The Bench Report: An Introduction

Welcome to the introductory episode of 'The Bench Report!' UK politics then and now, straight from the benches.

We're here to make debates from the Commons and the Lords more accessible to everyone and hold our government a bit more accountable.

We delve into Hansard, the official record of parliamentary debate in the UK, which is publicly available and adapted under the Open Parliamentary Licence. We believe this is an ethical way to use AI for the common good, to educate and inform the public.

Meet Tom, the political nerd from Yorkshire, England, with a History background and a passion for UK and US politics. Working in Education Technology, Tom realised the potential of podcasting and AI to break down complex source material like Hansard. In our opinion, Hansard is the most detailed record of decision-making that affects our daily lives.

We aim to reveal important topics and personal human stories often lost in the vast amounts of Parliamentary information available. You might find a topic that resonates with you personally or professionally, just like the Rare Cancers Bill episode (from March 2025) which was inspired by Tom's experience of losing two close friends in their thirties.

Each episode will focus on a specific topic, allowing you to explore the archives, perhaps looking at 'this week in 1945' or the debates around Brexit. Let's analyse how significant events were discussed and see what lessons we can learn, holding our elected officials accountable for past promises.

Hansard is a primary source 'gold mine' for anyone interested in politics, from journalists and researchers to political enthusiasts like us.

Get involved by emailing, subscribing, and leaving a review. Because politics is everyone's business.

Key Takeaways:

*   The Bench Report uses AI to review UK parliamentary debates from Hansard and Commons briefings.
*   The podcast aims to make politics more accessible and hold the government accountable.
*   It is created by Tom, an Ed-Teccy type from Yorkshire.
*   The podcast hopes to highlight important topics and personal stories, past and present.
*   Feedback and engagement are welcomed. Tell us your own episode suggestions!

Support the show

Follow and subscribe to 'The Bench Report' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for new episodes Mon-Thurs: thebenchreport.co.uk

Subscribe to our Substack for in depth analysis of debates past and present.

Shape our next episode or article! Get in touch with an issue important to you - Producer Tom will grab another coffee and start the research!

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on YouTube, X, Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram @BenchReportUK

Support us for bonus and extended episodes + more.

No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.

Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0....