Parliament Matters Bulletin: What's happening in Parliament today?

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Parliament Matters Bulletin: Our weekly analysis of what’s coming up in Parliament

Latest edition: 15-19 September 2025

Westminster is always buzzing with political drama and rumours, but whatever the daily gossip or latest crisis, law-making and parliamentary scrutiny carries on regardless. That’s why it’s crucial to stay informed about what’s happening in Parliament each week. The Parliament Matters Bulletin is our weekly analysis of what’s coming up in the House of Commons and House of Lords, as a complement to our weekly Parliament Matters Podcast.

Latest edition: What’s coming up in Parliament?

Doorway at the Sovereign’s Entrance to the Palace of Westminster. Image: Doorway at the Sovereign’s Entrance to the Palace of Westminster © Hansard Society / Richard Greenhill

15-19 September 2025

Peers will vote on the assisted dying bill’s Second Reading, while MPs will question the new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood MP and Lord Chancellor David Lammy MP. The Commons will debate the Employment Rights, English Devolution and Community Empowerment, and Sentencing Bills, as Peers examine the Planning and Infrastructure and Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bills. Committees will hear evidence on arms exports to Israel and the Online Safety Act. MPs will also debate an e-petition on SEND support and consider a Ten Minute Rule Bill on child poverty strategy, including removing the two-child limit for Universal Credit. The youngest minister in nearly two centuries will make his first appearance before a Select Committee.

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Parliament Matters Bulletin: Past Editions

New Palace Yard seen from Bridge Street. Image: New Palace Yard seen from Bridge Street © Hansard Society / Richard Greenhill

8-12 September 2025

The Assisted Dying Bill has its Second Reading in the Lords, while in the Commons the Chancellor and Defence Secretary are among the Ministers facing questions. MPs also begin work on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill and three other bills, on renters’ rights, bus services and pensions. Peers will examine bills on border security, planning, and children’s wellbeing, and will debate an Order to facilitate earlier prisoner deportation. Lisa Nandy appears before the Culture Committee, Lord Hermer before the Constitution Committee, and there is a pre-appointment hearing for the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists. MPs debate two e-petitions on indefinite leave to remain, and Sharon White, the former boss of retailer John Lewis, is formally introduced to the House of Lords.

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The Palace of Westminster seen across the Thames from the south east. Image: The Palace of Westminster seen across the Thames from the south east © Hansard Society / Richard Greenhill

1-5 September 2025

Four Cabinet ministers will face questions in the Commons on pressing issues, including Gaza, the Chagos Islands, people smuggling, grooming gangs, employment numbers and rising water bills. In the Lords, peers will scrutinise the Government’s approach to the Palestinian Territories, gilt yields and implementation of the Football Governance Act 2025. MPs will debate three bills while peers take up four more, alongside four Commons Private Members’ Bills. On the committee corridor, Jesse Norman, Shabana Mahmood and Alex Chalk give evidence, while the new Bishop of Coventry, Sophie Jelley, is introduced to the House of Lords.

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The House of Lords’ recently renovated door. Image: The House of Lords’ recently renovated door © Hansard Society / Richard Greenhill

21-24 July 2025

The Prime Minister will appear before the House of Commons Liaison Committee. Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP and the Governor of the Bank of England will also appear before committees. Opposition Peers will challenge regulations that would allow foreign states to hold up to 15% of the shares or voting rights in news organisations. Education and Health Ministers will face oral questions from MPs. Peers will consider seven bills. The House of Commons will debate the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan and hold its Sir David Amess Summer Adjournment debate. Former civil servants Simon Case and Sir Tim Barrow will be introduced to the House of Lords.

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The Palace of Westminster seen from Abingdon Street Gardens. Image: The Palace of Westminster seen from Abingdon Street Gardens © Hansard Society / Richard Greenhill

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Parliament Matters Podcast

Presented by Mark D’Arcy, former BBC parliamentary correspondent, and our Director, Ruth Fox, you can listen to our weekly podcast by subscribing via your favourite app.

Latest / Highlights

News / Former Prime Ministers: The role of Parliament in life after No 10 - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 109

In this episode, we speak with Peter Just, author of a new book, Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street. Peter explores how Thatcher reinvented herself after her departure to maintain her status as an international figure, and how she remained a parliamentary thorn in John Major’s side. We also compare her parliamentary afterlife with that of other Prime Ministers, and consider the value that former leaders can bring to the institution of Parliament. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

News / What are the Usual Channels? A short history of Westminster whipping - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 108

In this episode, we talk to political journalist Seb Whale about his new book, The Usual Channels, which reveals the hidden world of Westminster’s whips. Seb charts how party discipline has evolved – from the stormy politics of the 1970s and the Maastricht battles of the 1990s to the legendary “black book,” the Brexit showdowns and the short-lived Liz Truss premiership. He explains how the whips’ office has adapted to a modern Parliament – especially with the influx of women MPs – and why, even today, whips still wield decisive influence over MPs’ careers and remain indispensable despite the pressures of contemporary politics. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

Blog / Treaty scrutiny: addressing the accountability gap

In this guest blog, Lord Goldsmith KC, Chair of the House of Lords International Agreements Committee (IAC), sets out the findings of the Committee’s latest report urging reform of Parliament's outdated system for scrutinising treaties. The report warns that Westminster lags behind other legislatures in overseeing these vital policy instruments. Rejecting successive governments' defence of the status quo, it argues that government objections to reform are unconvincing and meaningful accountability is overdue.

News / Assisted dying bill - special series #17: Peers give the Bill a Second Reading, but progress is paused for committee evidence - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 107

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has cleared another key hurdle: it was given a Second Reading in the House of Lords without a formal vote. But Peers have agreed to set up a special select committee to hear evidence from Ministers, professional bodies and legal experts before the Bill goes any further. That decision pushes the detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny back to mid-November and could shape the Bill’s prospects in unexpected ways. In this episode we explore the procedural twists and political manoeuvring behind that decision. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

Briefings / The assisted dying bill: A guide to the legislative process in the House of Lords

Having passed through the House of Commons, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - the Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales - must now go through its legislative stages in the House of Lords. This guide explains the special procedures for legislation in the House of Lords, and for Private Members’ Bills in particular. It answers some frequently asked questions, including how Peers might block the Bill, and gives an explanation of each stage of the process, from Second to Third Reading.

Latest edition: What’s coming up in Parliament?

15-19 September 2025

Parliament Matters Bulletin: Past Editions

8-12 September 2025

1-5 September 2025

21-24 July 2025

14-18 July 2025

7-11 July 2025

30 June - 4 July 2025

23-27 June 2025

16-20 June 2025

9-13 June 2025

2-6 June 2025

19-23 May 2025

12-16 May 2025

5-9 May 2025

28 April - 2 May 2025

22-25 April 2025

7-8 April 2025

31 March - 4 April 2025

24-28 March 2025

17-21 March 2025

10-14 March 2025

3-7 March 2025

24-28 February 2025

10-14 February 2025

3-7 February 2025

27-31 January 2025

20-24 January 2025

13-17 January 2025

6-10 January 2025

16-20 December 2024

9-13 December 2024

2-6 December 2024

25-29 November 2024

18-22 November 2024

11-15 November 2024

4-8 November 2024

28 October-1 November 2024

21-25 October 2024

14-18 October 2024

7-11 October 2024

9-13 September 2024

2-6 September 2024

29 July-2 August 2024

22-26 July 2024

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