Preface

Erskine May’s Treatise on the Law, Privileges, Proceedings and Usage of Parliament has been the definitive guide for parliamentary practitioners since its inaugural publication in 1844.

Updated regularly and consulted daily, it serves as both an authoritative rule book and a comprehensive record of parliamentary precedent, detailing standard practices alongside responses to unprecedented events.

This new edition describes how the ‘law, privileges, proceedings and usage’ of both Houses of Parliament continue to adapt and evolve. There are chapters examining the procedural and practical responses to the challenges following the 2016 European Union membership referendum and the COVID-19 pandemic.

While much of parliamentary practice—including core constitutional rules—is built on centuries-old principles, the institution constantly adapts to changing social and political landscapes. The introduction to this edition explores the complexity of the institution, and in its relationship with the wider world.

Every edition of May seeks to improve on the last, not just by bringing it up to date, but by reconsidering the ordering of material within it, and how it will be used. It is both a comprehensive guide to procedure, and a resource to be used to answer urgent queries with little time to spare. In this, the second edition to be available online, we have attempted to make sure that the volume works both for those who consult it online, and those who use it in a hard copy.

As editors, we owe a debt of gratitude to the sub editors who led on particular topics, to Sara Howe who once again compiled the index, and to the many, many others across both Houses who contributed their time and expertise. We are also grateful to the team at Lexis Nexis who not only contributed technical skill, but endless patience.

Above all, as successive Clerks, we are grateful to everyone who contributes to the effective functioning of Parliament, whatever their role.