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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
Donald Trump
Rishi Sunak

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes149Founded3 years ago
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PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Latest Episodes

This month marks the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum – a vote that unleashed four years of extraordinary political turmoil. Judges were branded "enemies of the people", MPs denounced as "saboteurs", political parties fractured, and Prime M... more

The Cabinet Manual has been described as the “highway code” of the UK constitution, a guide that brings together the laws, conventions, precedents and procedures under which the Government operates. First published in 2011, it has not been updated si... more

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In this episode, we explore the rules governing MPs’ financial interests, gifts and donations, as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faces questions over a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne. Ruth and Mark are joined by D... more

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The row over Lord Mandelson’s appointment as Britain’s ambassador to Washington flared up again this week after the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) accused the Government of improperly redacting documents linked to his appointment. Back in ... more

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Recent Guests

Sir Jeremy Wright
Conservative MP, Senior MP on the Intelligence and Security Committee
House of Commons
Episode: Is the Government censoring the Mandelson Papers?
Meg Russell
Constitutional expert
Constitution Unit, University College London
Episode: Labour’s leadership tangle: What does it mean for Parliament?
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?
Ken Macdonald
Former Director of Public Prosecutions (Ken Macdonald of River Glavin)
Law and Politics podcast, Double Jeopardy (co-presenter)
Episode: Jury trials under threat? The Courts and Tribunals Bill explained
Mark Harper
Lord Harper, peer involved in debates over the bill
House of Lords (Conservative peer)
Episode: Is the assisted dying bill being filibustered?
Tom Tugendhat
Former Security Minister
MP, Conservative Party
Episode: Mandelson, Andrew and Epstein: Should there be parliamentary committee of inquiry?

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 185 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 Kingdom3 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 Kingdom10 months 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
#30
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#142
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#51
Finland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#71
Israel/Government
Apple Podcasts
#81
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#106
Ireland/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
What happens when you lose the party whip?
Q: What was Neil Duncan-Jordan's reaction to the winter fuel allowance changes?
He abstained from voting on the changes, believing it was wrong and electorally disastrous.

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. Westminster Hour
4. The Politics Show
5. The Week in Westminster

How many episodes of Parliament Matters are there?

Parliament Matters launched 3 years ago and published 149 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Parliament Matters?

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What guests have appeared on Parliament Matters?

Recent guests on Parliament Matters include:

1. Sir Jeremy Wright
2. Meg Russell
3. Tony Grew
4. Matthew England
5. Jonathan Featonby
6. Peter Prinsley
7. Ken Macdonald
8. Mark Harper

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