Ruxandra Serban
@ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social
Political scientist researching how things work in different parliaments. Co-Convener of PSA Parliaments | ruxandraserban.com
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
📝Our new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report with @jackpannell.bsky.social & @emmanorris.bsky.social out today sets out out the underlying problems with the way public inquiries are established
We argue ministers need better support to make informed decisions about how an inquiry should be set up
We argue ministers need better support to make informed decisions about how an inquiry should be set up
How can the government ensure inquiries are set up to succeed? | Institute for Government
Early decisions can set inquiries off on the wrong path.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 19, 2025 at 10:53 AM
📝Our new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report with @jackpannell.bsky.social & @emmanorris.bsky.social out today sets out out the underlying problems with the way public inquiries are established
We argue ministers need better support to make informed decisions about how an inquiry should be set up
We argue ministers need better support to make informed decisions about how an inquiry should be set up
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
So because everything can be a ~ teachable moment ~ if you're nerdy enough, let's learn about Speaker Denison's rule-- a convention established in the nineteenth by (you guessed it) a Speaker of the Commons called John Denison.
TIED VOTE in the Commons on the Lib Dem customs union ten minute rule bill. 100 votes each, deputy speaker Caroline Nokes breaks the tie by voting aye, to continue debate
December 9, 2025 at 4:09 PM
So because everything can be a ~ teachable moment ~ if you're nerdy enough, let's learn about Speaker Denison's rule-- a convention established in the nineteenth by (you guessed it) a Speaker of the Commons called John Denison.
It will be interesting to see how this case fits into the comparative explanations for why reforms to reduce assembly size are introduced, e.g. Jacobs and Otjes (2015) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura agreed to submit a bill during the current parliamentary session that will reduce the number of Lower House seats by 10%.
Takaichi and JIP's Yoshimura agree to submit bill reducing Lower House seats
Passing a bill to cut seats in the lower chamber was a key demand for the Japan Innovation Party to enter into a coalition government with the Liberal Democratic Party.
ebx.sh
December 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
It will be interesting to see how this case fits into the comparative explanations for why reforms to reduce assembly size are introduced, e.g. Jacobs and Otjes (2015) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
As Duncan says, this article was a lot of fun.
There's so much to it - the funky method, in-depth case studies, the nuancing of a well-established party organisation theory, spatial regressions, maps...
There's so much to it - the funky method, in-depth case studies, the nuancing of a well-established party organisation theory, spatial regressions, maps...
🎁 Christmas has come early for @ammassarisofia.bsky.social & me with the publication of our article "The geography of the party on the ground: Local branches in Italy and Sweden in the late twentieth century" in @politicalgeography.bsky.social:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The geography of the party on the ground: Local branches in Italy and Sweden in the late twentieth century
The idea that the presence of Western European political parties at grassroots level rose and fell in the twentieth century is central to some of the …
www.sciencedirect.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:49 AM
As Duncan says, this article was a lot of fun.
There's so much to it - the funky method, in-depth case studies, the nuancing of a well-established party organisation theory, spatial regressions, maps...
There's so much to it - the funky method, in-depth case studies, the nuancing of a well-established party organisation theory, spatial regressions, maps...
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
Political communication research overwhelmingly relies on text. But parliamentary speech is multimodal! In our new @psrm.bsky.social article, Mathias Rask and I show that legislators also signal partisan conflict nonverbally— through changes in vocal pitch during floor speeches. 🧵 1/11 #polisky
December 4, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Political communication research overwhelmingly relies on text. But parliamentary speech is multimodal! In our new @psrm.bsky.social article, Mathias Rask and I show that legislators also signal partisan conflict nonverbally— through changes in vocal pitch during floor speeches. 🧵 1/11 #polisky
The BBC reports that the Speaker ‘had a word’ with Keir Starmer today about making policy announcements at the start of PMQs.
Starmer has increasingly used his PMQs opening answer to make a statement on policy, as we explored in this @conunitucl.bsky.social blog: tinyurl.com/2t5jun9w
Starmer has increasingly used his PMQs opening answer to make a statement on policy, as we explored in this @conunitucl.bsky.social blog: tinyurl.com/2t5jun9w
How has Keir Starmer changed Prime Minister’s Questions?
Since taking office, Keir Starmer has used his opening answer at Prime Minister’s Questions very differently from his predecessors. In this post, Ruxandra Serban and Tom Fleming explore how Starmer…
tinyurl.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The BBC reports that the Speaker ‘had a word’ with Keir Starmer today about making policy announcements at the start of PMQs.
