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
This is the "house of lords appointments as solving patronage problems elsewhere" thing www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
January 3, 2026 at 7:57 AM
This is the "house of lords appointments as solving patronage problems elsewhere" thing www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Other game roles The Traitors could introduce: 🧵
January 2, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Other game roles The Traitors could introduce: 🧵
Me on the traitors: "I can read people well, because I've been trained in the use of certain mind powers"
January 1, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Me on the traitors: "I can read people well, because I've been trained in the use of certain mind powers"
Reposted by Alex Parsons
New releases from the National Archives of government records from 2005 show how ministers and officials reacted uneasily to the implementation of FOI, and how they handled some initial cases - "This is becoming a real problem". What I found in the files: rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/tony-we-ha...
December 31, 2025 at 10:24 AM
New releases from the National Archives of government records from 2005 show how ministers and officials reacted uneasily to the implementation of FOI, and how they handled some initial cases - "This is becoming a real problem". What I found in the files: rosenbaum6.substack.com/p/tony-we-ha...
I think there's a few things, but there's a basic numbers explanation in the crosstabs: people who didn't vote Labour don't like him a lot, people who did vote Labour don't like him a little, and the labour vote was 10 percentage points less than the conservative vote in 2019.
Glad the FT is asking the question. Even if I’m not convinced they found a compelling answer.
I get that Starmer & Reeves are unpopular, I really don’t understand the extent of the dislike.
www.ft.com/content/1995... ‘There’s a real dislike, even loathing’: why voters hate Starmer and Reeves
I get that Starmer & Reeves are unpopular, I really don’t understand the extent of the dislike.
www.ft.com/content/1995... ‘There’s a real dislike, even loathing’: why voters hate Starmer and Reeves
‘There’s a real dislike, even loathing’: why voters hate Starmer and Reeves
Allies concede the prime minister and chancellor have made mistakes yet the level of disdain towards them is still striking
www.ft.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:10 AM
I think there's a few things, but there's a basic numbers explanation in the crosstabs: people who didn't vote Labour don't like him a lot, people who did vote Labour don't like him a little, and the labour vote was 10 percentage points less than the conservative vote in 2019.
Need to just commit to the bad BTTF2 future. Bring back ties, twice.
December 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Need to just commit to the bad BTTF2 future. Bring back ties, twice.
"As if I had the money in a safe! Your money's not here! It's in Joe's Ponzi scheme! And a wide range of political donations to ensure a positive regulatory view of that Ponzi scheme! And a castle to decide how best to spend money. What are you going to do, foreclose on the castle?"
A number of questions remain unanswered, like "WHERE IS THE MONEY SAM", or "THE MONEY SAM THE BLOODY MONEY WHERE IS IT SAM", questions of that nature.
The Context: 💭 Barbara Fried misrepresents SBF's crimes
Barbara Fried has apparently stepped in to defend her son, Sam Bankman-Fried, and has continued the family history of deceit.
Latest from @bft.wtf
Subscribe and read 👉 mailchi.mp/3d06016cc97c...
Barbara Fried has apparently stepped in to defend her son, Sam Bankman-Fried, and has continued the family history of deceit.
Latest from @bft.wtf
Subscribe and read 👉 mailchi.mp/3d06016cc97c...
December 27, 2025 at 9:29 AM
"As if I had the money in a safe! Your money's not here! It's in Joe's Ponzi scheme! And a wide range of political donations to ensure a positive regulatory view of that Ponzi scheme! And a castle to decide how best to spend money. What are you going to do, foreclose on the castle?"
The kind of wisdom that gets you a life seat in the House of Lords
Was depressing at the time but became funny later was Simon Case suggesting that Trump and DOGE would be a global blueprint for reforming government.
