Alex Parsons
@alexparsons.bsky.social
Democracy Programme Lead / Senior Researcher - mySociety/TheyWorkForYou. Also for some reason Postman Pat reviews.
Pinned
Alex Parsons
@alexparsons.bsky.social
· Mar 4
WhoFundsThem
Building better information about money in politics.
whofundsthem.com
Today we've added some new features to TheyWorkForYou and launched an accompanying report about money in politics. See more at whofundsthem.com
Reposted by Alex Parsons
The draft significant control test for companies making political donations is set out from page 73 onwards publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
February 12, 2026 at 2:23 PM
The draft significant control test for companies making political donations is set out from page 73 onwards publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
🚨 ONE WEEK TODAY 🚨
Join us at Birkbeck College, London & online for
FOI FEST 2026
- Keynotes from ICO & Scottish Info Commissioner, followed by discussion
- Lightning talks
- Skills sessions
Sign up now: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
And for FOI Network updates: www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Join us at Birkbeck College, London & online for
FOI FEST 2026
- Keynotes from ICO & Scottish Info Commissioner, followed by discussion
- Lightning talks
- Skills sessions
Sign up now: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
And for FOI Network updates: www.mysociety.org/transparency...
FOI Fest 2026
Thu, Feb. 19, 2026
pretix.eu
February 12, 2026 at 10:10 AM
🚨 ONE WEEK TODAY 🚨
Join us at Birkbeck College, London & online for
FOI FEST 2026
- Keynotes from ICO & Scottish Info Commissioner, followed by discussion
- Lightning talks
- Skills sessions
Sign up now: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
And for FOI Network updates: www.mysociety.org/transparency...
Join us at Birkbeck College, London & online for
FOI FEST 2026
- Keynotes from ICO & Scottish Info Commissioner, followed by discussion
- Lightning talks
- Skills sessions
Sign up now: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...
And for FOI Network updates: www.mysociety.org/transparency...
This is obviously better than nothing, but is not a "very low" threshold! www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
February 12, 2026 at 9:25 AM
This is obviously better than nothing, but is not a "very low" threshold! www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
In-person tickets for FOI Fest have almost sold out, so act now if you are hoping to join us in London: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo... (online spaces are limitless, but still a good idea to book now while you're thinking of it!). #FOI #freedomofinformation
February 10, 2026 at 9:32 AM
In-person tickets for FOI Fest have almost sold out, so act now if you are hoping to join us in London: pretix.eu/mysociety/fo... (online spaces are limitless, but still a good idea to book now while you're thinking of it!). #FOI #freedomofinformation
Reposted by Alex Parsons
6 years since letting agents were BANNED from charging renters admin fees, Foxtons is still 'accidentally' charging £200 for checking out.
Read what we thought of this below:
www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/buytol...
Read what we thought of this below:
www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/buytol...
Did Foxtons try to charge me an illegal £200 check-out fee on my flat?
The thing is, such charges are unlawful, and have been for the last six years, since the Tenant Fees Act of 2019 was implemented.
www.thisismoney.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 3:22 PM
6 years since letting agents were BANNED from charging renters admin fees, Foxtons is still 'accidentally' charging £200 for checking out.
Read what we thought of this below:
www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/buytol...
Read what we thought of this below:
www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/buytol...
The "they're there to make public life better" test should lead us to a fairly low bar for "more trouble than they're worth".
Like, Richard Dannatt should just be out. Had the opportunity to contribute, consistently more trouble than worth.
Like, Richard Dannatt should just be out. Had the opportunity to contribute, consistently more trouble than worth.
What is so vital to the legislative scrutiny functions of Parliament that it necessitates the appointment of Doyle (which ought to be the only criteria by which peers are made), whose citation explaining why he had been made a peer is a list of Labour campaigns he supported?
February 11, 2026 at 11:39 AM
The "they're there to make public life better" test should lead us to a fairly low bar for "more trouble than they're worth".
Like, Richard Dannatt should just be out. Had the opportunity to contribute, consistently more trouble than worth.
Like, Richard Dannatt should just be out. Had the opportunity to contribute, consistently more trouble than worth.
