Hansard Society

Hansard Society. The Hansard Society is an independent, non-partisan political organization based in London, United Kingdom, founded in 1944 by Francis Cammaerts and Percy Harris. The organization is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, who is known for his work on the House of Commons Hansard reports, which provide a record of parliamentary debates. The Hansard Society aims to promote parliamentary democracy and strengthen parliamentary institutions, such as the House of Lords and the House of Commons, through research, education, and public engagement with politicians, including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and David Cameron.

● History

The Hansard Society was established in 1944, during World War II, with the goal of promoting democracy and parliamentary institutions, inspired by the Atlantic Charter and the Yalta Conference. The organization's founders, Francis Cammaerts and Percy Harris, were both involved in politics and public service, with Percy Harris serving as a Member of Parliament for Harborough and Francis Cammaerts working with the Special Operations Executive during the war. The Hansard Society has since become a leading authority on parliamentary affairs, working with institutions such as the House of Commons Library and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology to promote evidence-based policy and parliamentary scrutiny, including the work of select committees like the Public Accounts Committee and the Home Affairs Committee. The organization has also collaborated with think tanks like the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Centre for Policy Studies to promote policy research and analysis.

● Objectives

The Hansard Society's objectives are to promote parliamentary democracy, strengthen parliamentary institutions, and enhance public engagement with politics, inspired by the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The organization aims to achieve these objectives through research, education, and public outreach programs, working with partners such as the BBC, the Guardian, and the Institute for Government to promote media literacy and critical thinking. The Hansard Society also seeks to promote diversity and inclusion in politics, supporting the work of organizations like the Fawcett Society and the Runnymede Trust to address issues of gender equality and racial equality.

● Activities

The Hansard Society engages in a range of activities to promote its objectives, including research, education, and public events, such as the Hansard Society Annual Lecture, which has featured speakers like Shami Chakrabarti and Onora O'Neill. The organization publishes reports and briefings on parliamentary issues, such as the Brexit process and the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides training and capacity-building programs for parliamentarians, civil servants, and civil society organizations, including the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The Hansard Society also hosts conferences and seminars on topics such as parliamentary reform, constitutional change, and human rights, featuring speakers like Lord Bingham of Cornhill and Baroness Hale of Richmond.

● Governance

The Hansard Society is governed by a board of trustees, which includes experts in politics, law, and public administration, such as Lord Norton of Louth and Professor Meg Russell. The organization is led by a director, who is responsible for implementing the strategic plan and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Hansard Society, working with staff and volunteers to deliver programs and activities. The Hansard Society is a registered charity and is funded by a range of sources, including grants from foundations like the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Nuffield Foundation, as well as donations from individuals and organizations.

● Publications

The Hansard Society publishes a range of materials, including reports, briefings, and academic articles, on topics related to parliamentary affairs, democracy, and human rights, such as the Hansard Society Journal and the Parliamentary Affairs journal. The organization's publications are widely read by politicians, civil servants, academics, and civil society organizations, including the Fabian Society and the Socialist Health Association, and are often cited in parliamentary debates and policy discussions, such as the House of Commons debates and the House of Lords debates. The Hansard Society also produces educational resources for schools and universities, including the Hansard Society's Parliamentary Education Programme, which aims to promote civic education and political literacy among young people, in partnership with organizations like the Citizenship Foundation and the Politics Association.