Cristina Leston-Bandeira
@estrangeirada.bsky.social
Parliaments and Public Engagement, with an obsession for petitions. Professor of Politics @ POLISatLeeds and Chair of IPEN, the International Parliament Engagement Network: https://ipen-network.org/ .
Buskers tribute to Oscar-winning musician Glen Hansard in Dublin 🇮🇪 this evening with a collective version of Falling Slowly, which he co-wrote with Markéta Irglová. Glen Hansard, 1970-2026. ❤️🩹🕯️🕊️ 📹 Dublin Live
Read their @hansardsociety.bsky.social blog about the proposals to abolish the parliamentary outreach team here 👇 www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/parliam...
The rise and fall of the parliamentary outreach team: Why cutting regional engagement is a mistake
The House of Commons' proposal to abolish its regional parliamentary outreach service marks a significant retreat from two decades of leadership in public engagement. Replacing face-to-face community ...
hansardsociety.org.uk
🧵The House of Commons administration plans to abolish its world leading parliamentary outreach team. @aileenwalker.bsky.social & @estrangeirada.bsky.social explain why cutting in person public engagement across the UK in favour of digital only engagement is a mistake. Blog 🔗⬇️
Full disclosure: I used to manage this team and I think scrapping it is foolish, short-sighted and frankly contemptuous of the public
Cristina Leston-Bandeira@estrangeirada.bsky.social · 2w agoThe rise and fall of the parliamentary outreach team: Why cutting regional engagement is a mistake - by @aileenwalker.bsky.social and myself for the @hansardsociety.bsky.social: www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/parliam...
The rise and fall of the parliamentary outreach team: Why cutting regional engagement is a mistake - by @aileenwalker.bsky.social and myself for the @hansardsociety.bsky.social: www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/parliam...
The rise and fall of the parliamentary outreach team: Why cutting regional engagement is a mistake
The House of Commons' proposal to abolish its regional parliamentary outreach service marks a significant retreat from two decades of leadership in public engagement. Replacing face-to-face community ...
hansardsociety.org.uk
I’m sad and disappointed to see that the regional outreach team (one of my old teams) is being discontinued by the House of Commons. I’ve written about it with @estrangeirada.bsky.social www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/parliam...
The rise and fall of the parliamentary outreach team: Why cutting regional engagement is a mistake
The House of Commons' proposal to abolish its regional parliamentary outreach service marks a significant retreat from two decades of leadership in public engagement. Replacing face-to-face community ...
hansardsociety.org.uk
As the House of Commons rises for recess today, Andy Burnham will be the first PM to take over during recess since Alec Douglas-Home in 1963. To have some initial scrutiny of Burnham’s plans, the Liaison Committee could hold a session with him over the summer. ukandeu.ac.uk/should-andy-...
Should Andy Burnham face the House of Commons before summer recess? - UK in a changing Europe
Ruxandra Serban explains that the gap between Andy Burnham taking office and facing Parliament will be the longest of any incoming Prime Minister in history and considers the questions it raises about...
ukandeu.ac.uk
What is fascinating about the debate over whether the Chancellor can refuse Farage’s resignation is the marginalisation of Parliament on a decision affecting one of its own members. 1/4
Jayne Kirkham MP writes about why education outreach services matter so much for a constituency such as hers, more than 200 miles away from Parliament. Good to see MPs push back on this decision: www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
If we cut the parliamentary education service, children will miss out
Proposed cuts to the parliamentary education and outreach team risk reducing access to Parliament and increasing disengagement with politics
politicshome.com
Just reposting the blog on 'Government by WhatsApp' by me and @mrosenbaum.bsky.social for @politicalquarterly.bsky.social politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/governm...
Government by WhatsApp? Covid, Transparency and Government by Text
The Covid Inquiry revealed that there were ‘substantive discussions’ of important policy decisions through texts and messages. Is this ever acceptable?
politicalquarterly.org.uk
I don't usually post personal stuff here, but my heart is bursting with pride, love and happiness: our eldest son has got married! (and to the most wonderful human being and perfect for him 😊):
MP top in the PMB ballot is Desmond Swayne. He voted against the assisted dying bill first time around. Second place is Lauren Edwards. She voted it. I make it four supporters in the (crucial) top seven. But will any of them be willing to take on this bill? #assisteddyingbill
In my latest piece I wrote that supporters of the assisted dying bill face four key challenges. If Lauren Edwards (2nd in the PMB ballot) is willing to reintroduce the bill, they *may* have cleared the first. But three remain. theconversation.com/can-the-assi...
Can the assisted dying bill be brought back? It’s possible – but supporters face four challenges
There are said to be around 200 MPs who are willing to reintroduce it as a private member’s bill.
theconversation.com
Daniel Gover@danielgover.bsky.social · 3mo agoMP top in the PMB ballot is Desmond Swayne. He voted against the assisted dying bill first time around. Second place is Lauren Edwards. She voted it. I make it four supporters in the (crucial) top seven. But will any of them be willing to take on this bill? #assisteddyingbill
On Thursday, MPs will hold this year's private members' bills ballot. Supporters of the assisted dying bill will hope to bring the bill back - allowing them to override the Lords using the Parliament Acts. But they face 4 challenges. My article ⬇️ theconversation.com/can-the-assi...
