Alexandra Meakin
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ameakin.bsky.social
Alexandra Meakin
@ameakin.bsky.social
500 followers 480 following 130 posts
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
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ameakin.bsky.social
Thanks to @ringwiss.bsky.social for the heads up that this year's Parliament Christmas jumper is an absolute stunner 😍 www.shop.parliament.uk/products/big...
The utterly beautiful red white and blue Parliamentary Christmas jumper with Santa's sleigh flying above the Palace of Westminster
October 17, 2025 at 12:57 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
Love an R&R shout out on the @hansardsociety.bsky.social Parliament Matters pod - and completely agree with @ruthfox.bsky.social & @darcyxtip.bsky.social about the prospect of getting the promised vote before the end of 2025. Listen/transcript www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam... #WestminsterRR
Ruth Fox: Yeah and just going back to that question of the state of the public finances, I'm gonna speculate that one decision that will not be made probably by Parliament, before Christmas, but really ought to be is the future of the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster. Again, another theme that we keep revisiting. We have been told in statement after statement that a vote will be held on the future of the restoration and renewal program, and whether or not MPs and peers are going to leave the Palace of Westminster to enable the refurbishment work to take place over a number of years or not, or whether there'll be a partial decant, the Lords will move out and the Commons will move into the Lords. So a number of different scenarios are in play. We are promised that there will be a report and a vote by the end of this year. But given that the leader of the House of [00:37:00] Commons and a key figure on the restoration and renewal governance side has recently changed, of course, once Lucy Powell was removed from cabinet and replaced by the then Chief Whip Officer Alan Campbell. I do rather think that, that again could be kicked into the long grass a bit further. Mark D'Arcy: It's one of these things where they keep promising there'll be a debate in due course and a report in due course, and then it doesn't appear and it's just kicked, as you say, further and further into the long grass. And in the meantime, the Palace of Westminster is essentially being held together with spit and sawdust and running repairs. And there's a risk of fire or some structural collapse and bits of gargoyle falling on people, sewers, whatever it might be, breaking, the sewers bubbling up. I would say that that turns the place into a living metaphor and all sorts of disasters could befall it. And of course, when you have the state opening of Parliament, just imagine what would happen if the lights went out in the middle of that, leaving His Majesty stranded in darkness as …
October 17, 2025 at 7:54 AM
ameakin.bsky.social
Happy first day of 2025/26 intro week for our new and returning @polisatleeds.bsky.social students! So delighted that the Uni of Leeds heron also returned to mark the occasion 🙌
A majestic heron stands on a grassy platform in the middle of the Roger Stevens pond. The Roger Stevens building is in the background, with lots of students trooping up the building ramp. The sky is blue with a few floaty white clouds.
September 22, 2025 at 4:35 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
Yeah, maybe not the best choice of words from the OneDrive notification there 🤦
A notification appearing on a garmin watch, which states: "11 September! Today over the years See what made this day special over time"
September 11, 2025 at 9:07 AM
ameakin.bsky.social
Ooooof (from this week's @privateeyenews.bsky.social)
SUNDAE WORKING THIS summer, Reform UK MP Lee Anderson isn't just his party's chief whip - he's also its chief Mr Whippy. With most MPs away from Parliament for recess, Strangers, the politicians' bar, is closed for the summer. So instead of dispensing booze, the space has been temporarily transformed into an ice cream parlour for miscellaneous staff who have remained in Westminster - including political staff, cleaners, caterers and hacks. Any MPs who are still around can use it too. And last Tuesday, that included Anderson, MP for Ashfield, who walked insouciantly past the queue, ordered himself an ice cream sundae with chocolate sauce, and plonked himself in the corner of the bar to eat it. One parliamentary worker approached the politician to tell him he had pushed in. In response, Anderson glowered back, and said: "I'm an MP so I can go first, and there's only one MP in here and it's me." The man was apologetic and went back to the queue - whereupon Anderson was heard to mutter Something which sounded very much like "twat" under his breath. Truly a man of the people
August 20, 2025 at 3:06 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
The FT weekend story on Restoration and Renewal identified a new fourth option (after full decant partial decant, and enhanced maintenance) of "no regret" works. Bizarre naming besides, it is entirely fitting for any R&R debate to have a can-kicking option🤦 #WestminsterRR www.ft.com/content/9e4b...
