Lord Cormack has decided to retire as chairman of the History of Parliament Trust, a position he has held since 2001, having been a Trustee since 1983. The Trustees have elected in his place Gordon Marsden MP, a Trustee and member of the Trust’s executive, who has been the Member of Parliament for Blackpool South since 1997.  Mr Marsden is the co-Chair of Parliament's All-Party Arts and Heritage Group and a former Editor of the magazine History Today.

He said 'it is a great privilege to chair the History of Parliament Trust as Patrick Cormack 's successor.  I am delighted to be taking over at a time when his huge contribution in the chair over the past fifteen years  has left us with the Trust far more prominent today both within Parliament and outside it. This has included presiding over three major publications, the initiation of our  extensive and expanding oral history project, the republication of our articles online and successful collaboration with outside bodies, both academic and in the media, including a highly successful publication for the 800th anniversary, in 2015, of Magna Carta.'

'This mirrors the expanding and ongoing engagement of Parliament and its other institutions with schools, education, the wider world and the general public which is taking place.  Communicating the scholarship and other activities of the Trust as broadly as possible is a crucial part of demonstrating the relevance and centrality of Parliament both to 21st century Britain and to democracy internationally'

I very much look forward  therefore  to helping develop that work , building on Patrick Cormack 's legacy , with the help and enthusiasm of  our Trustees, Editorial Board, and Director Paul Seaward all the staff and volunteers of the Trust and with all those working in Parliament on valuing its heritage and history'