Maiden Speeches | A to Z of Parliament

Duration: 1'53''

Synopsis

BBC Parliament's Selina Seth presents a snappy guide on what it takes to make an MP's Maiden speech in the House of Commons.

Further Information

More clips from A to Z of Parliament

Coronavirus | A to Z of Parliament

Coronavirus | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2020 | 5'27''

George Dabby presents a quick guide on how the legislatures in the UK are adapting their proceedings to the coronavirus pandemic.

Crossbenchers | A to Z of Parliament

Crossbenchers | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2015 | 2'53''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

Crown Stewards | A to Z of Parliament

Crown Stewards | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2010 | 2'22''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

English Votes for English Laws | A to Z of Parliament

English Votes for English Laws | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2017 | 3'08''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

Henry VIII Powers | A to Z of Parliament

Henry VIII Powers | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2017 | 2'39''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

Lords Questions | A to Z of Parliament

Lords Questions | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2015 | 4'06''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

Parliament At War | A to Z of Parliament

Parliament At War | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2015 | 2'36''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

Parliamentary Ping-Pong | A to Z of Parliament

Parliamentary Ping-Pong | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2015 | 4'56''

Gary Connor looks at parliamentary 'ping-pong' - the process of how the House of Commons and the House of Lords agree on the f...

Points of Order | A to Z of Parliament

Points of Order | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2020 | 2'56''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

Proxy Voting | A to Z of Parliament

Proxy Voting | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2020 | 2'48''

BBC Parliament's George Dabby presents a quick guide to proxy voting in the House of Commons.

Set in Stone (Gargoyles) | A to Z of Parliament

Set in Stone (Gargoyles) | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2011 | 2'23''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

Supreme Court | A to Z of Parliament

Supreme Court | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2020 | 4'52''

BBC Parliament's Selina Seth presents a guide to the role of the Supreme Court in the UK.

The Mace | A to Z of Parliament

The Mace | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2017 | 4'23''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

The Speaker | A to Z of Parliament

The Speaker | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2020 | 5'13''

BBC Parliament's Faye Kidd presents a quick guide to the speaker of the House of Commons.

Unparliamentary Language | A to Z of Parliament

Unparliamentary Language | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2014 | 5'17''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

Whips | A to Z of Parliament

Whips | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2014 | 4'39''

BBC Parliament presenters explain integral parts of the parliamentary process.

More resources about Politics

2: Going for Broke | Inside Europe: Ten Years of Turmoil

2: Going for Broke | Inside Europe: Ten Years of Turmoil

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'13''

Europe's leaders and top advisers reveal how the near bankruptcy of Greece threatened the euro itself – and how they...

S1E01: Identity Crisis | Darren McGarvey's Class Wars

S1E01: Identity Crisis | Darren McGarvey's Class Wars

BBC Scotland | 2021 | 57'59''

As Darren examines how social class shapes our identities and destinies, he meets people moving between the classes onl...

1: Lifting the Lid | Inside the Commons

1: Lifting the Lid | Inside the Commons

BBC Two | 2015 | 59'19''

Presented by Michael Cockerell, this series takes an unprecedented look at the heart of British democracy.

North Korea Undercover | Panorama

North Korea Undercover | Panorama

BBC News | 2013 | 29'57''

Panorama reporter John Sweeney spends eight days undercover inside North Korea, the most rigidly-controlled nation on Earth.

Joining the Club | Meet the Lords

Joining the Club | Meet the Lords

BBC Two | 2017 | 58'36''

A look at the larger-than-life characters that populate the House of Lords, one of Britain's oldest, most idiosyncratic and most important ...

3: Johnson/Truss | Laura Kuenssberg: State of Chaos

3: Johnson/Truss | Laura Kuenssberg: State of Chaos

BBC Two | 2023 | 59'03''

Laura examines Boris Johnson’s relationship with the truth and his downfall. And when Liz Truss wreaks economic and polit...

Episode 1 | The Force: The Story of Scotland's Police

Episode 1 | The Force: The Story of Scotland's Police

BBC One Scotland | 2017 | 58'58''

This episode tells the story of the origins of the lowest-ranking cop - the constable - a role which dates back some 40...

2: Upstairs, Downstairs | Inside the Commons

2: Upstairs, Downstairs | Inside the Commons

BBC Two | 2015 | 58'55''

Michael Cockerell examines what goes on backstage at the state opening, when the Queen comes to open the parliamentary year.

3: Party Games | Inside the Commons

3: Party Games | Inside the Commons

BBC Two | 2015 | 58'57''

In the third episode, Michael Cockerell sees how the traditional three-party system appears to be falling apart at the seams.

Episode 1 | Blair & Brown: The New Labour Revolution

Episode 1 | Blair & Brown: The New Labour Revolution

BBC Two | 2021 | 59'26''

Two young MPs, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, are determined to modernise the Labour party against a backdrop of economic ...

Episode 2 | The Major Years

Episode 2 | The Major Years

BBC One | 1999 | 58'59''

Tonight looks at Black Wednesday and the damage it did to Major's leadership. Both Major and Norman Lamont speak very frankly about their roles i...

Rebel Lords | Meet the Lords

Rebel Lords | Meet the Lords

BBC Two | 2017 | 58'34''

Episode two of the behind-the-scenes documentary returns to the House as the government threatens to trim the Lords' powers if they rebel again....

S08E02: How to Be a Good President | Timeshift

S08E02: How to Be a Good President | Timeshift

BBC Four | 2008 | 58'57''

Helped by contributors including Shirley Williams, Douglas Hurd and Simon Hoggart, journalist Jonathan Freedland attempts to d...

Trump: The Return? | Panorama

Trump: The Return? | Panorama

BBC One | 2022 | 28'52''

Will Donald Trump run for president again? On the eve of the US midterm elections, reporter Hilary Andersson visits Selma, North Carolina, to f...

Exploring the House of Commons

Exploring the House of Commons

BBC Two | 2015 | 59'19''

Michael Cockerell presents a programme of educational short films, taking us behind the scenes in the House of Commons. A unique way of learni...

An Idiot's Guide to Politics

An Idiot's Guide to Politics

BBC Two | 2015 | 29'14''

Comedian Jolyon Rubinstein is on a mission. He wants to find out why young people are so disengaged from politics. Is this apathy and ignorance,...

Cabinet Confidential

Cabinet Confidential

BBC Two | 2001 | 58'11''

One-off documentary providing an inside view of how Tony Blair and former prime ministers have run their cabinets. Featuring interviews, archive footage...

1: Making Margaret | Thatcher: A Very British Revolution

1: Making Margaret | Thatcher: A Very British Revolution

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'32''

Margaret Thatcher's inner circle reveals how she managed to overcome her outsider status to become a prominent polit...

Episode 3 | The Major Years

Episode 3 | The Major Years

BBC One | 1999 | 1'02'00''

In November 1994, John Major ordered the whip to be withdrawn from eight rebel backbenchers. By the following summer the cabinet itself was divid...

Parliamentary Ping-Pong | A to Z of Parliament

Parliamentary Ping-Pong | A to Z of Parliament

BBC Parliament | 2015 | 4'56''

Gary Connor looks at parliamentary 'ping-pong' - the process of how the House of Commons and the House of Lords agree on the f...