Skip to main content
Library
  1. Library
  2. Reading lists
  3. PIED2706

PIED2706
Module Reading List

The UK Parliament: Between Tradition and Reform, 2021/22, Semester 1
Cristina Leston-Bandeira
C.Leston-Bandeira@leeds.ac.uk
Tutor information is taken from the Module Catalogue

Below you’ll find an overview of the module’s general readings and resources, followed by specific readings recommended for each topic.  

General Reading

Core book:

  • Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) (2018) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press.   

The book is accompanied by a set of complementary online resources for each chapter at: www.oup.com/uk/leston-bandeira_thompson/

Besides this book, the following are also good comprehensive books on the UK Parliament: Crewe (2015), Norton (2013) and/or Rogers and Walters (2015).

Other useful books about Parliament:

You are highly encouraged to develop your own research also by using the more specialist literature in Journals.

Key journals covering Parliament:

The following journals may also be useful:

Top of page

Specific reading for each topic

We list below reading specifically relevant for each topic. We divide each reading between Essential and Complementary.

The readings under Essential are a key component of your preparation for each Seminar, so it is assumed you read these (or listen - some are podcasts) prior to each Seminar. The Complementary list adds on to this and should be particularly useful for the assignment.

We also add Complementary online resources, which accompany the core book (Exploring Parliament). These are specific to each topic and complement the generic online resources listed in Minerva / Learning Resources.

Top of page

Lecture 1: Introduction to the UK Parliament

Seminar: Is Parliament fit for the 21st century?

Essential:

  • Watch Episode 1 of Inside the Commons, BBC, available through Minerva, in the folder TV programmes and Films, in Learning Resources [1 hour].  
  • Evans, P., Thompson, L. and Leston-Bandeira, C. (2018) 'Introduction: exploring the UK Parliament in the Twenty-first Century', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.3-11.   

Complementary reading, depending on what you want to focus upon:

  • Cowley, P. (2015) ‘The coalition and Parliament’, in A. Seldon and M. Finn (eds), The coalition effect, 2010-2015 ISBN: 9781107440180 (pbk.) : £18.99; 9781107080614 (hbk.) : £59.99, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 136-156.
  • Crewe, E. (2015) The House of Commons : an anthropology of MPs at work ISBN: 9781474234580 (hardback); 1474234585 (hardback); 9781474234573 (paperback); 1474234577 (paperback); 9781474234603 (ePDF); 9781474234597 (ePub), Chapter 7 – ‘Reading the Runes’, pp. 211-226.
  • Crewe, E. and Evans, P. (2018) 'The significance of rituals in parliament', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.43-52.  
  • Geddes, M. and Mulley, J. (2018) 'Supporting Members and Peers', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.33-52.  
  • Governance Committee. (2014) House of Commons Governance, Report of Session 2014-15, London: The Stationary Office, HC 692. Online at: https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmgovern/692/692.pdf
  • Judge, D. and Leston-Bandeira, C. (2021), 'Why it matters to keep asking why legislatures matter', The Journal of Legislative Studies, 27 (2), pp.155-184.   
  • Norton, P. (2020) 'S1Episode 3: Lord Norton of Louth', in Spotify podcast Why Parliament Works, August 2020 (29 mn) [AUDIO RESOURCE]
  • Norton, P. (2013) Parliament in British Politics, Chapter 2 – ‘The development of Parliament’, pp.16-47.   
  • Petit, S. and Yong, B. (2018) 'The Admnistrative organization and governance of parliament', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.24-32  
  • Rogers, R. and Walters, R. (2015) How Parliament Works, Chapter 3 – ‘Running Parliament’, pp.42-73.
  • Rush, M. (2005) Parliament today ISBN: 9780719057953 : £12.99; 9780719057946 : £55.00; 0719057949 (cased) : £55.00; 0719057957 (pbk.) : £12.99, Chapter 2 – ‘The origins and development of Parliament’, pp. 26-56.
  • Rush, M. (2011) Parliamentary socialisation : learning the ropes or determining behaviour? ISBN: 9780230284890 (hbk.) : £57.50; 0230284892 (hbk.) : £57.50, Chapter 8 – ‘2010 and Beyond’, pp.195-208.

Complementary online resources:  

 

Top of page

Lecture 2: Who's Who in Parliament?

Seminar: How far would you go to make parliamentarians more representative?

Essential:

  • Cowley, P. (2016) ‘Political Recruitment and the Political Class’, in Heffernan, R et al, eds. Developments in British politics 10 ISBN: 9781137494740 (pbk) : £30.99; 9781137494733 (hbk.) : £85.00; 9781137494757 ebk, London, Palgrave, pp 122-142. Available as an Online Course Reading in Minerva  
  • Watch Episode 2 of Inside the Commons, BBC, available through Minerva, in the folder TV programmes and Films, in Learning Resources [1 hour].   

Complementary reading, depending on what you want to focus upon:

 Complementary online resources:

 

Top of page

Lecture 3: Representing the People

Seminar: Does constituency work take too much of MPs’ time?

Essential:

  • Listen to Episode 2 on Democracy in Action, of the Podcast series by David Runciman on Rethinking Representation [30 mn].   
  • Check out the module's MS Team channel on Reports on your MP for this week's task. 

Complementary reading, depending on what you want to focus upon:

 Complementary online resources:

 

Top of page

Lecture 4: Law-Making

Seminar: How can Parliament be its most effective in law-making?

Essential:

  • Smyth, L.L., McKee, G. and Korris, M. (2018) 'The legislative cycle', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.67-79.   
  • Russell, M. and Gover, D. (2018) 'Parliamentary scrutiny and influence on government bills', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.80-89   
  • Check out the module's MS Team for details about this week's task. 

