secretary?
Peter Prinsley
Member of Parliament
House of Commons
Episode: Who really decides Immigration Rules: Parliament or the Home Secretary?

Hosts

Ruth Fox
Host of Parliament Matters; Hansard Society director; focuses on parliamentary procedure and accountability
Mark D'Arcy
Co-host; former BBC parliamentary correspondent; provides analysis and context on parliamentary processes

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 195 ratings
  • Assisted dying

    Stop wasting time put it through then do it on an individual basis . The case can then be looked at and decided on

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Morphine!’
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Making Procedure Sexy Again!

    So much commentary glosses over the nitty gritty of how political decisions are made, probably in the grounds that procedure is dull and boring. But this show boldly embraces the procedural: it’s informative, easy to listen to, warm and still detailed. Concepts are clearly explained but a generous peppering of (often amusing) illustrative anecdotes keeps the content engaging. You’ll get a better understanding o f what’s going on in Westminster from one episode of this than 10 of your usual (even... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Timnick00
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • A must listen

    A Must-Listen for Political Enthusiasts!

    Parliament Matters is a smart, engaging, and accessible podcast that brings clarity to the often complex world of UK politics. The hosts strike a perfect balance between insight and analysis, making even the most intricate parliamentary procedures feel relevant and understandable. Whether you’re a seasoned political follower or just curious about how government really works, this podcast is a valuable and refreshing listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LisasBeautySpot
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Steel and Papacy

    Excellent discussion of the problems with the ‘emergency’ steel legislation…but sadly followed by a somewhat obvious mistake, saying that Pope Benedict XVI was not a head of state, Vatican City may be small and unusual but is a sovereign state, and his visit was a State visit.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    T.J.Sacer
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Peerless

    There is literally no other podcast like this. Refreshingly focussed, I’ve learned so much about Parliamentary processes since I’ve started listening. Much more entertaining and understandable than Erskine May.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    C. O. Wisconsin
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, accessible and deeply knowledgeable about Parliament.
Balanced, non-partisan analysis with engaging hosts.
Clarity on complex procedures makes Westminster feel understandable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#16
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#31
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#39
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#13
South Korea/Government
Apple Podcasts
#25
Ireland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#25
Israel/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

New PM, new Clerk of the House of Commons: A new chapter at Westminster?
Q: What is Eve Samson's background and why is her appointment significant?
She has a long procedural focus as clerk of the journals and would be the first female clerk of the House of Commons, bringing deep experience with procedure and privilege to the top role, which is historically the most senior constitutional advisory position in Parliament.
Who really decides Immigration Rules: Parliament or the Home Secretary?
Q: What recourse do Parliament and MPs have to challenge or amend these rule changes?
Parliament has a disapproval mechanism under the 1971 Act, but disapproval does not automatically block the changes; ministers are then expected to address concerns in a subsequent statement of changes, and actual scrutiny in both Houses remains limited.
Who really decides Immigration Rules: Parliament or the Home Secretary?
Q: What is the scale of these immigration rule changes and how are they implemented?
The changes are described as among the largest in a generation and largely implemented through statements of changes to immigration rules, not through new primary legislation, with significant effects on refugees and settlement timelines.
Mandelson, Andrew and Epstein: Should there be parliamentary committee of inquiry?
Q: What we'd like to do is explore what this committee would do, how it would work, who'd be on it and why the existing set of select committees isn't necessarily the right thing for this particular case.
Tugendhat outlines a plan for a broad, joint committee with cross-party representation, data access, and public questioning to investigate the Mandelson-Mountbatten-Windsor affair and broader governance issues; he argues that a traditional select committee framework may be insufficient for such a nuanced, high-profile constitutional matter.
What happens when you lose the party whip?
Q: Why does Neil Duncan-Jordan think Keir Starmer should step down?
Because polling indicates Starmer's unpopularity could jeopardize the Labour Party's chances of winning.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Parliament Matters

What is Parliament Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two seasoned parliamentary experts guide listeners through the mechanics of UK lawmaking and accountability, translating complex procedures into accessible analysis. Episodes consistently explore how bills advance, the role of committees, and the interplay between Parliament and the executive, often featuring expert guests to illuminate procedural nuance. Unique strengths include a strong emphasis on parliamentary process over party gossip, clear explanations of backlog, amendments, and scrutiny, and a balanced, nonpartisan tone that helps listeners understand “how Westminster actually works” in real time.

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How many listeners does Parliament Matters get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Parliament Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Parliament Matters:

1. Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
2. Westminster Insider
3. The Week in Westminster
4. How To Win An Election
5. Not Another One

How many episodes of Parliament Matters are there?

Parliament Matters launched 3 years ago and published 156 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Parliament Matters?

Recent guests on Parliament Matters include:

1. John Davis
2. Robert Buckland
3. Diane Hayter
4. Duncan Hames
5. Sir Jeremy Wright
6. Tony Grew
7. Matthew England
8. Jonathan Featonby

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