News

Harriet Arbuthnot and ‘the vortex of politics’

Harriet Arbuthnot's revealing diary of high politics of the 1820s is the subject of the latest Guest Historian article for the History of Government Blog, by Dr Stephen Lee, of Torquay Boys' Grammar School.

H&P co-founder features in REF

H&P co-founder Professor Pat Thane’s engagement with the Department for Education featured in a King’s College London impact case study for the Research Excellence Framework (REF). King’s was ranked 4^th for research impact as measured against other multidisciplinary universities in this national assessment. 

Henry Pelham bio published

The latest refreshed PM bio, of Henry Pelham, 1743-1754, is published on the History of Government Blog. Dr Andrew Thompson, of Cambridge University, outlines Pelham’s considerable political and diplomatic skills and financial prudence. 

The legacy of GP attitudes to mentally ill older people

Doctors' negativity attitudes towards older patients with mental health illnesses can affect their diagnosis and treatment argues Dr Claire Hilton, in the latest H&P opinion article. This underpins NHS England’s recent initiative to pay GPs £55 for each dementia diagnosis. Understanding the history of doctors’ attitudes towards their mentally ill older patients also offers insights into the possible consequences of this controversial policy and alternative approaches, says Dr Hilton, a psychiatrist and historian.  

Plaudits for new History Lab

H&P’s new History Lab was welcomed by civil servants from the Department for Transport, the Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury. They considered the lessons from Beeching and the British railways 1955-1975 in an interactive event for Civil Service Learning led by Professor Colin Divall, of York University, and Dr Charles Loft, historian and adviser to the Local Government Association. 

Policy Papers available as ebooks

H&P policy papers are now available as ebooks – digital downloads for Apple, Kindle, other e-readers, as well as tablets, smartphones and laptops. What’s more, they are free. So you can read high-quality history from leading historians on the move, in a café, in the library or on the beach… 

Britain’s first Prime Minister

The first mini bio of Britain’s 52 Prime Ministers has been published on the History of Government Blog. Dr Andrew Thompson, of Cambridge University, writes about Sir Robert Walpole, often viewed as the first British PM.

Trade unions and the First World War – audio live

Listen to Professor Jerry White, of Birkbeck, and Dr Deborah Thom, of Cambridge, at H&P’s Trade Union Forum meeting on the unions, women and the First World War. 

Marriage, civil partnerships and gay rights

Listen to the H&P discussion on marriage, civil partnerships and gay rights, at King's Arts & Humanities Festival. The panel featured Sheffield University historian Dr Julia Moses, King’s College London law professor, Robert Wintemute, Glasgow University social scientist Dr Kelly Kollman, and H&P Director, Dr Lucy Delap. 

New Working Women’s Charter launched

The new Working Women’s Charter, arising from an H&P conference led by Professor Pam Cox, has sparked interest from media and policy makers. After discussing the original 1974 Charter, 50 students, activists and academics devised a new proposals for working women today at a conference held at King's College London.

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