Others would involve a phased restoration during which the Commons would continue to meet at Westminster but the Lords might be moved out and a rolling programme of “enhanced maintenance” likely to span decades. However, people briefed on the plan believe MPs could also be asked to consider a fourth option: a programme of “no regret” works to improve the fabric of the building, short of backing a full restoration scheme. “It would be kicking the can down the road,” said one person briefed on the talks.
August 19, 2025 at 12:14 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
This little one was in the womb for the 2022 Euros, and so we named her after a Lioness. Today she got to watch her namesake (and the rest of this amazing team) win the Euros ❤️ Her big sister, already a ST holder for a WSL2 club, was beyond excited. They are super inspired and I love it.
The back of a ginger-haired toddler, wearing a grobag because it was way past her bedtime, sitting on a rug, watching the Lionesses lift the Euro 2025 trophy on television.
July 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
Yes yes yes to getting the R&R debate into the public and highlighting how the sometimes unreasonable demands of MPs have continued to determine how the programme is run - despite these same MPs then losing their seats #WestminsterRR
The crux of the issue is that there needs to be a complete reset of the R and R programme. The books need to be open to the public, and we need to bring the public into the debate about how we balance the needs of a world heritage site with modern security, accessibility —for example, for those with a disability—and value for money. Updated costs need to be presented. Currently, millions of pounds are being spent working up multiple options, despite our now being in the fifth year of this work. Indeed, those options are gold-plated, often based on decisions taken by Members who are no longer in the House. There is remarkably little visibility of this issue.
July 23, 2025 at 9:37 AM
ameakin.bsky.social
An excellent speech yesterday on the Restoration & Renewal of the Palace of Westminster, by Steve Barclay, Commons Finance Committee Chair. Flags up the appalling lack of transparency around R&R and the massive ongoing costs of delay and repairs #WestminsterRR hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
Hiding in plain sight, but not discussed in this Chamber since the general election, is the spending of millions of pounds on the repair of this building, with Members expected to commit later this year to spending billions of pounds into the future. The lack of debate or any meaningful transparency comes despite the majority of Members of this House being newly elected last July. Instead, the detailed costs and any vote on options are being delayed until later this year—ironically, they will probably come at around the same time that the House is expected to vote on a Budget, which many people expect to include tax rises. Members of the House, and Toggle showing location ofColumn 765members of the public, might reasonably ask why the Leader of the House has not held any such debate since coming into office. This issue speaks to a wider principle. Are decisions best formulated in private when some of the numbers remain uncertain, with reliance placed on internal controls and external advisers giving assurances, or is it better to have transparency—not least on an issue of great public interest? A lesson that, as a Minister, I learned from covid is that it is better to have transparency and an open debate about the trade-offs early than to hold discussions in secret and allow the benefit of hindsight after the event. Supporting greater transparency has been a theme of my time in the House, whether in my initial four years on the Public Accounts Committee or when as a Minister I overruled official advice to disclose information to the National Audit Office during covid. Since being elected as Chair of the House’s Finance Committee, I have repeatedly raised concerns in private about the financial management of the House and the multibillion-pound restoration and renewal programme, but I feel it is necessary to raise these issues on the Floor of the House today.
July 23, 2025 at 9:37 AM
ameakin.bsky.social
What a day! So, so proud of our 2025 graduating class @polisatleeds.bsky.social - here's the brilliant BA Politics and Parliamentary Studies cohort (we missed you Phoebe!) @estrangeirada.bsky.social
James Barwick, Freya Barr, Catherine Stigwood, Cristina Leston Bandeira, Alexandra Meakin, Louis Raimes, Manuela Marcondes, Josh King, and William Ghebremichael - all in graduation gowns outside The Great Hall entrance at the University of Leeds. The students are holding their graduation certificates and everyone is proud and happy.
July 16, 2025 at 6:43 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
Graduation ready @polisatleeds.bsky.social! @estrangeirada.bsky.social and I are very excited!
Cristina Leston Bandeira and Alexandra Meakin all dressed up in fancy academic gowns and hats for graduation.
July 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
Also, come for the QEII scoop, stay for the drive-by on Speaker Hoyle from a member of the Restoration and Renewal Client Board #WestminsterRR
PoliticsHome understands that Baroness Smith, Leader of the House of Lords, is in favour of a full decant, and expressed this view at the meeting. While Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been pushing for parliamentarians to stay on the estate while work continued, the board member claimed his authority is waning. "Mr Speaker has exercised a very, very strong malign influence, and in the Commons, nobody has wanted to stand up to him, and it's difficult to stand up to him from the Lords," they said. "I got a sense on Monday that his position isn't quite as strong as it was, because it's a new group of MPs on the House of Commons commission, and his arguments were frankly ridiculous."
