Speaker's lectures

Full coverage of the Speaker's lecture series about key political figures of the 100 years since the Parliament Act was passed:

Lord Morgan on David Lloyd GeorgeLord Morgan on David Lloyd George

Political historian Lord Morgan assessed the impact and legacy of former prime minister David Lloyd George. Speaking in the state apartments of the Palace of Westminster, he said the Liberal PM "inaugurated the crises that led to the passing of the act".

The Parliament Act prevented the House of Lords from vetoing any public legislation that had originated in and had been approved by the Commons, and imposed a maximum legislative delay of two years (or one month for money bills).

It therefore asserted the supremacy of the House of Commons after years of arguments between the two Houses.

Lord Morgan - a Labour peer - is a trustee of the History of Parliament Trust and a fellow in Modern History and Politics at Queen's College Oxford.

Sir Peter Tapsell on F E SmithSir Peter Tapsell on F E Smith

Conservative MP Sir Peter Tapsell analysed the legacy of former MP F E Smith in the events of 1911.

F E Smith was a Conservative statesman and MP in the first part of the 20th century and a close friend of Winston Churchill. He was a staunch Unionist and an opponent of Irish Home Rule.

Comparing the era of Smith with modern politics, Sir Peter Tapsell described how F E Smith was staunchly against "any move to a unicameral Parliament" and had been a supporter of a coalition between the Conservative and Liberal parties.

Baroness Williams on Nancy AstorBaroness Williams on Nancy Astor

Baroness Williams, the former Labour cabinet minister and co-founder of the SDP, delivered a lecture about Nancy Astor in the State Apartments of the Palace of Westminster, on 28 March, 2011.

The 45 minute lecture by Lib Dem peer Baroness Williams focused on the political life of Astor, who became the first woman to sit as an MP in 1919.

Nancy Astor remained a high profile - and controversial - figure in the build-up to the Second World War, being a vocal backer of appeasement and peace with Nazi Germany, although she voted against the government in 1940, helping bring Winston Churchill to power.

Nicholas Soames on Sir Winston ChurchillNicholas Soames on Sir Winston Churchill

Nicholas Soames MP delivered a lecture about his grandfather and wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill in the State Apartments of the Palace of Westminster in April.

Sir Winston Churchill, whose time as an MP spanned 1901 to 1964, backed the Parliament Act in 1911.

Mr Soames, who has himself been an MP for 27 years, said Sir Winston was a man for the difficult times and indeed for all times, concluding that his grandfather was "at one with all people of courage and goodwill no matter what their rank, their race or their nation".

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