Can the assisted dying bill be brought back? It’s possible – but supporters face four challenges
There are said to be around 200 MPs who are willing to reintroduce it as a private member’s bill.
theconversation.com
"What next for restoration and renewal of parliament?" Join us on Monday 11 May as we explore how R&R could reimagine an historic landmark for future generations & what the project could mean for parliament, industry and the wider public Link below www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/what-n...
Join the Constitution Unit! We are welcoming British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme applications for September 2027 entry. If you are interested, contact your proposed mentor by 25 May. Applicants must have had their PhD viva between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2027. Find out more 👇
Constitution Unit welcomes British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship applications 2026/27
The Constitution Unit is welcoming applicants to the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme for September 2027 entry, with an internal deadline of 25 May 2026.
ucl.ac.uk
Excited to be be part of this brilliant @instituteforgovernment.org.uk panel discussion on R&R next month. Register here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/what-n...
What next for restoration and renewal of parliament? | Institute for Government
An expert panel explores how parliament should approach the major restoration project, including lessons from other countries and industry.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
New Commons Library briefing: recent trends on Written parliamentary questions from MPs commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Written parliamentary questions from MPs: Recent trends
MPs can submit questions to government departments to scrutinise their work. The number of questions submitted by MPs increased by 93% between 2024 and 2025.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
We were delighted to welcome Frances O’Grady, former General Secretary of the TUC and Labour peer, to deliver the seventh Alice Bacon Lecture on Thursday 12th March. The lecture was hosted by @cdpleeds.bsky.social Read more about the event here ⬇️ essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/new...
Alice Bacon Lecture 2026 delivered by Frances O'Grady
On Thursday 12 March, the 2026 Alice Bacon Lecture was delivered by celebrated trade unionist Frances O’Grady, former General Secretary of the TUC and currently a Labour peer in the House of Lords.
essl.leeds.ac.uk
Very useful piece by Nick Clarke, Alex Hill and Jonathan Moss on an archive heavily used by historians of modern Britain - and underutilised by scholars of British politics. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Mass Observing British politics - British Politics
British Politics - The current political moment in Britain is characterised by disaffection, affective polarisation, and populist mobilisation of these (dis)affections. How best to research these...
link.springer.com
Another brilliant Alice Bacon lecture organised by @cdpleeds.bsky.social! Super inspiring having the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer introduce a talk from the first female General Secretary of the TUC 🙌 and to have so many of my fab @polisatleeds.bsky.social students in the audience
The Backbench Business Committee 15 years on: has it given backbench MPs a stronger voice in the House of Commons? from yours truly with @louisevthompson.bsky.social for the @hansardsociety.bsky.social : www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/backben...
The Backbench Business Committee 15 years on: Has it given backbench MPs a stronger voice in the House of Commons?
Fifteen years after its creation, the Backbench Business Committee has become an important mechanism through which MPs can secure debates and raise issues in the House of Commons. Drawing on new resea...
hansardsociety.org.uk
With @profsarahchilds.bsky.social at the Canadian Study of Parliament Group - a photo for @marcgeddes.uk #legislatures
An excellent and touching tribute to David Judge, an incredible thinker and scholar but also such a kind, supportive and generous academic. A huge and very sad loss.
Cristina Leston-Bandeira@estrangeirada.bsky.social · 6mo agoRemembering David Judge (1950 - 2026). I first met David in 1999. He was such an incredible person, we could do with more Davids in academia. Here is something I wrote when I heard the news last week, published by @psa-parliaments.bsky.social: psaparliaments.org/2026/02/17/r...
Remembering David Judge (1950 - 2026). I first met David in 1999. He was such an incredible person, we could do with more Davids in academia. Here is something I wrote when I heard the news last week, published by @psa-parliaments.bsky.social: psaparliaments.org/2026/02/17/r...
Thanks to @hansardsociety.bsky.social for inviting me to write about the costed proposals for the Restoration & Renewal of the Palace of Westminster www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/restora... 2026 marks 10 years since I started researching R&R, so good to know it'll keep me busy for many, many more
Once again, there is still no alternative: the costed proposals for Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster
The Restoration and Renewal Client Board’s latest report once again confirms what Parliament has known for nearly a decade: the cheapest, quickest and safest way to restore the Palace of Westminster i...
hansardsociety.org.uk
And here's the costed proposals for Restoration and Renewal. Two options recommended: full decant and EMI+. Full decant will be cheaper and quicker - staying in the Palace during the works will means it takes up to 61 years and costs up to £18.7bn. Full link committees.parliament.uk/publications...
A very helpful box setting out both why this work is required & the cost of continued delays. As the intro to the report says: "Continuing in the same way is unsustainable, will lead to an expensive managed decline of the Palace of Westminster and will mean increasing safety and operational risks"