Starmer has increasingly used his PMQs opening answer to make a statement on policy, as we explored in this @conunitucl.bsky.social blog: tinyurl.com/2t5jun9w
Starmer has increasingly used his PMQs opening answer to make a statement on policy, as we explored in this @conunitucl.bsky.social blog: tinyurl.com/2t5jun9w
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
Great article from @amyborrett.ft.com. But it does make me wonder again why there was zero national media coverage when the University of Brighton closed down its big, decades-old campus in Eastbourne. Now of course, it would make a great case study for a journalist of the economic/cultural impact.
Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
Roles to be lost are part of wave of redundancy programmes across UK’s higher education sector
www.ft.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Great article from @amyborrett.ft.com. But it does make me wonder again why there was zero national media coverage when the University of Brighton closed down its big, decades-old campus in Eastbourne. Now of course, it would make a great case study for a journalist of the economic/cultural impact.
We are so proud of our parliamentary studies star Dr Lauren Martin! ⭐️
🎉 We were delighted to announce at the conference that our very own
Lauren Martin passed her PhD viva!! A huge congratulations to Dr Martin!
📸 Here she is with her external examiner—the wonderful @estrangeirada.bsky.social!
Lauren Martin passed her PhD viva!! A huge congratulations to Dr Martin!
📸 Here she is with her external examiner—the wonderful @estrangeirada.bsky.social!
November 28, 2025 at 9:47 PM
We are so proud of our parliamentary studies star Dr Lauren Martin! ⭐️
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
🙏 Thank you so much from the PSA Parliaments committee to everyone who contributed and attended!
🎉 Introducing you to our soon-to-be Co-Convenor @rickwhitaker.bsky.social…
🫡 That’s us all signing off for 2025!
🤠 See you in the New Year!
#PSAParl25
🎉 Introducing you to our soon-to-be Co-Convenor @rickwhitaker.bsky.social…
🫡 That’s us all signing off for 2025!
🤠 See you in the New Year!
#PSAParl25
November 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
🙏 Thank you so much from the PSA Parliaments committee to everyone who contributed and attended!
🎉 Introducing you to our soon-to-be Co-Convenor @rickwhitaker.bsky.social…
🫡 That’s us all signing off for 2025!
🤠 See you in the New Year!
#PSAParl25
🎉 Introducing you to our soon-to-be Co-Convenor @rickwhitaker.bsky.social…
🫡 That’s us all signing off for 2025!
🤠 See you in the New Year!
#PSAParl25
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
Our Parliaments Specialist Group's annual conference has come to a close!
Thank you to all that came and everyone who contributed to the discussions during the panels and the events.
Thank you to all that came and everyone who contributed to the discussions during the panels and the events.
November 28, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Our Parliaments Specialist Group's annual conference has come to a close!
Thank you to all that came and everyone who contributed to the discussions during the panels and the events.
Thank you to all that came and everyone who contributed to the discussions during the panels and the events.
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
The new Comparative Constitutions Project website is now live! Developed by yours truly. We're also releasing version 5.0 of our Constitutional Chronology and Constitutional Characteristics datasets, updated through 2023. Explore and download: comparativeconstitutionsproject.org
Comparative Constitutions Project
Producing data about constitutions. Impacting the constitution-making process. Promoting peace, justice, and human development.
comparativeconstitutionsproject.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The new Comparative Constitutions Project website is now live! Developed by yours truly. We're also releasing version 5.0 of our Constitutional Chronology and Constitutional Characteristics datasets, updated through 2023. Explore and download: comparativeconstitutionsproject.org
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
NEW BLOG: Assessing the House of Commons Backbench Business Committee 15 years on
Unit Director Meg Russell and Hannah Kelly argue changes are needed to get back to the Wright Committee’s vision of it helping facilitate a more responsive and independent House of Commons.
Unit Director Meg Russell and Hannah Kelly argue changes are needed to get back to the Wright Committee’s vision of it helping facilitate a more responsive and independent House of Commons.
Assessing the House of Commons Backbench Business Committee 15 years on
Unit Director Meg Russell and Hannah Kelly argue changes are needed to get back to the Wright Committee’s vision of it helping facilitate a more responsive and independent House of Commons.
constitution-unit.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
NEW BLOG: Assessing the House of Commons Backbench Business Committee 15 years on
Unit Director Meg Russell and Hannah Kelly argue changes are needed to get back to the Wright Committee’s vision of it helping facilitate a more responsive and independent House of Commons.
