If you’ve ever wanted to watch the House of Commons debate a pressing issue live, there’s a free and official way to do it. Parliament TV, the UK Parliament’s own streaming service, broadcasts proceedings from the Commons, Lords, and committees at parliamentlive.tv.

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Official website: parliamentlive.tv • Channels covered: Commons, Lords, Committees • Availability: Free, no registration • Streaming quality: HD • Archive: Past sessions available

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact daily viewer numbers are not publicly disclosed
  • App store ratings and detailed user reviews are sparse
  • Future changes to the platform have not been announced
3Timeline signal
  • Archived coverage on Parliament TV goes back to December 2007 (UK Parliament)
4What’s next
  • Scottish Parliament TV provides a separate service for Holyrood proceedings (Scottish Parliament TV)
  • BBC Parliament offers a curated highlights channel with wider reach (BBC iPlayer)

Five facts about Parliament TV, one pattern: the service is free, official, and open to everyone.

The table below summarises the key facts about Parliament TV.

Fact Value
Official URL parliamentlive.tv (UK Parliament)
Launch year Not publicly listed
Free access Yes, no registration required (UK Parliament)
Live and archive Both available (UK Parliament)
Platforms Web, iOS, Android, YouTube (UK Parliament for web/app, UK Parliament YouTube channel)

The implication: Parliament TV is the only place where you can watch raw, uninterrupted feeds of parliamentary debates as they unfold, without editorial cuts or commentary.

What Is Parliament TV?

Definition and purpose

  • Parliament TV is the official live streaming service provided by the UK Parliament (UK Parliament)
  • It broadcasts proceedings of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and committee meetings as they happen (UK Parliament)
  • Access is free and requires no registration or login (UK Parliament)

The implication: Parliament TV is the only place where you can watch raw, uninterrupted feeds of parliamentary debates as they unfold, without editorial cuts or commentary.

Difference from BBC Parliament

  • BBC Parliament is a free-to-air TV channel that carries live and recorded coverage of the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly, and the Senedd (Wikipedia)
  • BBC Parliament is available on Freeview channel 232, Sky 504, Virgin 605, and other platforms (TV Guide)
  • It broadcasts highlights and summaries, not the full unedited feed that Parliament TV provides

The catch: BBC Parliament provides curated highlights, while Parliament TV gives you the unvarnished debate.

What to watch

If you want the complete, unvarnished debate, Parliament TV is the raw feed. If you prefer curated highlights with context, BBC Parliament is your channel.

How to Watch Parliament TV Live

Via the official website

  1. Go to parliamentlive.tv
  2. Select the chamber you want to watch: Commons, Lords, or a committee
  3. Click play on the live stream – no account needed (UK Parliament)

Live streams are available during parliamentary sittings, typically weekdays. The UK Parliament site notes that archived sessions are also available, with videos dating back to December 2007 (UK Parliament).

The pattern: three clicks and you are watching democracy in action, with no sign-up barrier.

Using the mobile app

  • The official Parliament TV app is available for iOS and Android (UK Parliament)
  • Search “Parliament TV” in the App Store or Google Play
  • The app provides the same live and archived streams as the website

On YouTube

  • The UK Parliament YouTube channel streams sessions live and hosts archived recordings (UK Parliament YouTube)
  • You can subscribe for free and get notifications when new sessions are posted

For mobile users and cord-cutters, the YouTube option bypasses the need to install a separate app while still getting the full live feed.

Parliament TV App and YouTube Access

Downloading the official app

  • The Parliament TV app is free to download from official app stores (UK Parliament)
  • It offers the same live streams and archives as the desktop site, optimised for mobile screens

Subscribing to the UK Parliament YouTube channel

  • The YouTube channel provides live streams and a searchable archive of past sessions (UK Parliament YouTube)
  • You can watch on any device with YouTube support: smart TVs, tablets, phones
  • Both platforms are free – no subscription fees
Why this matters

For mobile users and cord-cutters, the YouTube option bypasses the need to install a separate app while still getting the full live feed.

Channels Available on Parliament TV

House of Commons

  • The main chamber stream is available at parliamentlive.tv/Commons (Parliamentlive.tv)
  • BSL-interpreted broadcasts are also labelled and available on demand (Parliamentlive.tv)

House of Lords

  • The Lords chamber has its own separate live feed (Parliamentlive.tv)
  • Each is dedicated to the respective chamber’s proceedings

Committees and Westminster Hall

  • Committee meetings and Westminster Hall debates are also broadcast live (UK Parliament)
  • You can choose from multiple committee streams when they are active

The implication: you can track legislation from committee stage through to the final vote in the chamber.

Scottish Parliament TV and Other Options

Scottish Parliament TV

  • The Scottish Parliament operates its own live streaming service at scottishparliament.tv (Scottish Parliament TV)
  • It provides live and archived coverage of Holyrood debates and committees, similar to the UK Parliament service

BBC Parliament

  • BBC Parliament is a free-to-air TV channel available on Freeview 232, Sky 504, Virgin 605, and streaming via BBC iPlayer (BBC iPlayer)
  • BBC iPlayer is only accessible within the UK (BBC iPlayer)
  • BBC Parliament HD launched on 20 October 2021 (Wikipedia) and reportedly reached Sky and Freesat in February 2023

Welsh Parliament Senedd TV

  • The Senedd (Welsh Parliament) also provides live streaming at senedd.tv (official site)
  • Each devolved parliament in the UK maintains its own dedicated live service
The catch

BBC iPlayer is geo-blocked to the UK. If you are outside the UK and want raw live coverage, Parliament TV and the Scottish Parliament TV are your best bets.

“The official live streaming service of the UK Parliament.”

— UK Parliament official website

“Scottish Parliament TV broadcasts proceedings of the Scottish Parliament live and on demand.”

— Scottish Parliament TV

For anyone in the UK who wants to follow democracy in action, Parliament TV is the only free, official, and complete live feed. The choice is simple: use parliamentlive.tv for raw proceedings, or catch highlights on BBC Parliament. Either way, you’re watching government at work.

Related reading: BBC News iPlayer: Watch Live from Ireland Legally & Safely ? Watch TV Online in Ireland Guide

Additional sources

dvber.co.uk, bbc.co.uk, livetvgarden.com, bbc.co.uk, parliament.gov.za, gov.za, parliament.gov.za

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register to watch Parliament TV?

No. Parliament TV is free and does not require any registration or login (UK Parliament).

Can I watch Parliament TV on my phone?

Yes. The official app is available for iOS and Android, and you can also use the YouTube channel (UK Parliament).

Is there a Parliament TV schedule?

The UK Parliament website publishes a daily order paper and sittings calendar. Live streams only run when the relevant chamber is sitting.

How long are sessions archived?

Archived videos on Parliament TV date back to December 2007 (UK Parliament).

Is Parliament TV available in other languages?

The main audio is the original English proceedings. Some committee sessions may offer BSL interpretation, but there is no multi-language voice-over option.

Can I clip or embed Parliament TV videos?

Parliament TV provides embed codes for live and archived content. Check the platform’s sharing options.

Does Parliament TV work outside the UK?

Yes. The Parliament TV website and app are accessible globally. BBC Parliament via iPlayer is UK-only (BBC iPlayer).

With Parliament TV, you get unfiltered access to the debates that shape UK law, and the service is free for everyone, everywhere.