Reposted by Alex Parsons
minimal cow tools
February 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
minimal cow tools
Reposted by Alex Parsons
Darren Jones has set out various things that the government is "considering" to bolster how ethics are upheld, including:
- considering changing the process for declaration of financial interests
- looking closely at how lobbying is managed
- revisiting the guidance on the use of informal comms...
- considering changing the process for declaration of financial interests
- looking closely at how lobbying is managed
- revisiting the guidance on the use of informal comms...
February 9, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Darren Jones has set out various things that the government is "considering" to bolster how ethics are upheld, including:
- considering changing the process for declaration of financial interests
- looking closely at how lobbying is managed
- revisiting the guidance on the use of informal comms...
- considering changing the process for declaration of financial interests
- looking closely at how lobbying is managed
- revisiting the guidance on the use of informal comms...
This isn't *entirely* about other things, but every two weeks I do a little thread about the new register of members interests.
Incidentally, we have a lot of data (MPs/MSPs/MSs/MLAs) here I'd love people to make more use of - always happy to chat to about it.
Incidentally, we have a lot of data (MPs/MSPs/MSs/MLAs) here I'd love people to make more use of - always happy to chat to about it.
Today's "few notes on this register" bought to you via train wifi
A new House of Commons register of interests has been released and uploaded to TheyWorkForYou https://www.theyworkforyou.com/interests
February 9, 2026 at 3:25 PM
This isn't *entirely* about other things, but every two weeks I do a little thread about the new register of members interests.
Incidentally, we have a lot of data (MPs/MSPs/MSs/MLAs) here I'd love people to make more use of - always happy to chat to about it.
Incidentally, we have a lot of data (MPs/MSPs/MSs/MLAs) here I'd love people to make more use of - always happy to chat to about it.
Going to tweet about other things. How about a nice report about what people write to MPs about research.mysociety.org/html/wtt-ins...
WriteToThem Insights
Learning more about different kinds of constituent communication
research.mysociety.org
February 9, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Going to tweet about other things. How about a nice report about what people write to MPs about research.mysociety.org/html/wtt-ins...
So this is a useful test for my "it'd be good if the ASA covered election materials" position - because I think it would encourage a bit more hedging here.
(The problem isn't the quotes, it's the "experts agree" bit)
(The problem isn't the quotes, it's the "experts agree" bit)
I have today been informed that, despite personal assurances to the contrary, the Green party have once again used my image and misrepresented my words on a second leaflet circulated in Gorton and Denton ahead of the by-election. I have now lodged an official complaint with the returning officer.
February 9, 2026 at 12:48 PM
So this is a useful test for my "it'd be good if the ASA covered election materials" position - because I think it would encourage a bit more hedging here.
(The problem isn't the quotes, it's the "experts agree" bit)
(The problem isn't the quotes, it's the "experts agree" bit)
Here's a chapter from our recent report on shifting landscapes in pro democracy tech.
Text based social media is down, video and chatbots are up - how should democratic tech projects reach their audiences? research.mysociety.org/html/shiftin...
Text based social media is down, video and chatbots are up - how should democratic tech projects reach their audiences? research.mysociety.org/html/shiftin...
Shifting Landscapes
Chapter 7. Distributing democracy: having impact through reaching mass audiences
research.mysociety.org
February 9, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Here's a chapter from our recent report on shifting landscapes in pro democracy tech.
Text based social media is down, video and chatbots are up - how should democratic tech projects reach their audiences? research.mysociety.org/html/shiftin...
Text based social media is down, video and chatbots are up - how should democratic tech projects reach their audiences? research.mysociety.org/html/shiftin...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
The Ministry of Justice has ordered the deletion of the UK’s largest court reporting archive.
This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.
www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...
This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.
www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...
MoJ orders deletion of UK’s largest court reporting archive
Courtsdesk, which supports the media in monitoring records, is an important tool for journalists and the move raises concerns over open justice
www.thetimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:51 PM
The Ministry of Justice has ordered the deletion of the UK’s largest court reporting archive.
This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.
www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...
This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.
www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
endless.downward.spiral - is this the beginning of the end of What3Words?
shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/02...
shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/02...
endless.downward.spiral - is this the beginning of the end of What3Words?
