🧵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 🔗⬇️

On byelections, writs, and timetables. 1. For a by-election to be held, a writ (a document calling for an election to take place in a particular constituency) needs to be sent to the constituency returning officer who will oversee the election.

🧵 Amid all the speculation about Nigel Farage's 2pm statement, it's worth noting paragraph 40 of the Procedural Protocol to the MPs' Code of Conduct. If he announces he's resigning and seeking a by-election, that would not automatically end the investigation into whether he breached the Code in...

192 Urgent Questions were granted in the last parliamentary session (2024–26). The relevant Secretary of State answered just 14% of them. Which departments faced the most Urgent Questions - and who was answering them? Read the latest analysis by @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social ⬇️ buff.ly/8DYfiiH

Are there too many Urgent Questions in the House of Commons?

Urgent Questions have grown substantially since 2010 and are now a routine feature of House of Commons business. In this blog, Ruxandra Serban analyses the scale of that growth, which departments…

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🧵 £1.15 trillion. That's how much public spending MPs will be asked to approve this week when they debate and vote on the Main Estimates. Find out more in our latest Parliament Matters Bulletin - the essential guide to the week ahead in Westminster. Link in next post below👇

NEW podcast episode: 10 years after the Brexit referendum we talk to historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social about why it unleashed a full-blown democratic crisis and why Parliament and the major political parties appear to have learned so little from the experience. 🎧 👇 buff.ly/Ebc11iE

1/ 97 years ago Margaret Bondfield was appointed as the first woman Cabinet Minister. She is one of the most overlooked figures in British political history. A trade unionist who became the first woman in the British Cabinet, she took office just as the Great Depression struck. 🧵👇

The Government has tabled the motion naming this session's 13 sitting Fridays for Private Member's Bills. 4 September 11 September 16 October 13 November 27 November 4 December 15 January (2027) 29 January 5 February 26 February 5 March 12 March 19 March

1/ What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 👇 Private Members’ Bill ballot — will one of the successful MPs revive the assisted dying bill? Select Committee hearings on: • the security of undersea cables • the role of the OBR • the Afghan data breach & superinjunction

Just going to leave this excellent podcast episode with @robertsaunders.bsky.social here. No particular reason.😂 But worth a listen tonight, because the person in the office is only part of the problem. www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

The UK may soon have a 7th prime minister in just 10 years. Before 2016 the UK had 8 PMs in 52 years. Whether it's the calibre of those appointed, the preparation they receive or the conditions of the job, something is badly wrong. We discussed what here. www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

Is being Prime Minister an impossible job? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 121

Why do UK Prime Ministers seem to burn out so quickly? We are joined by historian Robert Saunders to examine why the role has become so punishing in recent years. From Brexit and COVID to fractured pa...

hansardsociety.org.uk

Just going to leave this excellent podcast episode with @robertsaunders.bsky.social here. No particular reason.😂 But worth a listen tonight, because the person in the office is only part of the problem. www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

WEDNESDAY: What's on Parliament's agenda today? ❓ Prime Minister's Questions 💰 Pension Schemes Bill (Lords amendments) 🏛️ Peers expected to pass English Devolution Bill 📄 Select committee hearing on WPQs More detail below 🔽 buff.ly/8QBUm5k

Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 13-16 April 2026

Ministerial Statements are expected on developments during the recess, particularly in the Middle East and on Russian submarine activity. The English Devolution Bill completes its final Lords stages,…

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Today the House of Lords is debating motions relating to a 'Statement of Changes' to the Immigration Rules. We discussed the legislative process for changing the Immigration Rules in a recent episode of our podcast. www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

🧵 Two e-petitions debated in the House of Commons yesterday - each signed by more than 100K people - show a notable contrast when mapped geographically. The e-petition calling for "statutory menstrual leave for people with endometriosis and adenomyosis" attracted support from across the UK. 1/3

There’s a lot of confusion right now among journalists and MP about secondary legislation and what a possible EU deal would mean. A quick thread to clear a few things up on votes, Henry VIII powers & parliamentary scrutiny. 🧵 1/ First: what is a “normal parliamentary vote”?