December 26, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The kind of wisdom that gets you a life seat in the House of Lords
LOVE CREATES THE LAW, GOVERNS KINGDOMS, AND THOSE THAT HATE IT WILL LOSE EVERYTHING
December 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM
LOVE CREATES THE LAW, GOVERNS KINGDOMS, AND THOSE THAT HATE IT WILL LOSE EVERYTHING
I know its bait but lots to disagree with here www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
From The Gruffalo to Tabby McTat: Julia Donaldson’s TV adaptations ... from best to worst
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s heartwarming kids’ tales have become a cosy festive fixture on the BBC. Ahead of this year’s offering of The Scarecrows’ Wedding, we ask: which is the all-time Chr...
www.theguardian.com
December 25, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I know its bait but lots to disagree with here www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
My colleague @juliacushion.bsky.social made a “sunlight optimism” spreadsheet, my colleague @zarino.co.uk said there should be a postcode lookup version, I have the day off, the kid has gone swimming, and so, I present:
The Sunlight Optimism Calculator: dracos.co.uk/made/sunligh...
The Sunlight Optimism Calculator: dracos.co.uk/made/sunligh...
December 24, 2025 at 12:38 PM
My colleague @juliacushion.bsky.social made a “sunlight optimism” spreadsheet, my colleague @zarino.co.uk said there should be a postcode lookup version, I have the day off, the kid has gone swimming, and so, I present:
The Sunlight Optimism Calculator: dracos.co.uk/made/sunligh...
The Sunlight Optimism Calculator: dracos.co.uk/made/sunligh...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
The argument here needs to move beyond "caps popular" to where replacement funding comes from (public funding) - otherwise we're just not going to see any progress.
A clear majority of people support introducing a cap on donations to political parties, polling shared with PolHome has found
57% of people support a cap on donations by individuals and companies, while just 7% are against it, 38 Degrees / Survation research found
That includes 2024 Reform voters
57% of people support a cap on donations by individuals and companies, while just 7% are against it, 38 Degrees / Survation research found
That includes 2024 Reform voters
Strong Support For Bringing In A Cap On Political Donations, New Polling Shows
A clear majority of the public backs a cap on donations to political parties, new polling shared with PoliticsHome has found.
www.politicshome.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:49 AM
The argument here needs to move beyond "caps popular" to where replacement funding comes from (public funding) - otherwise we're just not going to see any progress.
The pitch that "gambling shops *are* the local community" is what the GGC is trying to get MPs to say with it's "free bet for MPs - winnings to charity" scheme bettingandgamingcouncil.com/news/bgcs-gr...
December 24, 2025 at 10:26 AM
The pitch that "gambling shops *are* the local community" is what the GGC is trying to get MPs to say with it's "free bet for MPs - winnings to charity" scheme bettingandgamingcouncil.com/news/bgcs-gr...
The argument here needs to move beyond "caps popular" to where replacement funding comes from (public funding) - otherwise we're just not going to see any progress.
A clear majority of people support introducing a cap on donations to political parties, polling shared with PolHome has found
57% of people support a cap on donations by individuals and companies, while just 7% are against it, 38 Degrees / Survation research found
That includes 2024 Reform voters
57% of people support a cap on donations by individuals and companies, while just 7% are against it, 38 Degrees / Survation research found
That includes 2024 Reform voters
Strong Support For Bringing In A Cap On Political Donations, New Polling Shows
A clear majority of the public backs a cap on donations to political parties, new polling shared with PoliticsHome has found.
www.politicshome.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:49 AM
The argument here needs to move beyond "caps popular" to where replacement funding comes from (public funding) - otherwise we're just not going to see any progress.
I just don't think you can learn things about actual people without involving actual people.
Pleased to see this piece. Personally, I find these uses of synthetic data v concerning and I find the traction and endorsements that this work has to be quite baffling, esp given the well-storied role of algorithmic targeting in undermining democracy
"We risk inheriting a future in which institutions answer to synthetic publics rather than real ones" rebootdemocracy.ai/blog/researc...
December 22, 2025 at 11:19 AM
I just don't think you can learn things about actual people without involving actual people.
Lol, I've got a concept note on "maybe we can track inquiries better" from earlier in the year that talks about 18 current/pending ones.
The government’s announcement of seven new inquiries this year means a record 27 are currently underway
They're costing more too - since 2005, completed inquiries have cost over £730m. The Covid-19 Inquiry alone has spent £192m and will soon surpass the record £200m spent on the Saville Inquiry
They're costing more too - since 2005, completed inquiries have cost over £730m. The Covid-19 Inquiry alone has spent £192m and will soon surpass the record £200m spent on the Saville Inquiry
December 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Lol, I've got a concept note on "maybe we can track inquiries better" from earlier in the year that talks about 18 current/pending ones.