Complementary reading, depending on what you want to focus upon:

Complementary online resources:

 

Top of page

Lecture 5: Scrutiny and Accountability

Seminar: How effective are parliamentary questions?

Essential:

  • Bennister, M. and Larkin, P. (2018) 'Accountability in parliament', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.143-151.   
  • Bates, S., Kerr, P. and Serban, R. (2018) 'Questioning the government', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.174-186.   
  • Check out the module's MS Team channel on Reports on your MP for this week's task. 

Complementary reading, depending on what you want to focus upon:

 Complementary online resources:

 

Top of page

Lecture 6: Select Committees  

Seminar: What makes a Select Committee particularly effective?

Essential:

  • Defty, A. and White, H. (2018) 'Evidence from outside', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.152-162.   
  • Kelso, A. (2018) 'Select Committees', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.163-173.   
  • Check out the module's MS Team channel on Reports on your MP for this week's task. 

Complementary reading, depending on what you want to focus upon:

 Complementary online resources:

 

Top of page

Lecture 7: House of Lords

Seminar: Should the House of Lords be reformed?

Essential:

  • Dorey, P. and Purvis, M. (2018) 'Representation in the Lords', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.244-254.   
  • Russell, M. (2020) 'Lords reform is back on the agenda: what are the options?' UCL Constitution Unit Blog Post, 23 February 2020.     
  • Watch Episode 2 of Meet the Lords, BBC, available through Minerva, in the folder TV programmes and Films, in Learning Resources [1 hour].   
  • Check out the module's MS Team channel on Reports on your MP for this week's task. 

Complementary reading, depending on what you want to focus upon:

  • Crewe, E. (2005), Lords of parliament : manners, rituals and politics ISBN: 0719072077 (pbk. : England); 0719072069 (hbk. : England); 9780719072079 (pbk. : New York), Manchester, Manchester University Press.
  • Dorey, P. (2008), ‘Stumbling through ‘Stage Two’: New Labour and House of Lords Reform‘, British politics. ISSN: 1746-918X vol.3, (1), pp.22-44.
  • Dorey, P and Kelso, A. (2011) House of Lords reform since 1911 : must the Lords go? ISBN: 9780230271661 (hbk.) : £57.50; 0230271669 (hbk.) : £57.50Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Kelly, R and Taylor, R. (2016) Peerage Creations since 1997, House of Commons Library Standard Note SN05867, 8 February. Online at: http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05867/SN05867.pdf
  • Kelso, A. (2009), Parliamentary reform at Westminster ISBN: 9780719091186 (pbk.) : £12.99, Manchester, Manchester University Press, Chapter 7 – ‘Reform of the House of Lords 1990-1997’and Chapter 8 – ‘Reform of the House of Lords since 1997’.
  • Milner, P. (2018) 'Scrutiny by the House of Lords', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.196-206.
  • Russell, M. (2013) The contemporary House of Lords : Westminster bicameralism revived , Chapter 9 – ‘Is the House of Lords ‘Legitimate’? Attitudes towards the Chamber’, pp.228-257; Chapter 10 – ‘The Politics of Lords Reform’, pp.258-284; Chapter 11 – ’Conclusions: the House of Lords, British Politics and Legislative Bicameralism’, pp.285-300.
  • Russell, M. (2010) ‘A Stronger Second Chamber? Assessing the impact of House of Lords reform in 1999 and the lessons for bicameralism’, Political studies. ISSN: 0032-3217; 1467-9248, vol. 58, (5), pp.866-885.
  • Russell, M. (2000) Reforming the House of Lords : lessons from overseas ISBN: 0198298315, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
  • Russell, M. and Gover, D. (2018) 'Parliamentary scrutiny and influence on government bills', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.80-89  
  • Shell, D. (2013), The House of Lords, Basingstoke, Palgrave.
  • Shell, D. (2000) ‘Labour and the House of Lords’, Parliamentary affairs. ISSN: 0031-2290, 53, 290-310.
  • Smyth, L.L., McKee, G. and Korris, M. (2018) 'The legislative cycle', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.67-79.  
  • Thomas, P. and Frier, S. (2018) 'Campaigning to change law and policy', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.111-121.  

 Complementary online resources:

 

Top of page

Lecture 8: Influencing Parliament

Seminar: How effectively can outside actors influence parliament?

Essential:

  • Caygill, T. and Griffiths, A.-M. (2018) 'Parliament and petitions', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.322-332.   OR: BBC - Jon Kelly in-depth report: We The Undersigned . 
  • Thomas, P. and Frier, S. (2018) 'Campaigning to change law and policy', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament ISBN: 9780198788430 (pbk.) : £29.99, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.111-121.   
  • Check out the module's MS Team channel on Reports on your MP for this week's task. 

Complementary reading, depending on what you want to focus upon:

 Complementary online resources:

 

Top of page

Lecture 9: Parliament and Public Engagement 

Seminar: Has Parliament done enough for public engagement?

Essential:

  • Goodwin, M. and Atkins, M. (2018) 'Parliament and Modernisation', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament , Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.296-307.  
  • Leston-Bandeira, C. and Walker, A. (2018) 'Parliament and Public Engagement', in Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) Exploring Parliament , Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp.308-321.  
  • Check out the module's MS Team channel on Reports on your MP for this week's task. 

 Complementary reading, depending on what you want to focus upon:

 Complementary online resources:

 

Top of page

Lecture 10: Visit to Parliament and Assessment Guidance

Seminar: no seminar as such, instead visit to Parliament

This list was last updated on 18/02/2022