Unit Director Meg Russell and Hannah Kelly argue changes are needed to get back to the Wright Committee’s vision of it helping facilitate a more responsive and independent House of Commons.
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
Keir Starmer uses the answer to the ‘engagements’ (first) question at PMQs as an opening statement.
On average, they are around 153 words, but some have been longer (e.g. about 586 words on the China spying case), leading to criticism that he’s using them as a substitute for a full statement.
On average, they are around 153 words, but some have been longer (e.g. about 586 words on the China spying case), leading to criticism that he’s using them as a substitute for a full statement.
In Business Questions today, Jesse Norman said: 'since taking office last year, the present Prime Minister has increasingly misused his first engagements question'.
@ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social and Tom Fleming have crunched the numbers to find that Keir Starmer does use PMQs differently.
Read more 👇
@ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social and Tom Fleming have crunched the numbers to find that Keir Starmer does use PMQs differently.
Read more 👇
How has Keir Starmer changed Prime Minister’s Questions?
Since taking office, Keir Starmer has used his opening answer at Prime Minister’s Questions very differently from his predecessors. In this post, Ruxandra Serban and Tom Fleming explore how Starmer…
constitution-unit.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Keir Starmer uses the answer to the ‘engagements’ (first) question at PMQs as an opening statement.
On average, they are around 153 words, but some have been longer (e.g. about 586 words on the China spying case), leading to criticism that he’s using them as a substitute for a full statement.
On average, they are around 153 words, but some have been longer (e.g. about 586 words on the China spying case), leading to criticism that he’s using them as a substitute for a full statement.
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
Missing here is another way unis are managing costs: a de facto hiring freeze across much of the sector (judging by how few jobs are being advertised)
I’m old enough to remember when everybody agreed that higher education was a “market” and offering “choice” was how the universities were meant to grow
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
October 27, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Missing here is another way unis are managing costs: a de facto hiring freeze across much of the sector (judging by how few jobs are being advertised)
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 🎉
The PSA Parliaments Annual Conference 2025 will be hosted by the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York in conjunction with The White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership on the 27th-28th November!
The PSA Parliaments Annual Conference 2025 will be hosted by the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York in conjunction with The White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership on the 27th-28th November!
October 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 🎉
The PSA Parliaments Annual Conference 2025 will be hosted by the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York in conjunction with The White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership on the 27th-28th November!
The PSA Parliaments Annual Conference 2025 will be hosted by the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York in conjunction with The White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership on the 27th-28th November!
📣 We are very excited for this year’s @psa-parliaments.bsky.social annual conference taking place at the University of York!
📝 More details and registration:
psaparliaments.org/annual-confe...
📝 More details and registration:
psaparliaments.org/annual-confe...
October 17, 2025 at 12:28 PM
📣 We are very excited for this year’s @psa-parliaments.bsky.social annual conference taking place at the University of York!
📝 More details and registration:
psaparliaments.org/annual-confe...
📝 More details and registration:
psaparliaments.org/annual-confe...
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
It is briefings day!
We are releasing newly updated versions of our briefings, plus three new ones!
The series covers topics from the constitutional principles that underpin democracy to the role of citizens' assemblies.
Use this mega-thread to browse them.
And find out more 👇
We are releasing newly updated versions of our briefings, plus three new ones!
The series covers topics from the constitutional principles that underpin democracy to the role of citizens' assemblies.
Use this mega-thread to browse them.
And find out more 👇
Constitution Unit publishes new briefings on constitutional principles and the health of democracy
The Constitution Unit has today published new and updated briefings as part of its Constitutional Principles and the Health of Democracy project.
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 15, 2025 at 6:00 AM
It is briefings day!
We are releasing newly updated versions of our briefings, plus three new ones!
The series covers topics from the constitutional principles that underpin democracy to the role of citizens' assemblies.
Use this mega-thread to browse them.
And find out more 👇
We are releasing newly updated versions of our briefings, plus three new ones!
The series covers topics from the constitutional principles that underpin democracy to the role of citizens' assemblies.
Use this mega-thread to browse them.
And find out more 👇
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
ON THE BLOG: Prime Minister's Question Period in the Canadian House of Commons: Lessons in parliamentary reform
@ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social explains how Canada's experiment with a Prime Minister's Question Period procedure between 2017 and 2025 worked and how it differed from the traditional model.
@ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social explains how Canada's experiment with a Prime Minister's Question Period procedure between 2017 and 2025 worked and how it differed from the traditional model.
