And great to get a print copy of the CPA's magazine with our article on the Guides on Citizen Engagement - a good read on the train back, after a v long day

One cancelled train three delayed trains and four trains later I eventually got home yesterday for 22:30, but really enjoyed being part of the first @studyofparl.bsky.social Welsh gathering to discuss what's to come with the Seventh Senedd. And such a stunning bay in Cardiff.

The three editors - the A-Team 😊 @ameakin.bsky.social @louisevthompson.bsky.social

We had the most brilliant launch of Exploring Parliament this evening at the Institute for Government! Thank you to all the panellists, all the guests, and most of all to @instituteforgovernment.org.uk for hosting us, truly appreciated 🙏😊. V special also to have our own students attending 😊1/2:

V humbled by nomination by my peers and to have won the @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social Sir Isaiah Berlin prize for outstanding professional contributions to political studies. It's taken me a few days to get round the imposter feeling, but am v grateful to all those who nominated me and selected me. 🙏

The plant, now named Aileen (obvs), is back in Yorkshire, ready to be planted in the garden at the weekend. But what a cracking day she had travelling to and from Scotland😊.

Having a rest at SPICe after committee evidence - first plant ever to a committee evidence? 4/4

Admiring the fab exhibition currently at the Scottish Parliament about people's voices 3/4

Getting to the Scottish Parliament 2/4

So I met my son in Leeds (where I work, but don't live, he lives there) who gave me a (beautiful) plant for Mother's day; though the thing is: I was on my way to Scotland for work at the Scottish Parliament. So my beautiful plant has had a trip to Scotland. Down the Royal Mile 1/4

Great to see this out - Doing Fieldwork in Centres of Power, ed. by Jonathan Chibois and Samuel Shapiro. I have a chapter where I reflect on my journey researching parliaments over the past 30 years, from Portugal to IPEN. Really enjoyed writing it - Getting to the Soul of Parliaments 😉.

Are Westminster Hall debates Parliament's best kept secret (as interviewee told us)? Despite 25 years old, we know little about it - here are four key findings for the @psa-parliaments.bsky.social from pilot research @louisevthompson.bsky.social and I have done: psaparliaments.org/2025/01/05/w...