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Cristina Leston-Bandeira

@estrangeirada.bsky.social

480 followers 210 following 94 posts

Parliaments and Public Engagement, with an obsession for petitions. Professor of Politics @ POLISatLeeds and Chair of IPEN, the International Parliament Engagement Network: https://ipen-network.org/ .

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Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Dec 4

A thread on petitions - with the latest viral petition (GE), I hoped to do a blog about it, but tricky finding the time! So instead, I've listed below previous posts I've written on the occasion of previous viral petitions - here for @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social 1/7: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

What is the point of petitions in British politics?

Just under 2 million people signed a petition opposing Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK – half the number of those who signed one asking for a second EU referendum. With the role of…

blogs.lse.ac.uk

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Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · 14d

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

Photo of article about the launch of the Guides on Citizen Engagement for Parliaments, in print version of the The Parliamentarian, the magazine of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)

Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · 14d

Busy day in parliament yesterday, with highlight of launch of our global map of public engagement services offered by parliaments across the world - which can be accessed now here: ipen-network.org/mapping-publ...

Mapping public engagement in parliaments across the world – IPEN

ipen-network.org

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Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

Department of Government, Essex @uniessexgov.bsky.social · 14d

Happening now! Our colleague, Dr Laura Sudulich, presents 'Mapping Public Engagement in Parliaments Across the World' @ukparliament.parliament.uk, with POST.

🎙️ Chaired by @shane-martin.bsky.social, joined by @estrangeirada.bsky.social, Chair of IPEN

#EssexGov #EssexGovImpact #UKParliament #IPEN

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Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Aug 15

my first 'baby' is 28 and getting married next year! Time flies, but it's such a privilege and joy to see them grown up😊. Look forward to seeing you back from maternity leave.

Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Aug 12

Our Guide on Youth Engagement for parliaments is now available to download - focuses on idea of 'meaningful engagement', avoiding tokenistic and/or elitist engagement, to nurture real opportunities for engagement: www.idea.int/publications...

Youth Engagement: Guides on Citizen Engagement for Parliaments

Youth engagement is key for a healthy democracy. Young people are the future generations that will lead our democracies. They are also often amongst the most disengaged people of our societies. It is ...

www.idea.int

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Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Aug 8

I know it's not the most exciting of topics, but Crickey, I really am invisible in BlueSky - no reactions other than from the lovely @adefty.bsky.social. It is a good article though, promise😊.

Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Aug 7

New publication with the fab @sofiaserrasilva.bsky.social - we develop a new typology about the roles of parliamentary staff within public engagement, showing their decisive role in the way parliaments present themselves to/relate with the public. Open access: www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandg...

The Invisible Architects of Public Engagement: Understanding the Different Types of Roles Played by Parliamentary Staff | Article | Politics and Governance

Sofia Serra-Silva, Cristina Leston-Bandeira

www.cogitatiopress.com

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Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Aug 7

The Invisible Architects of Public Engagement: Understanding the Different Types of Roles Played by Parliamentary Staff | Article | Politics and Governance

Sofia Serra-Silva, Cristina Leston-Bandeira

www.cogitatiopress.com

Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · Aug 1

Did you know that there have been 83 government defeats in the House of Lords so far this parliament?

We have a record on our website of every defeat of this kind dating back to 2005!

Find out more and sign up to our mailing list to be alerted of new defeats 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution....

The top of the voting record that we produce for each defeat.

Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Jul 28

Any feedback, on the Guides and/or on how/if you use them, would be much appreciated, thank you.

Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Jul 28

Our second Guide is on Petitions and Citizens' Initiatives: www.idea.int/publications...

Petitions and Citizens’ Initiatives: Guides on Citizen Engagement for Parliaments

Petitions and citizens’ initiatives (CIs) are the most prevalent participation tools offered by parliaments. They provide a formal mechanism for citizens to raise issues directly to decision-makers in...

www.idea.int

Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Jul 28

Our first guide is on the core Principles of Parliamentary Public Engagement which should drive and shape parliaments' approach to citizen engagement: www.idea.int/publications...

Principles of Parliamentary Public Engagement

There is an increasing understanding among parliaments that their relationship with citizens needs to go beyond the ballot box. With trust in institutional politics declining around the world, public ...

www.idea.int

Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Jul 28

The project, funded by EU Commission, has been developed in partnership with Inter Pares and draws from research and practice from across the world.

Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Jul 28

We, at IPEN, have launched a series of 8 Guides on Citizen Engagement for Parliaments, each on a specific topic. Further info here, from which you can also access each guide as they get published: www.inter-pares.eu/en/publicati...

Guides on Citizen Engagement for Parliaments

Parliaments in Partnership

www.inter-pares.eu

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Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Jul 16

Such a brilliant day, love graduation, when we celebrate our students' achievements. Congratulations PPS cohort! And congratulations Politics cohort too! Some brilliant students, it's a privilege to teach and support them, graduation definitely the highlight of the year😊🎉.

