Harriet Harman delivers twentieth Roskill Lecture

On Wednesday 26th June, over 250 people watched The Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman KC give the twentieth Roskill Lecture on ‘The Changing Culture in British Politics’ in the Wolfson Theatre at Churchill College. 

Harriet began her lecture by reflecting on some of the papers she had recently given to Churchill Archives Centre. Harriet’s archive includes a long-running series of personal notebooks and constituency newsletters which provide an invaluable record of her four decades in Parliament.  

Harriet Harman giving the 20th Roskill Lecture in the Wolfson Theatre in Churchill College on 26 June 2024. 

With the next General election just over a week away, Harriet shone a light on a range of pertinent issues impacting British political culture. She addressed topics including MPs security, automatic voter registration, the need for more action on AI and greater transparency on the funds spent by political parties on campaigns. Harriet also shared personal stories about the opportunities and challenges of navigating political and family life.  

Harriet Harman, joined by the audience, enjoying the hot evening with a drink outside the Archives Centre.  

The lecture was a followed by a drinks reception outside the Archives Centre and an exhibition, curated by the Archives Centre team on the history of women in Parliament and the Roskill family. Highlights included a photograph of Neil Kinnock holding up Harriet’s baby daughter, Amy Harman, for the cameras at Labour Party’s first press conference of the 1987 general election campaign, alongside a letter sent by Harriet to Neil Kinnock upon entering the Shadow Cabinet in 1992. Material from Harriet’s personal papers was also exhibited for the first time, including a sign from her 2015 General Election campaign ‘Woman to Woman’ signed by fellow Labour women.  

Harriet Harman and Kay Andrews, Baroness Andrews, looking at a letter sent by Harriet Harman to Neil Kinnock upon entering the Shadow Cabinet in 1992. 

The Roskill Lecture is held every two years and commemorates the role of the historian Captain Stephen Roskill in the early life of the College and Archives Centre. Three generations of the Roskill family were in the audience. After the event, they enjoyed seeing a selection of personal material from Stephen Roskill’s personal papers. Family poetry, handmade Christmas and greetings’ cards, as well as correspondence were just some of the family treasures on display.  

Members of the Roskill Family looking at family photographs from the papers of Stephen Roskill. 

The Roskill Lecture ends a year of celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary of Churchill Archives Centre, which have included the launch of an online Access Portal, a two-day conference, online and in-person exhibitions, alongside the 50 stories for 50 years social media series. The Roskill Lecture proved a fitting way to bring the Archive Centre’s golden anniversary to a close. 

Watch the Lecture