Reposted by Alex Parsons
Publishing another part of our ongoing WriteToThem research, exploring different approaches to integrating "toxicity" scoring - and thinking about what you do once you have a score (passing on the information, manual moderation, nudges) research.mysociety.org/html/support...
Supporting Good Communication
Exploring approaches to handling abusive messages in constituent communication
research.mysociety.org
December 16, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Publishing another part of our ongoing WriteToThem research, exploring different approaches to integrating "toxicity" scoring - and thinking about what you do once you have a score (passing on the information, manual moderation, nudges) research.mysociety.org/html/support...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
Not going to do full pass this week but just to note some rare new entries in the gifts from non-uk sources category - boxing tickets for Chris Webb and ticket to an event at Mar-a-Lago for Nigel Farage. www.theyworkforyou.com/interests/ca...
December 16, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Not going to do full pass this week but just to note some rare new entries in the gifts from non-uk sources category - boxing tickets for Chris Webb and ticket to an event at Mar-a-Lago for Nigel Farage. www.theyworkforyou.com/interests/ca...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
Something I want to use this to build on is how we reconcile "casework as individual problem solving" with better data that informs collective solutions.
Morning! Here's something exciting we've been working on: WriteToThem Insights www.mysociety.org/2025/12/11/n...
New report: WriteToThem Insights
What people are writhing to their representatives about? Insights from a new survey.
www.mysociety.org
December 11, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Something I want to use this to build on is how we reconcile "casework as individual problem solving" with better data that informs collective solutions.
Reposted by Alex Parsons
This is a specific example of how benchbench open letters have becoming a prominent tactic - and represent a move away from use of Early Day Motions www.mysociety.org/2025/10/21/s...
December 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
This is a specific example of how benchbench open letters have becoming a prominent tactic - and represent a move away from use of Early Day Motions www.mysociety.org/2025/10/21/s...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
On 15 Jan, we'll be launching our latest report.
'Leaky Pipes: Better Election Donation Data' uncovers the gaps, inconsistencies, and missed opportunities in how the UK records and discloses election donations.
Sign up to come along and discuss the findings:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mysociety-...
'Leaky Pipes: Better Election Donation Data' uncovers the gaps, inconsistencies, and missed opportunities in how the UK records and discloses election donations.
Sign up to come along and discuss the findings:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mysociety-...
mySociety report launch: 'Leaky Pipes: Better Election Donation Data'
Join mySociety’s democracy team for a one-hour discussion diving into the findings of our new report on election donations reporting.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 3:32 PM
On 15 Jan, we'll be launching our latest report.
'Leaky Pipes: Better Election Donation Data' uncovers the gaps, inconsistencies, and missed opportunities in how the UK records and discloses election donations.
Sign up to come along and discuss the findings:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mysociety-...
'Leaky Pipes: Better Election Donation Data' uncovers the gaps, inconsistencies, and missed opportunities in how the UK records and discloses election donations.
Sign up to come along and discuss the findings:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mysociety-...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
Inspired by attending @govcampcymru.bsky.social , me, @niacampbell.bsky.social and @monikasw.bsky.social have been working on this little website to help promote working in the open and digital resources in Wales…
cymruddigidol.github.io
cymruddigidol.github.io
Welcome to Cymru Ddigidol
An unofficial community project to share digital resources in Wales.
cymruddigidol.github.io
December 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Inspired by attending @govcampcymru.bsky.social , me, @niacampbell.bsky.social and @monikasw.bsky.social have been working on this little website to help promote working in the open and digital resources in Wales…
cymruddigidol.github.io
cymruddigidol.github.io
Explaining to child she can only use glue to stick two things together, and no, I can't be one of those things. I feel like I'm the narrator in a point and click adventure game.
December 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Explaining to child she can only use glue to stick two things together, and no, I can't be one of those things. I feel like I'm the narrator in a point and click adventure game.
The best way to stay sane is to have a deep aversion and suspicion of praise
i'm fascinated by how much people love and are amazed by chat gpt saying "nice catch!" and "great observation!" because i personally find the condescension and obsequiousness the most skin-crawling thing about how LLMs "talk"
If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
December 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The best way to stay sane is to have a deep aversion and suspicion of praise