Prime Minister's Question Period in the Canadian House of Commons: Lessons in parliamentary reform
Between 2017 and 2025, the Canadian House of Commons operated a Prime Minister’s Question Period procedure, introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In a new published article summarised here, Ruxandra Serban explores how this procedure worked, and how it differed from the traditional Question Period model.
constitution-unit.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:55 AM
ON THE BLOG: Prime Minister's Question Period in the Canadian House of Commons: Lessons in parliamentary reform
@ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social explains how Canada's experiment with a Prime Minister's Question Period procedure between 2017 and 2025 worked and how it differed from the traditional model.
@ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social explains how Canada's experiment with a Prime Minister's Question Period procedure between 2017 and 2025 worked and how it differed from the traditional model.
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
New Working Paper 🚨
I am introducing the new dataset on Parliamentary Elites in Authoritarian Regimes (PEAR). It includes information on the composition of parliaments in 819 legislative terms in 130 autocracies from 1945 - based on over 200k individual-level observations.
tinyurl.com/48h68hmh
I am introducing the new dataset on Parliamentary Elites in Authoritarian Regimes (PEAR). It includes information on the composition of parliaments in 819 legislative terms in 130 autocracies from 1945 - based on over 200k individual-level observations.
tinyurl.com/48h68hmh
October 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
New Working Paper 🚨
I am introducing the new dataset on Parliamentary Elites in Authoritarian Regimes (PEAR). It includes information on the composition of parliaments in 819 legislative terms in 130 autocracies from 1945 - based on over 200k individual-level observations.
tinyurl.com/48h68hmh
I am introducing the new dataset on Parliamentary Elites in Authoritarian Regimes (PEAR). It includes information on the composition of parliaments in 819 legislative terms in 130 autocracies from 1945 - based on over 200k individual-level observations.
tinyurl.com/48h68hmh
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
1/ Whatever you think of digital ID, the process matters.
And in 2025, this is still how we make big public policy. 👇
And in 2025, this is still how we make big public policy. 👇
September 26, 2025 at 4:18 PM
1/ Whatever you think of digital ID, the process matters.
And in 2025, this is still how we make big public policy. 👇
And in 2025, this is still how we make big public policy. 👇
It was great to talk about all things PMQs with @ruthfox.bsky.social and @darcyxtip.bsky.social on @hansardsociety.bsky.social Parliament Matters!
We discuss why France and Canada have experimented with PMQs, and why it may be time to retire the ‘engagements’ question.
youtu.be/OtpApR3fNQE?...
We discuss why France and Canada have experimented with PMQs, and why it may be time to retire the ‘engagements’ question.
youtu.be/OtpApR3fNQE?...
Prime Minister's Questions: Westminster's weekly gladiatorial combat
YouTube video by Hansard Society
youtu.be
August 29, 2025 at 9:03 AM
It was great to talk about all things PMQs with @ruthfox.bsky.social and @darcyxtip.bsky.social on @hansardsociety.bsky.social Parliament Matters!
We discuss why France and Canada have experimented with PMQs, and why it may be time to retire the ‘engagements’ question.
youtu.be/OtpApR3fNQE?...
We discuss why France and Canada have experimented with PMQs, and why it may be time to retire the ‘engagements’ question.
youtu.be/OtpApR3fNQE?...
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
Want a good starting point for learning good principles of Dataviz?
I'd highly recommend @andrew.heiss.phd course--Data Visualization with R.
Reading materials, slides, lecture videos, examples, code, etc. are all posted for free on his website.
I'd highly recommend @andrew.heiss.phd course--Data Visualization with R.
Reading materials, slides, lecture videos, examples, code, etc. are all posted for free on his website.
August 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Want a good starting point for learning good principles of Dataviz?
I'd highly recommend @andrew.heiss.phd course--Data Visualization with R.
Reading materials, slides, lecture videos, examples, code, etc. are all posted for free on his website.
I'd highly recommend @andrew.heiss.phd course--Data Visualization with R.
Reading materials, slides, lecture videos, examples, code, etc. are all posted for free on his website.
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
Couldn't even finish this cos I thought I would turn myself inside out like a pretzel with cringe. The stupid, it burns! www.theguardian.com/education/20...
International student levy could cost English universities £600m a year
The proposed 6% surcharge has prompted warnings from vice-chancellors over its impact on budgets and global competitiveness
www.theguardian.com
August 8, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Couldn't even finish this cos I thought I would turn myself inside out like a pretzel with cringe. The stupid, it burns! www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Ruxandra Serban
