Dr Rebecca McKee
@RMCMcKee
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Senior Researcher @instituteforgov on regional policy & the constitution. Previously at @ConUnit_UCL on MPs' staff & @involveUK on @NetZeroUK
London, England
Joined October 2012
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Pinned Tweet
ICYMI on Friday
@tompope0
and I published a new
@instituteforgov
report looking at how to simplify funding for local growth
tldr: local growth funding should be guided by a clear national strategy and resist the urge to announce new shiny pots of money!
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It's been a busy couple of days in parliament (understatement) but something that's often forgotten about is what the general election means for around 3,500 MPs' staff in Westminster and across the country... 🧵
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Couldn't be more proud of my ridiculously amazing dad
@martinmckee
receiving his honorary doctorate from
@QUBelfast
40 years after graduating here. Amazing speech and an inspiration to the next generation 👏🎓
'Have the confidence that you can make a difference'
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Just cried on the phone to Test & Trace, not normally one to cry but isolating in a flat with no garden has affected me more than I thought. An error from T&T that "can't be changed' means I have to isolate for 2 extra days.
Sharing because this system needs to change
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I find the Marcus Rashford for No10 thing odd. We shouldn't be shocked that people with lived experience are vital for good policy making.
We should be making it easier for people with different experience to get into politics in the first place. Representation matters.
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🎺Some professional news - I've moved to
@instituteforgov
as a Senior Researcher working on the Review of the UK Constitution and Public Finances.
Very sad to leave my home of almost five years at
@ConUnit_UCL
a huge thanks to Meg and the team for being fabulous colleagues!
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Happy wedding anniversary to this gorgeous couple 💒❤️ the best parents ever, I know this because they are willing to pose in a field just to satisfy their daughters' whim 🌸
@martinmckee
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Great to have this from the Lords Library!
I didn't think I was feeling particularly 'christmassy' until I started reading this in my head to the tune of "12 days of Christmas"
The Lords Library has drawn together lists of members who have held selected positions in public life. This non-exhaustive collection provides an introduction to the diversity of experience in the House of Lords, which will soon includes a former PM
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Congratulations to all the new members of the
@rcgp
and I'm especially proud of my dad
@martinmckee
on his Honorary Fellowship and 'one of the most cited Public Health researchers in the world' 😊👏 it's honestly exhausting watching him work.
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A new report from me today this time from
@ConUnit_UCL
looking at MPs' staff - who they are and what they do. We know more than ever about MPs but until now very little about the over 3,500 staff who work for them.
Important info when thinking about how to improve the system
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The number of staff fluctuates (turnover 100 per month).
On average each MP employs around 5 staff (full and part time)
116 MPs are standing down as of this morning which means around 580 staff know they are losing their jobs.
Many more will find out on election night.
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MPs' staff are employed directly by the MP, not by Parliament. This is the case regardless of whether they work in Westminster or the constituency office.
Unlike in New Zealand there is no central pool of staff.
If the MP stands down then their staff lose their job.
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Excited to be one of the many women awarded a PSA prize this evening!! Thank you to
@robfordmancs
@smthgsmthg
for all your help and support!
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This is because many staff haven't been in post long enough (2 years continuous) and working for another MP counts as a different employer.
The Speaker's Conference on MPs' staff made a recommendation for IPSA to recognise previous service when calculating statutory entitlement
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A write up of my study by
@paulwaugh
for
@HuffPostUK
Shows a black African 'constituent' asking to register to vote was less likely to receive a response, that was useful, or be welcomed than a white British constituent.
@uclspp
Take a look!👇
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I'm now so embarrassed to buy loo roll that I bought just a small pack of the more expensive brand so it didn't look like I was desperately stocking up 🤦♀️
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I've been checking some details on MPs today online, my sister has come into the room a few times and has just asked me if I'm ok. I've apparently been staring at the same "old white guy" for hours... had to explain that erm they're all different people
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A sign that it's time to go home when you answer the
@ConUnit_UCL
office phone saying 'Hello, it's the constitution speaking, how can I help?'
#itsonlywednesday
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We're soon going to have a long montage of clips just as ridiculous as this, is this really how we want the rest of the world to see the UK House of Commons "working"? This needs to be sorted out.
Seems to me it's the definition of airing your dirty laundry in public.
This was the pre-queue for the next queue. Now in much cooler Westminster Hall.
