Norton is a professor of government in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Hull, and was head of the department from 2002 to 2007.[7] Norton's early work is notable for having spearheaded the academic discussion on dissidence in the House of Commons with the publication of his first book in 1975.[7] He was made a professor at the university in 1986, making him the UK's youngest professor of politics at the time at the age of 36.[7]
Since 1992 he has been the director of the Centre for Legislative Studies.[8] Since 1988, Norton has been responsible for the university's "Westminster-Hull Internship Programme" (WHIP), a placement scheme which pairs students with some of the UK's top politicians.[9] Norton is the founder and editor of The Journal of Legislative Studies, most recently editing its 25th anniversary publication: The Impact of Legislatures: A Quarter-Century of The Journal of Legislative Studies.[10] He has also been the chair of the Conservative Academic Group since 2000.[11] Lord Norton has also previously served as president of the British Politics Group in the US, and the Politics Association.
He was created a life peer with the title Baron Norton of Louth, of Louth in the County of Lincolnshire on 1 August 1998.[13][14] In 2000 he chaired a commission for Leader of the OppositionWilliam Hague to design ideas for the strengthening of the institution of Parliament,[15] and from 2001 to 2004 he served as the first Conservative chairman of the House of LordsConstitution Committee.[16] Since 2013, Lord Norton has chaired the Higher Education Commission.
In 2007, The Daily Telegraph named him the 59th most influential person on the right of British politics.[2]
Norton has contributed to Lords of the Blog, a collaborative blog by members of the House of Lords for the purposes of public engagement. The Guardian has described him as "a new star of the blogosphere."[17] He has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts since 1995 and the Royal Historical Society since 2018.
Lord Norton also has a personal blog in which he often cites some of the many evolving responsibilities he undertakes in political and academic circles. For example, Norton has served as co-chair of the Committee on Higher Education since 2012. He is convenor and co-founder of the Campaign for an Effective Second Chamber: a group which reinforces the utility of the House of Lords as a democratic institution.Second Chamber | The campaign argues in favour of the experience and expertise of peers in delivering legislative amendments, scrutiny and effective debate, with recognition that such functions are, at present, fulfilled. The campaign disputes the creation of an elected House of Lords, due to the absence of basic accountability such a format would enable.The Campaign | Second Chamber Since 2020, Norton has served as the chair of The History of Parliament Trust[11] and since 2019 has served as president of the Study of Parliament group.Study of Parliament Group: Home Page[18] Lord Norton founded and organises the biennial Workshop of Parliamentary Scholars and Parliamentarians, which draws scholars and parliamentarians from around the world.[19]
Lord Norton has a quiz on the Lords of the Blog and also often has caption competitions on his personal blog. The Norton View attracts readership from around the world.[20][21]
Norton is an Ambassador for Akt, a charity that supports LGBTQ+ individuals aged 16–25 who are rendered homeless.[11]
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Escutcheon
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Supporters
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