London ; Erskine May is the most authoritative and influential work on parliamentary procedure and constitutional conventions affecting Parliament. It sets out how a modern Parliament works, how procedure in the House of Commons and House of Lords has evolved and the conventions that apply.
The latest edition, published by LexisNexis, includes details of the many changes that have occurred since the previous edition was published in 2019, including:
- New chapters on Brexit and Covid-19: how Parliament responded to the procedural challenges of an exceptional period.
- Updated parliamentary privilege coverage: notable cases concerning the scope and boundaries of parliamentary proceedings, with material reorganised to reflect recent developments.
- Clearer explanations of legislative procedure: a more accessible account of how legislation progresses through Parliament.
- Changes to committees: updated coverage of their structure and operation.
- Seven years of parliamentary developments: significant changes and the smaller refinements that shape day-to-day practice
Erskine May is frequently cited in Speakers’ rulings and referenced in debate. It’s also relied on by people with a professional interest in Parliament and parliamentary practice.
Alongside the print edition, Erskine May can be accessed and is fully searchable online.
Those interested in Erskine May may also be interested in the MPs’ Guide to Procedure – a practical guide aimed at Members and their staff. Both resources sit alongside a full range of support and advice available to MPs from the House of Commons.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:
“I’m delighted that Erskine May, the authoritative guide to parliamentary procedure, has been updated and is available for all to search freely online.
“Parliamentary procedure underpins everything we do in the House of Commons, and Erskine May provides invaluable expertise about the precedents and practices that inform that procedure.”
Tom Goldsmith and Eve Samson, who edited this edition, said:
“This new edition records the major changes implemented in how parliament functioned during the pandemic, as well as the significant changes and smaller refinements that shape how a modern Parliament functions.
“Published in print and online for all to access, the new edition brings Erskine May, a record with over 150 years of history, up to date with current procedural practice.
“We would like to pay tribute to all staff of the House, past and present, and to all those at LexisNexis who have worked so hard to compile this new edition.”
The history of Erskine May
Rather than being a set of rules, Erskine May is a description of how procedure in the House of Commons and House of Lords has evolved and the conventions that apply. The first edition was published in the mid-nineteenth century and new editions are published approximately every six or seven years.
Sir Thomas Erskine May produced the first edition of his ‘Treatise Upon the Law, Privileges, Proceedings and Usage of Parliament’ in 1844 and the publication came to be named after him. May was, at the time, assistant Librarian in the House of Commons. Later he became the Clerk of the House, the Commons’ most senior official. In total, he prepared nine editions of his Treatise and it has been updated regularly since.
