Alex Parsons
@alexparsons.bsky.social
Democracy Programme Lead / Senior Researcher - mySociety/TheyWorkForYou. Also for some reason Postman Pat reviews.
Pinned
Alex Parsons
@alexparsons.bsky.social
· Mar 4
WhoFundsThem
Building better information about money in politics.
whofundsthem.com
Today we've added some new features to TheyWorkForYou and launched an accompanying report about money in politics. See more at whofundsthem.com
Reposted by Alex Parsons
MSPs have backed in principle the establishment of a recall system for the Scottish Parliament. www.holyrood.com/news/view,re...
Recall system backed in principle by Scottish Parliament
A review of the complaints and sanctions process was also agreed
www.holyrood.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
MSPs have backed in principle the establishment of a recall system for the Scottish Parliament. www.holyrood.com/news/view,re...
One of the reasons freebies matter is that, if behaving ethically, politicians should recuse themselves from issues they should actually take an interest in
November 13, 2025 at 8:45 AM
One of the reasons freebies matter is that, if behaving ethically, politicians should recuse themselves from issues they should actually take an interest in
Reposted by Alex Parsons
The European Democracy Shield🛡️ is finally out today. Here is what it says (and what I think):🧵⬇️
commission.europa.eu/document/dow...
commission.europa.eu/document/dow...
commission.europa.eu
November 12, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The European Democracy Shield🛡️ is finally out today. Here is what it says (and what I think):🧵⬇️
commission.europa.eu/document/dow...
commission.europa.eu/document/dow...
Will always be the party member defender because most complaints about members choosing leaders also obviously applies to MPs alexparsons.co.uk/blog/posts/w...
Why MPs shouldn’t decide their leaders, and we should do something more interesting
The case against members deciding is compelling, but so is the case against MPs - we need new approaches!
alexparsons.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Will always be the party member defender because most complaints about members choosing leaders also obviously applies to MPs alexparsons.co.uk/blog/posts/w...
For how House of Lords reform can tie into bigger reform questions alexparsons.co.uk/blog/posts/s...
November 12, 2025 at 9:01 AM
For how House of Lords reform can tie into bigger reform questions alexparsons.co.uk/blog/posts/s...
With this and the prison story the other day, government announcements that only make sense if AI is "anything with a formula"
All schools in England to be given AI-generated pupil attendance targets
Unions decry move, saying it will put more pressure on headteachers without tackling absence from classrooms
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:31 AM
With this and the prison story the other day, government announcements that only make sense if AI is "anything with a formula"
Reposted by Alex Parsons
Yesterday's evidence session about freedom of information in Scotland felt really positive and ambitious - much needed at the moment!
Lovely to see @benworthy.bsky.social & @muteswann.bsky.social also speak to the committee, and huge thanks to @cfoiscot.bsky.social for all of their hard work!
Lovely to see @benworthy.bsky.social & @muteswann.bsky.social also speak to the committee, and huge thanks to @cfoiscot.bsky.social for all of their hard work!
Yesterday @alexparsons.bsky.social spoke at the Scottish Parliament about our views on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Catch up on the evidence session and find out why we're really keen on the proposed proactive publication measures👇
www.mysociety.org/2025/11/07/a...
Catch up on the evidence session and find out why we're really keen on the proposed proactive publication measures👇
www.mysociety.org/2025/11/07/a...
A key moment to strengthen Scotland’s Freedom of Information law
We gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament on how to make Scotland's already good FOI system even better.
www.mysociety.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Yesterday's evidence session about freedom of information in Scotland felt really positive and ambitious - much needed at the moment!
Lovely to see @benworthy.bsky.social & @muteswann.bsky.social also speak to the committee, and huge thanks to @cfoiscot.bsky.social for all of their hard work!
Lovely to see @benworthy.bsky.social & @muteswann.bsky.social also speak to the committee, and huge thanks to @cfoiscot.bsky.social for all of their hard work!
Honestly, I was shocked when I took my kid there the other year and saw the penguins. Really awful.
Not only should we get the penguins out of the old LCC County Hall, we should get the government of London back in there too. www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...
Sea Life penguins ‘trapped in basement’ but owners argue they are 'thriving'
A group of 75 politicians is calling on the Sea Life London Aquarium to review the birds' welfare
www.mylondon.news
November 11, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Honestly, I was shocked when I took my kid there the other year and saw the penguins. Really awful.
Yes, given that SIs can't be amended, requiring one-org-per-order would be appropriate.
November 11, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Yes, given that SIs can't be amended, requiring one-org-per-order would be appropriate.
With this and the Kylo Ren thing - big studios unexpectantly loyal to continuity over the money-printing machine.
James Bond’s death in No Time to Die is causing a nightmare for the next film. Writers are stuck because Bond “was blown to pieces.”
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
November 11, 2025 at 10:32 AM
With this and the Kylo Ren thing - big studios unexpectantly loyal to continuity over the money-printing machine.
Interesting on strategic use of not voting rather than voting against in the California Assembly calmatters.org/digital-demo...
Power is never having to say ‘no.’ How California Democrats kill bills without voting against them
Democrats in California's Legislature rarely vote against bills, yet few seem willing to discuss their voting records.
calmatters.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Interesting on strategic use of not voting rather than voting against in the California Assembly calmatters.org/digital-demo...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
Extremely funny that the gambling lobby is on the warpath about rising taxes on them and the threat of 'black market gambling' allegedly run by ... them
November 11, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Extremely funny that the gambling lobby is on the warpath about rising taxes on them and the threat of 'black market gambling' allegedly run by ... them
Reposted by Alex Parsons
Here's a full list of all the new things on TheyWorkForYou from last week www.mysociety.org/2025/10/23/t...
