Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · Jul 10

Plus - they play an important role in holding their own government to account. See here: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

More than a memento mori? Assessing the participation of former Prime Ministers in the House of Commons - Alia Middleton, Louise Thompson, 2024

The successes and failures of political leaders and their rise and fall from power are well analysed by academic studies. The roles played by former leaders how...

journals.sagepub.com

2

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · Jul 10

Lots! Sunak seems v.similar to May as ex-PM right now. Competent backbencher, campaigning on things that matter to him, but not craving the limelight. Agree @aliamiddleton.bsky.social ?

1 1

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · May 17

Looks great. My class always love doing work on PQs so it’s definitely gunna get some reads!!! :)

1

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · May 16

Thank you to those who sent their reflections, including Rosanna Barry (HoL), Nia Moss (Senedd), @benworthy.bsky.social, Ruth Dixon (Oxford), Ekaterina Kolpinskaya (Exeter), @dianastirbu.bsky.social and Liam Laurence Smyth (HoC)

3

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

1 2 5

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · May 15

Showing how much we love it when a plan comes together ;)

1 2

Reposted by Louise Thompson

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

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:

Panel at the launch of the book Exploring Parliament, hosted by the Institute for Government - from left to right: Chloe Mawson (House of Lords, Clerk Assistant), Dr Sean Haughey (Liverpool University), Dr Hannah White (Institute for Government) and Professor Meg Russell (Constitution Unit, UCL).

Panel at the launch of the book Exploring Parliament, hosted by the Institute for Government - from left to right: Margaret McKinnon (House of Commons, Director, People and Culture Team), Professor Nick Allen (Royal Holloway University), Dr Hannah White (Institute for Government) and Dr Rebecca McKee (Institute for Government).

Students attending the launch of the book Exploring Parliament, hosted by the Institute for Government - from left to right: Emily Carter, Isabella Elie, Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira, Lewis Rantell, Soleen Ali and Dr Alexandra Meakin.

Guests enjoying the launch of the book Exploring Parliament, hosted by the Institute for Government.

2 3 13

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · May 2

Thanks Gary. Your colleagues are very kind! :)

1

Reposted by Louise Thompson

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

NEW BLOG: Exploring Parliament: Working together to make sense of Westminster `

The editors of Exploring Parliament, @ameakin.bsky.social, @louisevthompson.bsky.social & @estrangeirada.bsky.social explain why the book is necessary, and what readers can expect from its second incarnation.

Exploring Parliament: Working together to make sense of Westminster `

The editors of Exploring Parliament, Cristina Leston Bandeira, Alexandra Meakin and Louise Thompson, explain why the book is necessary, and what readers can expect from its second incarnation

constitution-unit.com

10 12

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · Apr 30

Thanks for having me. And it was lovely to chat!

1 2

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · Apr 24

Feel your pain there. Last year I ripped my dress down the front at the beginning of my class (huge rip). Had to get the building porters to supply paperclips (no safety pins anywhere!) and clip it all together for the rest of the day. Luckily class laughed with me when I turned up looking stupid!

2

Reposted by Louise Thompson

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Apr 22

EVENT | Book launch: 'Exploring Parliament'

📅Thursday 15 May, 17.30

Join us for the official launch of the second edition of 'Exploring Parliament', with a panel of the book’s authors to discuss their chapters and insights.

🎫Register:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/book-l...

IfG event banner for an event titled 'Book launch: 'Exploring Parliament'. The event is on Thursday 15 May from 17.30 to 18.30.

Speakers include:
Professor Nicholas Allen, Professor of Politics at Royal Holloway, University of London
Dr Sean Haughey, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool
Chloe Mawson, Clerk Assistant at the House of Lords
Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government
Margaret McKinnon, Director Member and Members’ Staff Services Team at the House of Commons
Professor Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London (UCL)
The event will be chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

1 7 5

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · Apr 14

Nothing better than seeing your besties win awards from @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social. Well done you two!!!! So well deserved. @estrangeirada.bsky.social @ameakin.bsky.social

1 14

Reposted by Louise Thompson

Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · Apr 7

Join us for the launch of the 2nd ed of Exploring Parliament, a new book bridging academic insights and real life experience to bring parliament to life for readers!

Register via the link below to watch the event online - 15 May 5.30pm
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/online...

Book launch: ‘Exploring Parliament’ | Institute for Government

An expert panel explore how Parliament works, who works there, and how this institution keeps evolving.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

8 12

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · Apr 7

Alas so far you remain untempted ….. both v cool and sadly overlooked topics

1 2

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · Apr 3

Ahhh she’s had a really good day!

1 2

Reposted by Louise Thompson

University of Manchester School of Social Sciences @uomsoss.bsky.social · Mar 25

📢 New book! Exploring Parliament gives a fresh, evidence-based look at UK Parliament

Co-edited by Dr @louisevthompson.bsky.social, Prof @estrangeirada.bsky.social & Dr @ameakin.bsky.social, this must-read explores formal & informal structures shaping Parliament today

global.oup.com/ukhe/product...

3 8

Reposted by Louise Thompson

Cristina Leston-Bandeira @estrangeirada.bsky.social · Mar 25

Publication day! The 2nd edition of Exploring Parliament is out. Thank you to the 73 authors who brought academic and parliamentary practice expertise to the book; special thanks to my fab co-editors @ameakin.bsky.social and @louisevthompson.bsky.social 😊👇:

3 4

Reposted by Louise Thompson

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

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...

Perspective of the room where Westminster Hall debates take place. Photo from: https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/cet-westminster-hall-debates/index.html

1 5 14

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · Jan 7

Is Westminster Hall parliament's best kept secret? Initial findings from mine and @estrangeirada.bsky.social research on Westminster Hall debates. psaparliaments.org/2025/01/05/w...

Westminster Hall: Parliament’s Best Kept Secret? – PSA Parliaments

psaparliaments.org

5 8

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · Dec 16

Yes- I love a good bill committee! ;)

1

Reposted by Louise Thompson

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · Dec 13

NEW BLOG: The controversial origins of centralised agenda control at Westminster

The 'Balfour reforms' established a core feature of the Commons: ministerial agenda control. This post explores whether, as has been claimed, it was adopted by consensus.

The controversial origins of centralised agenda control at Westminster

The 1902 ‘Balfour reforms’ established a core feature of the UK House of Commons: ministers’ control of its agenda. In a new article, summarised in this blogpost, Tom Fleming, Simon Hix, and Radoslaw Zubek explore how this important change came about, and question the idea that it was adopted with cross-party consensus.

constitution-unit.com

2 13

Louise Thompson @louisevthompson.bsky.social · Dec 10

Yes definitely!

1 1

Reposted by Louise Thompson

PSA Parliaments @psa-parliaments.bsky.social · Nov 22

@alexprior.bsky.social (London South Bank University) and @louisevthompson.bsky.social (University of Manchester) present ongoing research on how to judge success and effectiveness of impact strategies, using the case study of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

1 8

Reposted by Louise Thompson

PSA Parliaments @psa-parliaments.bsky.social · Nov 22

@estrangeirada.bsky.social (University of Leeds) and @louisevthompson.bsky.social (University of Manchester) share their interview-based research on Westminster Hall debates

"Parliament's best kept secret" (MP quote) or "overspill car park of debates" (Official)?

1 12