Alexandra Meakin
@ameakin.bsky.social
Lecturer in British Politics & Programme Director BA Politics and Parliamentary Studies, @polisatleeds.bsky.social @universityofleeds.bsky.social Wrote PhD on the Restoration & Renewal of Palace of Westminster. Reposts ≠ endorsements
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Delighted that we at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk are once again supporting this annual online event aimed at reaching people currently under-represented in the think tank sector… please share with your networks…
February 4, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Delighted that we at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk are once again supporting this annual online event aimed at reaching people currently under-represented in the think tank sector… please share with your networks…
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Why planning policy matters: a short cautionary tale.
As I keep saying, the new draft National Planning Policy Framework fails to mention safety for women and girls (or indeed to include the word woman at all)
Why this is important is explained by the picture below.
🧵
As I keep saying, the new draft National Planning Policy Framework fails to mention safety for women and girls (or indeed to include the word woman at all)
Why this is important is explained by the picture below.
🧵
February 4, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Why planning policy matters: a short cautionary tale.
As I keep saying, the new draft National Planning Policy Framework fails to mention safety for women and girls (or indeed to include the word woman at all)
Why this is important is explained by the picture below.
🧵
As I keep saying, the new draft National Planning Policy Framework fails to mention safety for women and girls (or indeed to include the word woman at all)
Why this is important is explained by the picture below.
🧵
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
When I was writing about Labour’s prolific use of the humble address in opposition day debates during the last Parliament I remember thinking that when they’re in government they better be ready because the Tories are going to use the same tactic against them. Were they ready? It seems not.
February 4, 2026 at 4:31 PM
When I was writing about Labour’s prolific use of the humble address in opposition day debates during the last Parliament I remember thinking that when they’re in government they better be ready because the Tories are going to use the same tactic against them. Were they ready? It seems not.
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
When people talk about the idea that some universities must go under, there’s a certain tendency to behave as if these smaller local campuses are negligible- regrettable casualties perhaps but not ‘real’ universities. This report does a great job of illustrating why that’s wrong.
Everything in this report reflects on what we value, for communities, for peripheral places, for young people, for education, for the future - and it looks like we’ve got it all wrong.
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university?
When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope for a ‘left behind’ UK seaside town. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degr...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:07 AM
When people talk about the idea that some universities must go under, there’s a certain tendency to behave as if these smaller local campuses are negligible- regrettable casualties perhaps but not ‘real’ universities. This report does a great job of illustrating why that’s wrong.
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Devastatingly sad.
Every Labour MP should be forced to read this. In fact, every MP, who rushed back to Parliament to vote to save one steel mill, whilst hastening the collapse of dozens of universities - and harming the students, staff, communities and economies universities sustain and support
Every Labour MP should be forced to read this. In fact, every MP, who rushed back to Parliament to vote to save one steel mill, whilst hastening the collapse of dozens of universities - and harming the students, staff, communities and economies universities sustain and support
'When it opened, the campus housed a GP surgery and a new dental clinic offering free treatment to local people. This was followed later by the forum – a library and art gallery shared by the university and local people.' 1/2
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university?
When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope for a ‘left behind’ UK seaside town. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degr...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Devastatingly sad.
Every Labour MP should be forced to read this. In fact, every MP, who rushed back to Parliament to vote to save one steel mill, whilst hastening the collapse of dozens of universities - and harming the students, staff, communities and economies universities sustain and support
Every Labour MP should be forced to read this. In fact, every MP, who rushed back to Parliament to vote to save one steel mill, whilst hastening the collapse of dozens of universities - and harming the students, staff, communities and economies universities sustain and support
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
A precedent? God forbid!
Also, the staff in parliament are forced to work with, and effectively be subservient to, members of both Houses. So yes, for their sake as well set a precedent that people no longer have to doff their caps to abusers.
Also, the staff in parliament are forced to work with, and effectively be subservient to, members of both Houses. So yes, for their sake as well set a precedent that people no longer have to doff their caps to abusers.
