This research and typology can provide the foundation for testing the party cartel theory and distributional theories on a least-likely case for specialisation.
Our novel, multi-dimensional approach can also be applied to other legislatures and parliaments.

📖 Full paper: doi.org/10.1080/1357...

Some interesting patterns:
- Women MPs are less likely and ethnic-minority MPs more likely to be Generalists
- Conservative MPs are more generalist when in government
- International affairs is the top specialisation area
- 9 in 10 members of the Defence Committee specialise (partially) in defence

But:
There is evolution. The link between formal (committee) and informal specialisation has tightened significantly since the 1970s. Select committee reforms appear to be fostering more coherent policy expertise.

Key finding:
Generalism still dominates the House of Commons, as it did in the 1970s. Nearly half of all MPs remain generalists, confirming the UK Parliament's reputation as "inhospitable" to specialisation.

We identified 5 distinct types:
- Generalists (48%)
- Specialists (24%)
- Semi-Specialists (22%)
- Active Generalists (5%)
- Indeterminates (1%)

Using unsupervised topic modelling and k-means clustering, we examined 5 key parliamentary activities: select committee membership, speeches, written questions, Early Day Motions, and Private Members' Bills.

On average, PMBs show the highest topic concentration, and speeches show the lowest.

We will also be joined by the editors of 'Exploring Parliament' - @estrangeirada.bsky.social @louisevthompson.bsky.social @ameakin.bsky.social -who will make opening remarks, reflecting on the book’s unique approach

Sign up for the event 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/book-l...

@dianastirbu.bsky.social @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social @jackliddall16.bsky.social @laurenrmartin.bsky.social @gracecooper1.bsky.social have great ideas for future activities of @psa-parliaments.bsky.social, and I am excited to watch from a distance.

And not like that I promise 😆

I said goodbye to @psa-parliaments.bsky.social. I really enjoyed being a Membership Officer and then Co-convenor.

Thanks for the amazing gifts!!! The mug will be a great representation of parliament in my new Cambridge uni office – and the print will have a special place in my home office.

It was a double celebration for @polisatleeds.bsky.social as my outstanding officemate @estrangeirada.bsky.social received the Sir Isaiah Berlin Prize 2025 for outstanding professional contributions to political studies 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