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 4mo ago

Britain could adopt single market rules without MPs’ vote as part of UK-EU reset

NEW: Parliament returns this week. What will MPs and Peers be debating and voting on? Our weekly Bulletin is out now. Find out what your Parliament is doing, when and why. [Link to the full Bulletin is in the next post⬇️]

1/ The timeline for the appointment of the new Armed Forces Commissioner is extraordinary: 3 March: submits CV to MoD 13 March: interviewed online by Defence Secretary 14 March: offered job 25 March: @CommonsDefence Select Cmtt pre-appointment hearing 1 April: assumes legal duties

BFBS Forces News@forcesnews.com · 4mo ago

A new watchdog with a sharp edge Polly Miller-Perkins sets out a clear mission: transparency, accountability, and "speaking truth to power" as Armed Forces Commissioner🔗⬇️

🎧 NEW EPISODE: The King’s Speech is set for 13 May — just as we predicted on the podcast last Autumn! But with just a dozen or so sitting days left after Easter, which Bills will make it through Parliament… and which are in trouble? Link to listen is in the next post👇

TUESDAY: What's on the agenda in Parliament? 🔵 Final Conservative Opposition Day this session 🗳️ Elections bill begins Committee Stage ⛑️ International Development Committee questions Foreign Secretary on international aid More detail below 🔽 www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 23-27 March 2026

The Prime Minister will face questions from the Liaison Committee, comprising Select Committee chairs. The Conservatives will choose the topic for Tuesday’s Opposition Day debate, while the Home…

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📣This Week in Parliament — 23-27 March 2026 In the latest Parliament Matters Bulletin, we preview the key debates, bills, amendments, and committee scrutiny shaping Westminster this week. Highlights include... 🧵 www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 23-27 March 2026

The Prime Minister will face questions from the Liaison Committee, comprising Select Committee chairs. The Conservatives will choose the topic for Tuesday’s Opposition Day debate, while the Home…

hansardsociety.org.uk

A recurring pattern in UK politics. Labour in opposition: Parliament must scrutinise treaties and trade agreements properly. Labour in government: the current system works fine. Today's House of Lords debate (16 March) on treaty scrutiny will highlight the problem.

PODCAST 🎧️ In the latest episode of our podcast, we're joined by former Director of Public Prosecutions Lord (Ken) Macdonald. We discuss the Government's plans to restrict the right to jury trial, and the Bill's road ahead in the Commons and Lords. 🔽 www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

📣This Week in Parliament — 16-20 March 2026 In the latest Parliament Matters Bulletin, we preview the key debates, bills, amendments, and committee scrutiny shaping Westminster this week. Highlights include... 🧵 www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

Karoline "von Clausewitz" Leavitt unveils a revolutionary new doctrine of war: Schrödinger's Surrender - where the enemy has already surrendered, they just don't know it yet. Press Briefing Victory™

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 5mo ago

Leavitt: "When he as commander in chief determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the US and the goals of Operation Epic Fury have been fully realized, then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender whether they say it themselves or not"

Give the international situation the parliamentary Estimate debates today taken on additional significance, particularly those for the Foreign Office & Ministry of Defence. ⬇️

Ruth Fox@ruthfox.bsky.social · 5mo ago

🧵1/Tomorrow (4 March), MPs will vote on in-year spending changes the House of Commons Library calls “significant by historical standards”. Through the Supplementary Estimates, the Government is seeking an extra £36.9bn (+6.8%) in day-to-day spending.

🧵1/Tomorrow (4 March), MPs will vote on in-year spending changes the House of Commons Library calls “significant by historical standards”. Through the Supplementary Estimates, the Government is seeking an extra £36.9bn (+6.8%) in day-to-day spending.

MONDAY: What's coming up in Parliament today? 🌍 Statement on Middle East situation 🟢 Introduction of new MP Hannah Spencer expected 🗳️ Representation of the People Bill (2nd Reading) 📜 E-petition on local election cancellations Read more below 🔽 www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

For fans of parliamentary procedure *and* those nostalgic for the Brexit era, there are a pair of interesting opposition day motions on the Commons order paper today - a humble address (Andrew M-W) & a motion to set aside SO No14 for the day to consider a Bill (online services (age restrictions)

📅 TUESDAY: What’s coming up in Parliament today? Today's events include a Lib Dem Opposition Day, a motion relating to OBR assessments, Health & Social Care questions, and the Bank of England governor at a select committee. Full details 👇 🔗 www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 23-27 February 2026

MPs will debate the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; changes to the Charter for Budget Responsibility; student loan repayments; support for bereaved children; and St David’s Day.…

hansardsociety.org.uk