Understand Tories won't create or back a bill to remove Mandelson's peerage. There is unease among politicians in Westminster about the precedent of a government using its large majority to go after individuals, no matter how egregious. But mechanisms should still be there to expel him.
February 3, 2026 at 12:14 PM
A precedent? God forbid!
Also, the staff in parliament are forced to work with, and effectively be subservient to, members of both Houses. So yes, for their sake as well set a precedent that people no longer have to doff their caps to abusers.
Also, the staff in parliament are forced to work with, and effectively be subservient to, members of both Houses. So yes, for their sake as well set a precedent that people no longer have to doff their caps to abusers.
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Happy for Gen Z that they get their own Mandelson scandal.
February 2, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Happy for Gen Z that they get their own Mandelson scandal.
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Sir John Templeton once said that the four most dangerous words in the English language were 'this time it's different'.
He was wrong. The four most dangerous words in the English language are in fact 'give Peter another chance'.
He was wrong. The four most dangerous words in the English language are in fact 'give Peter another chance'.
February 2, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Sir John Templeton once said that the four most dangerous words in the English language were 'this time it's different'.
He was wrong. The four most dangerous words in the English language are in fact 'give Peter another chance'.
He was wrong. The four most dangerous words in the English language are in fact 'give Peter another chance'.
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean has taken over the role as Lord Speaker.
So what does the Lord Speaker do? Read our explainer to find out more about the role and how it is elected www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...
So what does the Lord Speaker do? Read our explainer to find out more about the role and how it is elected www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...
Lord Speaker | Institute for Government
What is the role of the Lord Speaker?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
February 2, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean has taken over the role as Lord Speaker.
So what does the Lord Speaker do? Read our explainer to find out more about the role and how it is elected www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...
So what does the Lord Speaker do? Read our explainer to find out more about the role and how it is elected www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Why we need to strengthen and codify small party rights in the House of Commons, by @louisevthompson.bsky.social for @conunitucl.bsky.social : constitution-unit.com/2026/01/26/w...
Why we need to strengthen and codify small party rights in the House of Commons
Following the Unit’s January seminar, Can the House of Commons handle multi-party politics?, panellist Louise Thompson explains the procedural and logistical obstacles facing small parties in…
constitution-unit.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Why we need to strengthen and codify small party rights in the House of Commons, by @louisevthompson.bsky.social for @conunitucl.bsky.social : constitution-unit.com/2026/01/26/w...
On my way to check in on the brilliant @polisatleeds.bsky.social students on placement in Westminster today... Always good to have a reminder of the need for actual progress on Restoration and Renewal 🤦
February 2, 2026 at 9:10 AM
On my way to check in on the brilliant @polisatleeds.bsky.social students on placement in Westminster today... Always good to have a reminder of the need for actual progress on Restoration and Renewal 🤦
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
But improvements in attitude are essentially worthless if nothing actually changes for disabled students. The DSUK report tells us what we have known for years: students have to battle repeatedly, relentlessly, to access the bare minimum of what should be considered inclusive practice anyway
January 29, 2026 at 9:45 AM
But improvements in attitude are essentially worthless if nothing actually changes for disabled students. The DSUK report tells us what we have known for years: students have to battle repeatedly, relentlessly, to access the bare minimum of what should be considered inclusive practice anyway
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Andrew has really taken one for the team (ie everyone) here. This thread continues long past the point of despair, and is worth every post
I think I might take one of these "under 20 minutes" AI skills courses the UK Govt. seems very keen on everyone doing and live-post it here... Maybe we can all learn something together! The press release sends me to aiskillshub.org.uk/aiskillsboost/ - let's go and see!
