Alice Lilly
@aliceolilly.bsky.social
Senior researcher/ Learning and development manager at Institute for Government.
All things parliament and government.
PhD in modern US/UK history.
Sport fan.
All things parliament and government.
PhD in modern US/UK history.
Sport fan.
And is this in the room with us now?
January 5, 2026 at 8:24 PM
And is this in the room with us now?
At some point in the future, everybody will have managed either the Man Utd, Chelsea, or Celtic men's teams
January 5, 2026 at 3:35 PM
At some point in the future, everybody will have managed either the Man Utd, Chelsea, or Celtic men's teams
Reposted by Alice Lilly
The government is delivering a radical rebalancing of funding towards more deprived councils, writes @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social. Though, with limited funding, it has required the government to make tough decisions about who loses.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/deli...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/deli...
The government is delivering a radical rebalancing of funding towards more deprived councils | Institute for Government
The Local Government Funding Settlement shows the government is making a major change to how funding is allocated to local authorities.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 5, 2026 at 12:19 PM
The government is delivering a radical rebalancing of funding towards more deprived councils, writes @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social. Though, with limited funding, it has required the government to make tough decisions about who loses.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/deli...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/deli...
Reposted by Alice Lilly
Back at my desk and catching up on the R&R news. Here's a classic QTWAIN (or if yes, they'll change their minds again later). Here for Lord Dobbs' sage advice though: Will 2026 be the year MPs and peers agree on how to repair Parliament?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #WestminsterRR
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #WestminsterRR
January 5, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Back at my desk and catching up on the R&R news. Here's a classic QTWAIN (or if yes, they'll change their minds again later). Here for Lord Dobbs' sage advice though: Will 2026 be the year MPs and peers agree on how to repair Parliament?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #WestminsterRR
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #WestminsterRR
A thank-you to Chelsea and Man United for really adding to national levels of gaiety at this time
January 5, 2026 at 10:33 AM
A thank-you to Chelsea and Man United for really adding to national levels of gaiety at this time
When you do, in fact, have to circle back
Happy 'let's pick this up in the new year' eve everyone
a woman sitting at a table with the words " one must champion oneself and say "
ALT: a woman sitting at a table with the words " one must champion oneself and say "
media.tenor.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:57 PM
When you do, in fact, have to circle back
There are just a lot of institutions- and individuals who ultimately comprise those institutions- who are failing to meet and have consistently failed to meet the moment.
January 3, 2026 at 4:54 PM
There are just a lot of institutions- and individuals who ultimately comprise those institutions- who are failing to meet and have consistently failed to meet the moment.
What exactly the president means by “we’re there” seems like a fairly urgent and important question for Congress to ask
January 3, 2026 at 4:47 PM
What exactly the president means by “we’re there” seems like a fairly urgent and important question for Congress to ask
Reposted by Alice Lilly
The House Armed Services Committee also was not briefed, I've confirmed.
News: Gang of Eight in Congress were only notified about Trump's Venezuela operation after it began, source familiar tells me. That means the heads of the Intelligence Committees in Senate and House were *not* consulted. Just crazy.
January 3, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The House Armed Services Committee also was not briefed, I've confirmed.
Non-zero chance that the person who won the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at the draw for the 2026 men’s football World Cup in Mexico/Canada/the US ends up being the reason said World Cup cannot take place
"Mexico strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally ... by armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the [UN] Charter"
www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/m...
www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/m...
January 3, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Non-zero chance that the person who won the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at the draw for the 2026 men’s football World Cup in Mexico/Canada/the US ends up being the reason said World Cup cannot take place
Away from, er, everything else- was a pleasure to speak to @jessicaelgot.bsky.social for this v interesting piece on what’s been happening in the Lords
‘We will grind you down’: how rogue peers became Labour’s toughest opponents
As Labour seeks abolition of hereditary peers, Tory-dominated House of Lords has inflicted near-record number of defeats on No 10
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Away from, er, everything else- was a pleasure to speak to @jessicaelgot.bsky.social for this v interesting piece on what’s been happening in the Lords
Reposted by Alice Lilly
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Completely understand the sentiment here but equally would argue that it’s such sub constitutional technicalities being constantly eroded and not being enforced over a period of time that allows such huge things as this to happen
Im seeing discussions about consultations with congress, authorizations of force etc. I have to say this transcends any of what I would call sub constitutional technicalities. The president has gone to war with a foreign power and, it seems, kidnapped a foreign head of state on the basis of nothing.
