News

H&P historians in the Press

In BBC news online Professor Pat Thane, of King's College London, challenged the notion that until the 1960s a typical family comprised two parents and life-long marriage, with clear role models and caring concern for older relatives. Read the article: Traditional British family a myth, academic says

Dr Selina Todd, of Oxford University, spoke about working class identity on BBC Radio 4's Today programme [2.54 mins]. Dr Todd's book, The People – The Rise and Fall of the Working Class 1910-2010, is published on 10 April.

The 30th anniversary of the 1984 miners' strike sparked a BBC History Magazine interview with Professor Peter Ackers, of Loughborough University, and Dr Jim Moher, of King's College London, about role of the strike in industrial disputes.

History & Policy Director Lucy Delap speaks at the 2014 Women of the World Festival

History & Policy Director Lucy Delap spoke alongside Dr Helen Pankhurst of Care International, Sharmila Jansz of Wateraid, Alphonsine Kabagado of Womankind, and Kenyan campaigner Judy Kosgei at the 2014 Women of the World Festival held at London's South Bank Centre on March 8th.

Policy Scotland launched: call for historians

Policy Scotland, launched by the University of Glasgow, aims to stimulate new and critical policy thinking about policy debates in Scotland, the UK and internationally, by bringing together academics, practitioners and policy makers. 

History & Policy lecture series at Gresham College

Three leading members of the H&P Network will give public lectures at Gresham College in June as part of a special History & Policy series, at 6pm on consecutive Tuesdays.

Understanding Margaret Thatcher and her legacy

In the wake of Baroness Thatcher's funeral, H&P historians offer insightful analysis of her premiership and legacy.

Votes for Victorian women

Women were active voters 75 years before they received the parliamentary franchise in 1918, Sarah Richardson of Warwick University reveals.

Ready for ageing?

The Ready for Ageing? report, published by the House of Lords Select Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change, draws extensively on evidence from H&P co-founder Pat Thane, of the Institute of Contemporary British History at King's College London. 

Call for historical advisers in government

Former Cabinet Secretary Lord Butler has called for every government department to appoint a historical adviser. In Civil Service World, Lord Butler describes those who take policy decisions in ignorance of the lessons of history as 'like a driver who commits to some manoeuvre in the road without looking into the rear mirror'. Dr Lucy Delap, incoming Director of H&P, welcomed the debate: 'Lord Butler has pointed to a real problem at the heart of British government – its tendency to live in the present. 

The spirit of ‘45

Ahead of the release of Ken Loach's new film celebrating the post-war foundation of Britain's welfare state, a new H&P opinion piece by Bryce Evans of Liverpool Hope University explores the myths and realities of The Spirit of '45, in film, popular culture and modern politics.

Is modern childhood ending too soon?

In the wake of a Netmums survey revealing that many parents feel modern childhood is over by the age of 12, Kate Bradley of Kent University puts their concerns into historical perspective. She argues that Netmums are 'mourning a golden age of childhood that never existed'.