"If politicians would only browse here, historians hope, they might learn from what has gone before and stop reinventing so many square wheels. They would boast less about 'new' ideas and their own 'successes' compared with the past."
Polly Toynbee, The Guardian
History & Policy works for better public policy through an understanding of history. See what we do and who we are.
History & Policy website
This site has a wide range of resources for historians, policymakers and media.
The History & Policy papers are our core output, you can:
We welcome feedback about our website, please email any comments to Ruth Evans (ruth.evans@sas.ac.uk). For more resources on the site and how we can help you, see what we do.
Latest news
100 years of state pensions
Interview
H&P founder Pat Thane was interviewed on the BBC news website today, discussing the The Old Age Pensions Act which was passed in August 1908.
The Energy Bill- tinkering while the planet burns?
New H&P opinion piece
Campbell Wilson and David Elliott explore the Government's thirty-five year search for an effective energy policy in a History & Policy opinion piece; The Energy Bill- tinkering while the planet burns?.
Can compulsion work? What history has to say about raising the school leaving age.
New H&P opinion piece
The current Education and Skills Bill proposes raising the school leaving age to 18. Nicola Sheldon explores the historical precedents for this change in a new opinion piece, asking Can compulsion work?.
Media: read the press release [pdf file, 33KB].
The 2012 London Olympics
Round table discussion, 11 July
The Centre for Contemporary British History's summer conference culminated in a H&P discussion on the Olympics as project, spectacle and legacy. Derek Wyatt MP joined academics Martin Polley, Dilwyn Porter and Tony Travers; journalists Ashling O'Connor (The Times) and John Bryant (former editor of The Telegraph, and Richard Simmons of CABE to discuss the lessons that could be learnt from past Games, in preparation for London 2012.
Options for Britain II
New policy review
History & Policy is contributing to Options for Britain II which will conduct an overarching review of UK economic, social and constitutional policy, by marshalling the best expertise from across the academic and policy-research community. It is indended to help inform the public and key commentators, and to provide a source of ideas for incoming policy-makers.
Communicating History
Media discussion, 2 July
Leading journalists Chris Bowlby (Radio 4,) Michael Crick (Newsnight) and Peter Riddell (The Times) spoke to historians and media representatives at a H&P discussion on 'Communicating History' on 2 July. A summary of the discussion will be available shortly.
History Lessons
BBC History Magazine series
Every month a historian in the History & Policy network will examine a topical news issue, exploding historical myths and sharing their thoughts on how history might help solve current problems. In the current issue Virginia Berridge explores the history of the NHS, as it celebrates its 60th birthday. Last month James Whitfield considered the lessons the police could learn from 'Stop and Search' mistakes of the past. Previous articles have investigated political funding, housing, immigration, obesity, and youth culture and crime. To read these go to the BBC History Magazine website.
The Security State
Event, 19 June
History & Policy is collaborating with the Raphael Samuel History Centre and Bishopsgate Institute to produce a series of public debates on history and the making of public policy. The first one explored the rise of the security state, starting with presentations from historians Jane Caplan and Edward Higgs, and security experts Ross Anderson (Security Engineering, Cambridge), Sandra Bell (Royal United Services Institute) and Richard Norton-Taylor (Guardian security correspondent). The next event on 'Bad Kids? the politics of childhood past and present' will take place in November. For further details please see our events page.
NHS policy-makers lack medical advice
Media coverage, 21 May 2008
Sally Sheard's History & Policy paper on Doctors in Whitehall was discussed in Society Guardian. To read the article please go to the Guardian website.
The speakers at 'Governing with History'
Governing with History
Discussion, 13 May 2008
History & Policy and the All Party Parliamentary History Group organised a discussion on Governing with History on Tuesday 13 May . The panellists were Gill Bennett OBE (former Chief Historian of the FCO), David Cannadine, Peter Lilley MP and Lord (Bill) Rodgers. The event was chaired by Mark Fisher MP and was attended by an audience of 50 MPs, Lords, civil servants and journalists, who discussed their ideas on how historical evidence could be better used in policymaking. A report on the discussion will be available shortly.
Julie Morgan MP, Becky Taylor and Michele Hanson
Travellers and the State: past and present policy
Discussion, 7 May 2008
History & Policy organised a discussion in the House of Commons on Wednesday 7 May. Working with Julie Morgan MP and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform we brought stakeholders, politicians and academics together to discuss the issues affecting Gypsy and Traveller communities in the present and the past. The speakers were Becky Taylor, author of 'A Minority and the State; Travellers in Britain in the Twentieth Century', Romani journalist Jake Bowers, and Peter Bates from the Gypsy and Traveller Unit, Department for Communities and Local Government. The event was chaired by the Guardian's Michele Hanson and was recorded by the BBC's Rokker Radio team.
See also: Stereotypes and the state: Britain's travellers past and present by Becky Taylor.
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust: Archives By-Fellow
By-Fellowship opportunity
Working on twentieth century history? Interested in politics, grand strategy, international relations, public policy or science and technology? Come and spend a term at Churchill College, Cambridge, home to the Churchill Archives Centre, through this opportunity to apply for an Archives By-fellowship. Archives By-fellowships are open to scholars engaged in academic projects at a post doctoral level or at a more senior level. Please note that for the first time UK applicants are able to apply for a specific grant, courtesy of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. For further details please contact the Director of the Churchill Archives Centre: director.archives@chu.cam.ac.uk.