Long-time readers know that I am not a fan of What Three Words. I think it is a closed, proprietary, and user-unfriendly attempt to enclose the commons. I consider that it has some dangerous failure m...
shkspr.mobi
February 8, 2026 at 9:54 AM
endless.downward.spiral - is this the beginning of the end of What3Words?
shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/02...
shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/02...
Which is why algorithmic social media slides so easily into chatbot post-social media - creators who behave more like machines than people can be disintermediated alexparsons.co.uk/blog/posts/2...
February 8, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Which is why algorithmic social media slides so easily into chatbot post-social media - creators who behave more like machines than people can be disintermediated alexparsons.co.uk/blog/posts/2...
Reposted by Alex Parsons
Hate-filled fake videos about London are everywhere. We've obtained a recording of a TikToker confessing to secretly filming Londoners in their homes for clicks.
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
February 8, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Hate-filled fake videos about London are everywhere. We've obtained a recording of a TikToker confessing to secretly filming Londoners in their homes for clicks.
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
Annoying this is relevant again, but being against MPs alone choosing leaders, and different ways of structuring member rounds alexparsons.co.uk/blog/posts/w...
Why MPs shouldn’t decide their leaders, and we should do something more interesting
The case against members deciding is compelling, but so is the case against MPs - we need new approaches!
alexparsons.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Annoying this is relevant again, but being against MPs alone choosing leaders, and different ways of structuring member rounds alexparsons.co.uk/blog/posts/w...
I can't take the "we're ungovernable! none of the levers work!" chat seriously when given a working "appoint peter mandelson y/n" lever, good choices were not made.
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 PM
I can't take the "we're ungovernable! none of the levers work!" chat seriously when given a working "appoint peter mandelson y/n" lever, good choices were not made.
Controversially I would put The Gruffalo's Child above The Gruffalo in the Donaldson rankings
Julia Donaldson: author reveals name for third Gruffalo book
Julia Donaldson: author reveals name for third Gruffalo book
After a 20-year Gruffalo hiatus, author Julia Donaldson announces the new book's title on BBC Radio 4.
www.bbc.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Controversially I would put The Gruffalo's Child above The Gruffalo in the Donaldson rankings
Reposted by Alex Parsons
I'M IN THE ARCTIC
February 6, 2026 at 8:59 AM
I'M IN THE ARCTIC
Last line here has that Tom Scott video going through my head.
February 6, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Last line here has that Tom Scott video going through my head.
Reposted by Alex Parsons
🔴 BREAKING: Labour Together paid controversial PR firm £30k to investigate journalists who were digging into how its undeclared funding
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
BREAKING: McSweeney’s think tank paid PR firm to investigate journalists
Labour Together put private investigators onto journalists writing about its funding. Starmer's right-hand man knew.
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:01 PM
🔴 BREAKING: Labour Together paid controversial PR firm £30k to investigate journalists who were digging into how its undeclared funding
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Starfleet academy this week:
February 5, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Starfleet academy this week:
Reposted by Alex Parsons
As @spotlightcorruption.org highlight, the new bill meant to strengthen accountability against misconduct at the highest levels of government, unfortunately introduces an "absurdly wide defence of having a ‘reasonable excuse’". This flaw needs to be addressed before its written into law.
🚨 Why bringing misconduct in public office charges against Lord Mandelson faces major hurdles
⛔ Why the changes in the #HillsboroughBill probably won't help
💥 And what needs to happen next if we're to restore integrity to British politics
Read @suehawley.bsky.social's analysis 👇
⛔ Why the changes in the #HillsboroughBill probably won't help
💥 And what needs to happen next if we're to restore integrity to British politics
Read @suehawley.bsky.social's analysis 👇
Mandelson’s misconduct – a moment of reckoning for the UK’s political establishment - Spotlight on Corruption
The Mandelson scandal must lead to a review of whether the new misconduct in public office offence in the Hillsborough Bill is robust enough, and urgent
www.spotlightcorruption.org
February 5, 2026 at 6:17 PM
As @spotlightcorruption.org highlight, the new bill meant to strengthen accountability against misconduct at the highest levels of government, unfortunately introduces an "absurdly wide defence of having a ‘reasonable excuse’". This flaw needs to be addressed before its written into law.
So this is another useful 'testing the squares' statement:
February 5, 2026 at 1:43 PM
So this is another useful 'testing the squares' statement: