Alice Lilly
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aliceolilly.bsky.social
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.
“Wait, in order to understand the Discourse I must find out how exactly Joyce Carol Oates owned Elon Musk,” I wonder, before considering yeeting my brain out of the window
November 10, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Of course ATCs are basically specialists in calm and professional communication, which is very different from... whatever this is
In a new post, President Trump makes various threats and promises to air traffic controllers who have very, very difficult jobs and hold the safety of air travel in their hands.
November 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Alice Lilly
Chloe Mawson has been appointed the 66th Clerk of the Parliaments and is the first woman to take up the post.

The Clerk of the Parliaments is head of the House of Lords Administration and Chief Procedural Adviser to the House.
November 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Pitch for new DG:

- Bring back Grandstand
November 9, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by Alice Lilly
I wrote this last week, and then last night we find out that Lisa Nandy has been rapped over the knuckles for failing to acknowledge donations from the government's nominee to chair the new Football Regulator.

Again - just check things properly people, make sure you're squeaky clean!
Now we know - Reeves clearly did make a mistake: having been told by the estate agents that they would sort the relevant licence, she assumed it had been sorted. Seems legit!

But stand by this: ministers need to take this stuff seriously, and go through their own affairs with a fine toothed comb!
The chancellor’s failure to manage her housing arrangements properly is another reminder that Keir Starmer’s team need to take standards seriously, says @timdurrant.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
November 7, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Probably more helpful to spell out in the headline (as the article itself does) that he has been summoned to appear but Congress cannot make him do so
🔺 Breaking: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been ordered to appear before the US Congress, after members said it was “time for him to come forward” about his “ties” to Jeffrey Epstein
Andrew ordered to appear before Congress over Jeffrey Epstein links
www.thetimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Reposted by Alice Lilly
Cross-party agreement can create political space for tax reform

It is time to take the political heat out of attempts to reform the tax system, says @gemmatetlow.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/cros...
Cross-party agreement can create political space for tax reform | Institute for Government
It is time to take the political heat out of attempts to reform the tax system.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Not an important question and not one by any means limited to Mike Johnson- but why do press conferences given by US politicians always feature SO MANY PEOPLE stood behind them?
Mike Johnson: "I think the Court has to give deference to that. I think the Court has to recognize the executive is doing what they're doing -- he's using tariffs to create leverage in our trade strategy, and it's yielding great results for the American people."
November 6, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Here's a really lovely thing to read (whether you like F1 or not)
In Mexico, I asked Lewis Hamilton about what pet ownership taught him about himself. A simple question... but one with a LOT of baggage in the #F1 paddock.

This is your sign to ask your questions, no matter what others think.

open.substack.com/pub/deadlypa...
November 6, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Women, please update your records of 'things we have ruined' accordingly, thank you
many people are saying!
November 6, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by Alice Lilly
Great new report from Amber, digging into spare primary school places, school finances, SEND and much more ⬇️
NEW REPORT Labour is struggling to meet its education priorities. It has big ambitions to improve schools, but a budget that falls short of matching them. And with no clear plans to reform the SEND system or tackle workforce shortages, children are being left without the support they need.
Performance Tracker 2025: Schools | Institute for Government
It will be extremely difficult for the government to meet its education priorities within the budget it has set for the coming parliament.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Alice Lilly
NEW: the latest in our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Performance Tracker series is out today

And ace colleague @amberdellar.bsky.social has been looking at school performance

The data is.. worrying

@laurahughesft.bsky.social at the @financialtimes.com has the story

www.ft.com/content/9be6...
Number of unfilled primary school places in England hits record high
IfG report shows London has been disproportionately affected by drop in pupil numbers
www.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Haven't checked in on the list of rejected petitions for a while, and this one is very meta
November 5, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Very much the font of a ‘live laugh love’ sign you’d buy from a garden centre
New sign outside the Oval Office..
November 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
For all that the coverage of the Sandwich Guy trial is entertaining, this is the US food news that genuinely really matters

(For those unfamiliar, SNAP is Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
The president says he will defy court orders and illegally withhold SNAP benefits despite there being money in the SNAP contingency fund that the Trump is required to use.
November 4, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Logging on for the first time today: hey why’s everybody talking about sandwiches and onio-
November 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Reposted by Alice Lilly
they are sending my toddler straight to jail
Back for Day 2 of Sandwich Guy’s trial. In government opening statement: “This case is about the fact that you can’t go around throwing stuff at people when you’re mad.”
November 4, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Alice Lilly
What is the relationship between government, parliament and the monarchy?

Read our latest explainer by @rebeccamckee.bsky.social and @aliceolilly.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/mo...
The monarch, royal family and parliament | Institute for Government
What is the relationship between government, parliament and the monarchy?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 3, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Parents: seriously, how do you manage the never-ending bugs? We are averaging one a week in this household and have been for months and we are all exhausted and in a constant state of low-level chaos

Please tell me your secrets
November 2, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This piece is right to point out that the monarchy still plays an important constitutional role in UK government.

But it seems to rather conflate government and parliament and is quite a lot less clear on the (complicated but crucial) constitutional relationship between Parliament and the Crown
November 1, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Everyone in this house is ill. Again. The bugs are RELENTLESS.
November 1, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Reposted by Alice Lilly
Have you seen @ifgacademy.bsky.social Support for MPs webpages, packed with super useful guides and explainers to help MPs understand parliament and government?

Perfect for MPs and their staff!

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ifg-academy/...
October 31, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Reposted by Alice Lilly
The monarch, the royal family and parliament (and people no longer called Prince)

Here’s a very timely and very useful new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer from top colleagues @aliceolilly.bsky.social and @rebeccamckee.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/mo...
The monarch, royal family and parliament | Institute for Government
What is the relationship between government, parliament and the monarchy?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 31, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Reposted by Alice Lilly
New from me and @aliceolilly.bsky.social 👇
What is the relationship between government, parliament and the monarchy?

Our latest explainer takes a closer look at the monarch's powers and role in relation to parliament and the legislative process, and whether parliament can remove royal titles
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/mo...
The monarch, royal family and parliament | Institute for Government
What is the relationship between government, parliament and the monarchy?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 31, 2025 at 1:21 PM