Alexandra Meakin @ameakin.bsky.social · Jul 16

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.

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Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · Jul 16

But this change didn't start with Starmer - and I think it goes wider than just voting. The whip is now also removed/suspended routinely for quasi-HR complaints, in a way it would not have been, say, 30 years ago.

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Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

Alexandra Meakin @ameakin.bsky.social · Jul 16

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

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Reposted by Chris Hanretty, Tom Louwerse, Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · Jul 16

The whip is now removed/suspended for more easily than it ever used to be. No Labour MP lost the whip under Blair because of their voting; those few cases that did were for things they'd said or done outside the voting lobbies.

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Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Jul 11

thank you, it wasn't actually that bad (comparatively to others i have had in the past), but yes going across the country is not good...

Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Jul 11

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.

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Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · Jul 2

ON THE BLOG: 10 reasons why the hereditary peers bill should be amended to constrain Prime Ministerial patronage and the size of the House of Lords

Ahead of the hereditary peers bill's report stage starting in the Lords today, our Director, Meg Russell, sets out why peers should amend the bill.

10 reasons why the hereditary peers bill should be amended to constrain Prime Ministerial patronage and the size of the House of Lords

The government’s House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill reaches its report stage in the chamber this week – presenting a serious moment for possible amendments. Meg Russell argues that peers should…

constitution-unit.com

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Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Jul 1

Thank you Ali! And many thanks for all your inputs! this is a mad week for me this week (and next for that matter...), but I'll be disseminating these properly soon and sending more thank yous. But thank you! We're very pleased with these😊.

Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

Ali Stoddart @alistoddart.bsky.social · Jul 1

Congrats to @estrangeirada.bsky.social and IPEN colleagues at @universityofleeds.bsky.social for publication of Guide on Principles of Parliamentary Public Engagement: www.idea.int/sites/defaul...

www.idea.int

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Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · Jul 1

NEW BLOG: 10 reasons why the hereditary peers bill should be amended to constrain Prime Ministerial patronage and the size of the House of Lords

Ahead of the hereditary peers bill's report stage starting in the Lords tomorrow, our Director, Meg Russell, sets out why peers should amend the bill.

10 reasons why the hereditary peers bill should be amended to constrain Prime Ministerial patronage and the size of the House of Lords

constitution-unit.com

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Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Jun 30

New article out with fab historian colleagues - 'Women's campaigning, petitioning, and grassroots activism, 1945-1997' (open access / free to access) 👇

Henry Miller @henryjmiller.bsky.social · Jun 23

#history #SkyStorians new article out out now! 'Women's campaigning, petitioning, and grassroots activism, 1945-1997' in Women's History Review. Co-authored with @abiedoubleyou.bsky.social @richardhuzzey.bsky.social & @estrangeirada.bsky.social. OA.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

Henry Miller @henryjmiller.bsky.social · Jun 23

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Reposted by Emiliano Grossman, Dimiter Toshkov, Christian Rauh , and 1 more Emiliano Grossman, Dimiter Toshkov, Christian Rauh, Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

Tom van der Meer @tomwgvdmeer.bsky.social · May 23

Two vacancies for assistant professor (tenure track) at our Department of Political Science. One on International Relations, the other on EU Politics and Governance.

I may be biased, but would 100% recommend applying. We are a warm, collegial, ambitious department.

werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...

Vacancy — 2 Assistant Professors: International Relations (option a) and EU Politics and Governance (option b

The Department of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam invites applications for two tenure-track Assistant Professor (Universitair Docent) positions in Political Science with a specializat...

werkenbij.uva.nl

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Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

Ruxandra Serban @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social · May 17

Very excited to see the new edition of Exploring Parliament and our chapter in print 💙 Thank you @ameakin.bsky.social @estrangeirada.bsky.social @louisevthompson.bsky.social for all your fantastic work! 1/

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Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · May 16

Yesterday was the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk launch of @estrangeirada.bsky.social, @ameakin.bsky.social and @louisevthompson.bsky.social's book, Exploring Parliament.

Meg Russell wrote a chapter with @danielgover.bsky.social and spoke at the event chaired by @drhannahwhite.bsky.social.

Watch 👇

Book launch: ‘Exploring Parliament’

This event marked the official launch of the second edition of Exploring Parliament, a new book which brings together academic insights with real-world persp...

www.youtube.com

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Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · May 16

thank you for coming to the launch Rick! And sorry we didn't get a chance to talk. It was so busy and it went in a flash :).

Reposted by Cristina Leston‐Bandeira

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · May 16

It's been fab to put together the 2nd Ed of Exploring Parliament with @estrangeirada.bsky.social & @ameakin.bsky.social. In this @psa-parliaments.bsky.social blog we asked some of our (73!) contributing authors to reflect on the experience of writing their chapters psaparliaments.org/2025/05/09/t...

The benefits of bringing academics and practitioners together: Writing the second edition of Exploring Parliament – PSA Parliaments

psaparliaments.org

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