July 3, 2025 at 6:37 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
Mixed emotions because while it was sad for our young players (who have been incredible) for the season to end like this, I'm just overwhelmingly relieved that our club remains in existence and may even be getting a fresh start. Up the 'ding 🙌
The Select Car Leasing Stadium at full time. Barnsley players in pink celebrate, while Reading players wearing blue and white hoops sit despondent on the pitch.
May 3, 2025 at 9:32 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
It's super rare I get to go to a home game but I couldn't miss it today... #readingfc
A train table with a open book, a Reading FC Member Card, and a paper train ticket from Sheffield to Reading Green Park.
May 3, 2025 at 9:05 AM
ameakin.bsky.social
It was a double celebration for @polisatleeds.bsky.social as my outstanding officemate @estrangeirada.bsky.social received the Sir Isaiah Berlin Prize 2025 for outstanding professional contributions to political studies 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Cristina Leston-Bandeira and me, holding our PSA certificates and looking proud
April 14, 2025 at 8:19 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
A total honour to receive this at #psa25 today! Huge thanks to my incredible @polisatleeds.bsky.social colleagues for the nomination, the @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social judges, and, of course, my brilliant students who make teaching so much fun!
A certificate with the PSA logo and the text Sir Bernard Crick Prize 2025 for outstanding contributions to advancing teaching and learning in political studies by an early career academic is awarded to Dr Alexandra Meakin
April 14, 2025 at 8:04 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
For once I'm heading south rather than north on the CrossCountry train as I'm off to Birmingham for #psa25! Can't wait to catch up with @psa-parliaments.bsky.social and Teaching & Learning Network colleagues, and to congratulate @stephenholdenbates.bsky.social on his excellent convening 🙌
Platform 6 at Sheffield train station, with a clock showing 7.50 and a departure board showing the 7.53 train to Plymouth. There are several people waiting on the platform.
April 14, 2025 at 7:17 AM
ameakin.bsky.social
Love the tangible frustration of the Restoration & Renewal Programme Board members that the EMI (Enhanced Maintenance & Improvement) option is not being scrutinised as rigorously as full decant & that MPs' willingness in theory to put up with disruption, will be much lower in reality #WestminsterRR
3. Consideration of costed proposal options: delivery approaches The Board noted that none of the options could start immediately following a decision and that the levels of occupancy determined how temporary services were provided. Board members advocated for EMI to be subject to the same rigorous challenge as the full decant and continued presence options. Board members queried the duration of enabling works being shorter under EMI and requested that the differences between the schedule of enabling works for the different options be set out clearly in the paper on schedule. The Board discussed disruption and noted that EMI would still feel like a construction site as well as the increased levels of disruption caused by regular ongoing change and continuous flux rather than one big change. Mitigations, such as hoarding, would be put in place to minimise these risks and would follow procedures currently followed. The Board noted that there may be a difference between a decision on what stakeholders are willing to tolerate and the reality during construction. The Board discussed the importance of properly understanding disruption. The Board discussed the need for clear information on the timeline for benefits realisation and risk for both the building and building users. The Board pressed for an increased level of exchange of information and constructive challenge between the Strategic Estates and Delivery Authority teams, and noted that there was more that could be done to maximise the expertise in the two teams to develop work on the options. The Board noted that there were issues relating to sharing information between the two teams and that there was an upcoming meeting between officials to discuss parliamentary controls on information.
April 1, 2025 at 12:18 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
What a beautiful day to celebrate our outstanding @polisatleeds.bsky.social first year students! #PIED1001
A red and white certificate with the University of Leeds logo is held up against as backdrop of daffodils, bluebells, and green grass
March 26, 2025 at 1:51 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
To mark the publication of the 2nd edition of #ExploringParliament, here's a throwback to the book's origins: 11 April 2022 when @psa-parliaments.bsky.social kindly hosted a roundtable at @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social conference in York... @estrangeirada.bsky.social @louisevthompson.bsky.social
Jack Sheldon, Farrah Bhatti, Cristina Leston-Bandeira, Louise Thompson, Sarah Childs and Simon Burton sitting at the front of a classroom. #ExploringParliament is written on the blackboard behind Jack.