January 3, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Completely understand the sentiment here but equally would argue that it’s such sub constitutional technicalities being constantly eroded and not being enforced over a period of time that allows such huge things as this to happen
Big question for Congress as to whether they will care about their own constitutional role (or, indeed, care about anything at all)
I fear we already know the answer to that
I fear we already know the answer to that
January 3, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Big question for Congress as to whether they will care about their own constitutional role (or, indeed, care about anything at all)
I fear we already know the answer to that
I fear we already know the answer to that
Took the toddler to Newcastle and showed her the Earl Grey statue but oddly she wasn’t interested in hearing about the 1832 Reform Act. Nor in hearing about why the 1867 and 1884 Reform Acts were arguably more consequential. Tough audience
January 2, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Took the toddler to Newcastle and showed her the Earl Grey statue but oddly she wasn’t interested in hearing about the 1832 Reform Act. Nor in hearing about why the 1867 and 1884 Reform Acts were arguably more consequential. Tough audience
Absolutely magnificent
How Leeds United star's Manchester United transfer spawned Korean phrase
Alan Smith's transfer from Elland Road to Old Trafford sparked a phrase which lives on in Korea.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 2, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Absolutely magnificent
Don’t like to brag but I think my biggest achievement of the year is saying the phrases “please put that down” and “that isn’t for eating” and “you don’t need to drop it on the floor” several thousand times to a baby-becoming-a-toddler
December 31, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Don’t like to brag but I think my biggest achievement of the year is saying the phrases “please put that down” and “that isn’t for eating” and “you don’t need to drop it on the floor” several thousand times to a baby-becoming-a-toddler
Reposted by Alice Lilly
Amid some v good initiatives, lots of the longstanding problems with the civil service got worse again in the past year. If the government wants to 'rewire the state' it needs to set out what that means for the workforce. 👇Sneak peek at some of our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report, out in Jan.
UK civil service continues to grow despite pledge to ‘rewire state’ ft.trib.al/qJRDV5g
UK civil service continues to grow despite pledge to ‘rewire state’
Number of full-time equivalent roles grew by more than 4,000 in the year to September
ft.trib.al
December 30, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Amid some v good initiatives, lots of the longstanding problems with the civil service got worse again in the past year. If the government wants to 'rewire the state' it needs to set out what that means for the workforce. 👇Sneak peek at some of our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report, out in Jan.
I have found myself attempting to briefly sketch a diagram of the UK's constitutional system and it already feels like a mistake
December 30, 2025 at 11:28 AM
I have found myself attempting to briefly sketch a diagram of the UK's constitutional system and it already feels like a mistake
If West Yorkshire has X plans for a tram, and central government conducts Y reviews into those plans, how many years will it take for Leeds to get a tram? (answer to the nearest century)
December 29, 2025 at 7:33 PM
If West Yorkshire has X plans for a tram, and central government conducts Y reviews into those plans, how many years will it take for Leeds to get a tram? (answer to the nearest century)
Signing off for Christmas with a toddler who has got hold of a box of bread sauce mix and refuses to let go.
May your break be happy and healthy and may your strawberry Quality Street (the best ones) be plentiful
May your break be happy and healthy and may your strawberry Quality Street (the best ones) be plentiful
December 23, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Signing off for Christmas with a toddler who has got hold of a box of bread sauce mix and refuses to let go.
May your break be happy and healthy and may your strawberry Quality Street (the best ones) be plentiful
May your break be happy and healthy and may your strawberry Quality Street (the best ones) be plentiful
Reposted by Alice Lilly
The Council for Science & Technology which advises the PM is looking for a new member ‘with social & behavioural science expertise’. Great opportunity to bring a social science perspective to the heart of policymaking. Apply by 19 Jan
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9075
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9075
Appointment details – Council for Science and Technology Member – Apply for a public appointment – GOV.UK
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk
December 22, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The Council for Science & Technology which advises the PM is looking for a new member ‘with social & behavioural science expertise’. Great opportunity to bring a social science perspective to the heart of policymaking. Apply by 19 Jan
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9075
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9075
Reposted by Alice Lilly
Rewiring the state: Is the government making any progress?
Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 Jan to hear @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss the govt's attempts to reform the civil service
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 Jan to hear @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss the govt's attempts to reform the civil service
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
December 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Rewiring the state: Is the government making any progress?
Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 Jan to hear @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss the govt's attempts to reform the civil service
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 Jan to hear @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss the govt's attempts to reform the civil service
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
Ok fine I’ll watch Die Hard for the first time
(Yes I am in my mid-thirties, shh)
(Yes I am in my mid-thirties, shh)
December 20, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Ok fine I’ll watch Die Hard for the first time
(Yes I am in my mid-thirties, shh)
(Yes I am in my mid-thirties, shh)
Reposted by Alice Lilly
Vandalism that will kill children.
BREAKING: RFKJr directs that the US instantly stop recommending all vaccinations for children. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Under RFK Jr., U.S. plans to stop recommending most vaccines, defer to doctors
The plan, which is not finalized, suggests children get fewer shots and shifts to a model telling parents to consult doctors to make their own vaccine choices.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Vandalism that will kill children.