TheyWorkForYou Update: A richer view of Parliament
A big update to TheyWorkForYou, covering APPGs, open letters, alerts, and much more.
www.mysociety.org
October 27, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Here's a full list of all the new things on TheyWorkForYou from last week www.mysociety.org/2025/10/23/t...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
🌟 Tomorrow! 🌟
We've had a fantastic run of events all about the power of freedom of information to make real world change, and I think this one could be our best yet!
We'd love to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/networked-...
We've had a fantastic run of events all about the power of freedom of information to make real world change, and I think this one could be our best yet!
We'd love to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/networked-...
Networked auditors: crowdsourcing and community-led ATI
Discover how three organisations are using crowdsourcing and ATI laws to uncover data, monitor public projects, and drive accountability
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:06 AM
🌟 Tomorrow! 🌟
We've had a fantastic run of events all about the power of freedom of information to make real world change, and I think this one could be our best yet!
We'd love to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/networked-...
We've had a fantastic run of events all about the power of freedom of information to make real world change, and I think this one could be our best yet!
We'd love to see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/networked-...
The beauty of "learn from Australia" it is seven related-but-different "let's check out a different evolution of the Westminster system".
Ultimately democracy is an iterative process, just like everything else and it's IMO not surprising that the Australian system is IMV one of the best approaches in terms of system design.
November 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
The beauty of "learn from Australia" it is seven related-but-different "let's check out a different evolution of the Westminster system".
Reposted by Alex Parsons
I’m old enough to remember when I got scolded on this here website by people who claimed a 3% false positive rate was good actually and well now it turns out to be an order of magnitude bigger! Still good guys?
HMRC trial of child benefit crackdown wrongly suspected fraud in 46% of cases
Exclusive: Almost half of families flagged as emigrants based on Home Office travel data were still living in UK
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I’m old enough to remember when I got scolded on this here website by people who claimed a 3% false positive rate was good actually and well now it turns out to be an order of magnitude bigger! Still good guys?
Reposted by Alex Parsons
The unironic skeleton key to TLJ is Knives Out because they are literally doing the exact same thing: they spend 75% of their length unpicking genre tropes and hinting the genre itself may be outmoded before the entire final act is one big celebratory reaffirmation of all of them
I remember someone summarising the theme as "it's more complicated than that.... but also, it isn't"
November 8, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The unironic skeleton key to TLJ is Knives Out because they are literally doing the exact same thing: they spend 75% of their length unpicking genre tropes and hinting the genre itself may be outmoded before the entire final act is one big celebratory reaffirmation of all of them
Obviously "Bingo plushies, but with different hats" is a scam, but some of these hats were never in the show.
November 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Obviously "Bingo plushies, but with different hats" is a scam, but some of these hats were never in the show.
"Should we have an adventure today?"
"No thanks. I don't want to have an adventure."
"No thanks. I don't want to have an adventure."
November 8, 2025 at 9:39 AM
"Should we have an adventure today?"
"No thanks. I don't want to have an adventure."
"No thanks. I don't want to have an adventure."
So this is pretty bad I think. What seems like a considered attempt to not make a public donation by splitting it across multiple "sources" just below the threshold.
I think debateable what "source" means here but the correct thing for Nandy would have been to declare them regardless.
I think debateable what "source" means here but the correct thing for Nandy would have been to declare them regardless.
November 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
So this is pretty bad I think. What seems like a considered attempt to not make a public donation by splitting it across multiple "sources" just below the threshold.
I think debateable what "source" means here but the correct thing for Nandy would have been to declare them regardless.
I think debateable what "source" means here but the correct thing for Nandy would have been to declare them regardless.
Reposted by Alex Parsons
Parties offering cash for access is corrosive to democracy, reinforcing the public view that politics is a game for a wealthy elite, with little concern for those without deep pockets. Elections Bill is an opp to remove the corrupting influence of big money www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Kemi Badenoch to relaunch exclusive ‘advisory board’ for high-value donors
Exclusive: Tory leader has plans to reinstate group that provided top donors with direct access to senior ministers
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Parties offering cash for access is corrosive to democracy, reinforcing the public view that politics is a game for a wealthy elite, with little concern for those without deep pockets. Elections Bill is an opp to remove the corrupting influence of big money www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
By my reading, it's hard to remember a more scandalous example of a social media company being negligent in their responsibility to users. It's so so bad, and deeper investigation and regulatory action must surely follow.
This piece suggests Meta is dragging its heels on reducing the (very large) number of scam ads on its services because they're concerned it will materially hurt revenue (the article estimates they make as much as $16bn a year from scam ads)
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
By my reading, it's hard to remember a more scandalous example of a social media company being negligent in their responsibility to users. It's so so bad, and deeper investigation and regulatory action must surely follow.
In favour of a flat road tax. You shouldn't have to pay to go downhill.
November 6, 2025 at 2:22 PM
In favour of a flat road tax. You shouldn't have to pay to go downhill.
Great doing this today - learned lots from the other panellists!
Looking forward to living in Scotland for lots of reasons, but it does have a better FOI approach and people actively invested in improving it!
Looking forward to living in Scotland for lots of reasons, but it does have a better FOI approach and people actively invested in improving it!
Our @alexparsons.bsky.social is contributing now to Scottish Parliament's Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, with thoughts on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill. You can watch along at: www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/stan... #FOI
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee | Scottish Parliament TV
www.scottishparliament.tv
November 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Great doing this today - learned lots from the other panellists!
Looking forward to living in Scotland for lots of reasons, but it does have a better FOI approach and people actively invested in improving it!
Looking forward to living in Scotland for lots of reasons, but it does have a better FOI approach and people actively invested in improving it!