March 26, 2025 at 10:06 AM
ameakin.bsky.social
And now @estrangeirada.bsky.social, @louisevthompson.bsky.social and I get to share these chapters with you all! Read now! global.oup.com/ukhe/product... and add to your reading lists!
The cover of Exploring Parliament Second Edition, showing the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Bridge from across the Thames, at twilight.
March 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
It's been an absolute treat to get to read 33 chapters explaining how Parliament works - on everything from law-making, select committees, questioning the government, diversity, constituency casework, interparliamentary relations, the significance of rituals & much more...
Part I Introducing the UK Parliament 1 Introduction 3 Paul Silk, Aileen Walker, Cristina Leston-Bandeira, Alexandra Meakin, and Louise Thompson 2 Parliament in Context 9 Philip Norton 3 Westminster in the UK Context 17 Sean Haughey, Mark Shephard, and Diana Stirbu Part II People and Places in Parliament 4 The Political Organization of Parliament 31 Case study: The Liz Truss premiership 37 Richard Kelly and Louise Thompson 5 The Governance of Parliament 41 Case study: Sexual misconduct and bullying 48 Sarah Petit and Ben Yong 6 Supporting Members and Peers 52 Case study: The Speaker’s Conference on the employment conditions of members’ staff 59 Matthew Congreve and Rebecca McKee 7 The Significance of Rituals in Parliament 63 Case study: The State Opening of Parliament 69 Emma Crewe and Paul Evans xvi 8 Spaces and Places in Parliament 73 Case study: Disability access in the Restoration and Renewal programme 79 Kate Anderson, Alexandra Meakin, and Alex Prior Part III Law Making 9 The Legislative Process 87 Case study: The Online Safety Act 2023 96 Liam Laurence Smyth and Matt Korris 10 Parliamentary Scrutiny and Influence on Government Bills 97 Case study: Parliament’s scrutiny of the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill 104 Meg Russell and Daniel Gover 11 Delegated Legislation 107 Case study: Statutory instruments during the coronavirus pandemic 113 Ruth Fox and Brigid Fowler 12 Post-Legislative Scrutiny 123 Case study: The Licensing Act 2003 125 Tom Caygill and Michael Collon 13 Interparliamentary Relations 127 Case study: The impact of Brexit on interparliamentary relations 135 Nia Moss and Gareth Williams 14 Private Members’ Bills 138 Case study: The British Sign Language Act 2022 145 Ruth Dixon and Anne-Marie Griffiths 15 Campaigning to Change Law and Policy 149 Case study: Campaigning in relation to gambling regulation and gambling-related harm 155 Felicity Matthews and Paul E. J. Thomas Part IV Scrutiny and Accountability 16 The Westminster Model of Accountability 163 Case study: The use of the ‘humble address’ in the House of Commons in 2017 and 2018 169 Martyn Atkins, Andrew Defty, and James Strong 17 Select Committees in the House of Commons 173 Case study: Comparing accountability practices by select committees: From military withdrawal in Afghanistan to workers’ rights for seafarers 179 Marc Geddes and Farrah Bhatti 18 Questioning the Government 185 Case study: Boris Johnson’s inaugural PMQs 193 Ruxandra Serban, Luke Hussey, and Peter Kerr 19 Scrutiny by the House of Lords 198 Case study: Scrutiny of common frameworks 204 Rosanna Barry and Chloe Mawson 20 Scrutiny in Challenging Times 208 Case study: Select committees’ joint inquiry on Covid-19 214 Lucinda Maer and Richard Whitaker 21 Parliament and the Media 218 Case study: Parliament and the media during Covid-19 224 Sasha Fuller, Alasdair Rendall, and Anikka Weerasinghe Part V Representation 22 Diversity and Representation in the House of Commons 231 Case study: Workplace equality networks 237 Richard Cracknell and Ekaterina Kolpinskaya 23 Women in the House of Commons 245 Case study: Gender and diversity sensitivity in the Covid-19 House of Commons 252 Rosie Campbell, Chloe Challender, Sarah Childs, and Jessica C. Smith 24 MPs and their Constituencies 258 Case study: Complicated casework 264 Nicholas Allen and Emma Salisbury 25 The Role of a Backbencher 269 Case study: An MP’s working week 274 Stephen Holden Bates and Caroline Bhattacharya 26 Representation in the Lords 279 Case study: The House of Lords Appointments Commission 286 Peter Dorey and Matthew Purvis xviii 27 Parliament and Public Engagement 291 Case study: How the public shaped policy on the menopause 297 Cristina Leston-Bandeira, Emma McIntosh, and Ben Pearson Part VI Challenges 28 Conduct and Standards of Parliamentarians 305 Case study: Paid lobbying: The case of Owen Paterson MP 312 Alistair Clark and Hannah White 29 Challenges Facing MPs 317 Case study: ‘In their words’—the challenges of political work described by two MPs 323 Margaret McKinnon, Stefanie Reher, and James Weinberg 30 Trust in Parliament 327 Case study: Brexit, parliament, and trust 2016–2020 333 Elise Uberoi and Ben Worthy 31 Reforming Parliament 338 Case study: The introduction of proxy voting in the House of Commons 344 Mark Bennister and Kevin Maddison 32 A Parliament for the Union? 349 Case study: Legislative consent 358 Graeme Cowie and Jack Sheldon 33 Conclusion: The Future of Parliamentary Politics 359 David Judge