AI Skills Boost - AI Skills Hub
aiskillshub.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Andrew has really taken one for the team (ie everyone) here. This thread continues long past the point of despair, and is worth every post
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Bored on train so made a starter pack listing all the House of Commons Library automated accounts on Bluesky:
go.bsky.app/4Giwged
Would recommend treating it as a pick list, rather than a normal starter pack. Some of the accounts - particularly written answers from departments - are quite noisy.
go.bsky.app/4Giwged
Would recommend treating it as a pick list, rather than a normal starter pack. Some of the accounts - particularly written answers from departments - are quite noisy.
January 29, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Bored on train so made a starter pack listing all the House of Commons Library automated accounts on Bluesky:
go.bsky.app/4Giwged
Would recommend treating it as a pick list, rather than a normal starter pack. Some of the accounts - particularly written answers from departments - are quite noisy.
go.bsky.app/4Giwged
Would recommend treating it as a pick list, rather than a normal starter pack. Some of the accounts - particularly written answers from departments - are quite noisy.
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
River Thames this morning
January 28, 2026 at 9:20 AM
River Thames this morning
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
The government’s suggestion that rolling out 20 minute courses on writing “AI“ prompts, sponsored by Google, Microsoft and Amazon, is somehow comparable to the founding of the Open University (the Wilson government‘s, & Jennie Lee’s, proudest achievement), is an insult to our human intelligence.
January 28, 2026 at 8:37 AM
The government’s suggestion that rolling out 20 minute courses on writing “AI“ prompts, sponsored by Google, Microsoft and Amazon, is somehow comparable to the founding of the Open University (the Wilson government‘s, & Jennie Lee’s, proudest achievement), is an insult to our human intelligence.
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Also god, this really sticks in the craw. Matt Goodwin devotes his entire professional life to talking about politics and to espousing his political worldview. In what sense is this remotely true?
January 27, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Also god, this really sticks in the craw. Matt Goodwin devotes his entire professional life to talking about politics and to espousing his political worldview. In what sense is this remotely true?
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Matt Goodwin makes a living out of railing against university educated elites & his whole schtick is "he was the first person in his family to go to university", which is a bit weird given that his Dad, now being heavily invoked for his Manchester connection, appears to have a string of degrees.
January 27, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Matt Goodwin makes a living out of railing against university educated elites & his whole schtick is "he was the first person in his family to go to university", which is a bit weird given that his Dad, now being heavily invoked for his Manchester connection, appears to have a string of degrees.
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
This is how the BBC is reporting Matt Goodwin's selection as Reform's candidate in Gorton and Denton.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
January 27, 2026 at 2:44 PM
This is how the BBC is reporting Matt Goodwin's selection as Reform's candidate in Gorton and Denton.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
He's not an academic. He holds no academic position and hasn't done for quite some time.
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com
I grew up with Alex Pretti
The kind-hearted ICU nurse shot by ICE agents was my childhood best friend.
www.theverge.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:45 PM
I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
If you want to know what actual political academics think of Matt Goodwin you can read quite a lot of their thoughts in this profile of him I wrote in 2024 (free with registration)
www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-m...
www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-m...
Matt Goodwin’s fall into the abyss
How a once respected academic embarked on a “sad, depressing journey of radicalisation”
www.thenewworld.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 3:30 PM
If you want to know what actual political academics think of Matt Goodwin you can read quite a lot of their thoughts in this profile of him I wrote in 2024 (free with registration)
www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-m...
www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-m...
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
Not an academic: racist propagandist.
The academic is aiming to become the party's ninth MP.
Reform Choose Right-Wing GB News Presenter Matt Goodwin To Stand In Crunch By-Election
The academic is aiming to become the party's ninth MP.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Not an academic: racist propagandist.
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
This is who Reform are putting up to represent a parliamentary seat in one of Europe's most diverse major cities
January 27, 2026 at 2:35 PM
This is who Reform are putting up to represent a parliamentary seat in one of Europe's most diverse major cities
Reposted by Alexandra Meakin
wish that instead of having to campaign for a political candidate you could volunteer to purely campaign against someone
January 27, 2026 at 2:12 PM
wish that instead of having to campaign for a political candidate you could volunteer to purely campaign against someone