After last autumn’s abortive coup, Grant Shapps admits he is not ‘waiting by the phone’ for a call from the Prime Minister. Instead the trained pilot and chair of the APPG on aviation is now ‘ploughing his own furrow’ on the backbenches. He talks to Kevin Schofield about his three passions – planes, blockchain and infrastructure

Before his appointment as Secretary of State for Defence last autumn, Gavin Williamson built a reputation as an effective, and ruthless, backroom operator. His rise from PPS to David Cameron to government Chief Whip to the MoD has been shrouded in intrigue, and there is speculation that he is being lined up as Theresa May’s favoured successor. Is the 41-year-old MP for South Staffordshire really the modern-day Machiavelli some claim? Sebastian Whale talks to Williamson, and those who know him, to find out

When Baroness Tyler took over as chair of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in 2012, the organisation had recently been condemned as ‘not fit for purpose’ by MPs. Six years later, as she steps down, it boasts an ‘outstanding’ rating from Ofsted. The Lib Dem peer talks to James Millar about cuts, criticism and keeping the faith

Queen Victoria was an early and strong supporter. Harold Macmillan referred to them as ‘the day boys’. Hugh Gaitskell feared they would be used to block a reforming Labour government and preserve the privilege of the House of Lords. Sixty years on from the Act which finally created Life Peers, historian Lord Lexden looks back at how Parliament’s Upper Chamber was transformed

The ‘position of trust’ in law that applies to teachers and social workers should be extended to sports coaches and assistants, writes Bambos Charalambous

Sam Mason is a parliamentary researcher for crossbench peer Baroness Caroline Cox. From a close shave in rural Nigeria to pencil pushing in Westminster, no two days are the same

The UK is at the forefront of global efforts to eliminate this neglected tropical disease, writes Catherine West

Paralympian, campaigner and Westminster’s longest-serving life peer – Baroness Masham has led the charge on disability, health and penal reform issues in the House of Lords for nearly 50 years. But, as she tells Gary Connor, the job’s not done yet

Shepherding the EU Withdrawal Bill through the House of Lords is no easy task, and it’s keeping Lord Callanan up at night. But despite the long hours, constant challenges and bruising defeats, the Brexit Minister is optimistic that rebel Conservative peers will reconsider their position and toe the party line. Matt Foster meets the man determined to make the government’s Brexit plans possible

Chris Williamson has gained a reputation as one of Jeremy Corbyn’s most uncompromising supporters in the House of Commons. What turned the formerly moderate leader of Derby Council into a left-wing firebrand? Emilio Casalicchio travels to the city to find out

Betty Boothroyd was one more election defeat away from giving up hope of becoming an MP. But at the fifth time of asking, the Yorkshire-born Labour activist realised her dream. With typical determination, she seized the opportunity with both hands – and went on to make history. Sebastian Whale talks to the former Speaker, and those who know her, about her landmark career

Cash-strapped councils are struggling to cope. While the Local Government Association is on hand to provide practical support, central government must take steps to address the funding gap before services suffer, warns LGA chair Lord Porter