March 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
Extra extra thanks to @kateaniconic.bsky.social and @alexprior.bsky.social for being co-authors extraordinaire! Our chapter on Spaces and Places in Parliament includes a case study on how the Restoration and Renewal programme has considered disability access. Spoiler alert... #WestminsterRR
At the time of writing, fears of the cost and length of the necessary repairs have stalled the R&R programme, with little sign that progress will be made in the near future. The ‘shame’ felt by MPs when escorting disabled constituents round their parliament building will therefore continue. This case study has highlighted the challenge of focusing on the Palace purely as a ‘space’, given the broader meanings ascribed to the space, and in doing so has sought to explain why, despite widespread recognition of the poor facilities for disabled people working within or visiting parliament, the building remains hugely inaccessible.
March 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
So, so proud of this book! It was an honour to be asked by @estrangeirada.bsky.social & @louisevthompson.bsky.social to join the editing team and work with 70+ incredible practitioners & academics who shared their expertise for the benefit of students of Parliament: global.oup.com/ukhe/product... 🧵
The cover of Exploring Parliament Second Edition, showing the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Bridge from across the Thames, at twilight.
March 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
ameakin.bsky.social
New answer to Lord Hain PQ reveals that asbestos-containing materials found in 1057 places to date in the Palace of Westminster. Still hard to see how the Palace can be repaired without a decant, if you want to protect staff and visitors from asbestos during the building works... #WestminsterRR
Palace of Westminster: Asbestos The Senior Deputy Speaker written question – answered at on 10 March 2025. Alert me about debates like this « Previous answer All Written Answers on 10 Mar 2025 Next answer » Photo of Lord HainLord Hain Labour To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by the Senior Deputy Speaker on 17 February (HL4749), what are the specific quantities of asbestos found in the Palace of Westminster, and what assessment has been made of the risks of asbestosis. Tweet Share Hansard source (Citation: HL Deb, 10 March 2025, cW) Photo of Lord Gardiner of KimbleLord Gardiner of Kimble The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, The Senior Deputy Speaker, Chair, Standing Orders (Private Bills) Committee (Lords), Chair, Standing Orders (Private Bills) Committee (Lords), Chair, Committee of Selection (Lords), Chair, Committee of Selection (Lords), Chair, Liaison Committee (Lords), Chair, Liaison Committee (Lords), Chair, Hybrid Instruments Committee (Lords), Chair, Hybrid Instruments Committee (Lords), Chair, Procedure and Privileges Committee, Chair, Procedure and Privileges Committee Asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are present across the Palace of Westminster, to date a total of 1057 items have been identified. The assessment of risks is determined by management surveys that identify and where deemed necessary the ongoing monitoring the condition of any ACMs. The purpose of the management survey is to identify the presence, material score (condition) and proximity risk (e.g. how likely the ACMs are to be disturbed). Where management surveys identify a significant risk related to the ACMs they are removed by a licenced asbestos removal contractor. Where more invasive works are planned across the Palace such as for construction projects, refurbishment or demolition, a survey is undertaken and where ACMs are identified and where practicable, planning is made for removal. There is a program…
March 13, 2025 at 10:44 AM