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Seeing as opposition policy costings are getting a lot of air time...Re upping this from my colleague
@gemmatetlow
on why these costings should be removed from ministerial influence & instead overseen by OBR
#ITVDebate
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The staff supporting MPs' are given little attention relative to the important role they play - worth remembering just how many face looking for work now and after the election.
Some may work for the incoming MP (more likely if same party) others will go on to a variety of roles
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The Independent Parliamentary and Standards Authority
@ipsaUK
processes payroll and contracts for MPs' staff.
Staff who are eligible for statutory redundancy will receive redundancy pay, IPSA pays double the statutory entitlement.
But many staff are not entitled
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🥳After 6 months I'm back at
@ConUnit_UCL
!
Thanks to the fab
@involveUK
team for having me! I've had a fantastic time on
#ClimateAssemblyUK
it's not over yet see
@NetZeroUK
for updates
Now I'm back talking about representation, Parliament and MPs' staff!
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After polling day, if MPs want to they can claim a 'winding up' budget for 4 months to help them close down their parliamentary and financial business which can be used to employ staff.
At the end of 4 months all remaining staff are made redundant.
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During dissolution staff continue to receive salaries and no changes to their contracts can be made.
Staff can't engage in political or campaign activities during the time covered by their IPSA contract (e.g. if part time they can for the their remaining time)
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Excited to be back at
@ConUnit_UCL
today to start my
@BritishAcademy_
fellowship! I'm returning after 9 months at
@involveUK
where I learnt an incredible amount - looking forward to flexing these research and practice skills and getting stuck into my projects!
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This week's me laughing at last week's me for being sad about missing election week in London.
Found a vinyard, I'm getting over it.
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Nice to see the Citizens' Assembly on Brexit getting attention, the participants worked really hard - they deserve to be listened to.
See more from
@ConUnit_UCL
here
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For those who are interested and didn’t catch the times yesterday (surely everyone flicks to that page 😂)
@jyanroyns
and I are VERY excited to announce ...
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Went for a quick swim at
@WestReservoir
at lunchtime, came home and made a cup of tea with *half a pack* of chocolate digestives to warm up.
On balance this isn't going to be good for my fitness, but it is brilliant for my soul!
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It's been a whole year since I departed started my 'new' job at
@instituteforgov
! It feels like no time at all so while I take stock of what me and my colleagues have been up to I thought I'd take you with me. Bear with...
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It's been [another] busy day! Here are the
@instituteforgov
10 things we learned from the Labour manifesto 👀
We cover public services, spending, missions, growth, devolution, House of Lords reform + more!
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My sister, who I live with, has Covid so we're isolating. My dad just dropped off some Terry's chocolate oranges, a box of quality street and a pulse-oximeter. You've got to love medical parents.
Follow the science 🍫🍬
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The current model of MPs' staffing is not one you would design from scratch, it has evolved ad hoc over time.
As
@CommonsSpeaker
calls for a Speaker's Conference to consider an overhaul the system my new post looks at how we got to where we are today.
NEW BLOG: The evolution of MPs' staffing arrangements: how did we get here
@RMCMcKee
who is currently running a project on MPs’ staff, examines the evolution of staffing arrangements, providing context so we can understand how best to reform them.
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Wowee so
@NetZeroUK
finished up this weekend!! It's been a huge pleasure to work on this & a wonderful privilege to get to know the assembly members & work with such fantastic people.
A MASSIVE shout out to
@SarahAllanUK
a superhuman who has taught me so much👏
#climateassemblyuk
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My boyfriend sent me this as a reminder that I'm on the 'romantic streets of Verona' looking at my phone... But it's the day after polling day so what else would I be looking at but the
@instituteforgov
live blog! 👇
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Reason number 13845 why its great to work with Meg at
@ConUnit_UCL
and why I love my job. I get to hear these great takes on parliament all the time. Take a listen 👇
Is Britain's political system broken? 🇬🇧🤔
Professor Meg Russell from
@ConUnit_UCL
analyses what's going on
#r4today
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ARGH the information my sister and I are getting from track and trace is different EACH TIME they contact us!! Her test was Saturday, result was Monday and they are saying 1) isolate from day of test 2) isolate from day of result c)isolate from day of symptoms
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Between the snow, the Handforth Parish Council meeting and the 'I'm not a cat' lawyer. I think I might just be able to get through this month ok.
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So
#climateassemblyUK
kicks off today and I am ridiculously excited about this 👇 😊
“David Attenborough to appear at citizens' climate assembly” |
@guardian
#ClimateAssemblyUK
@NetZeroUK
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A bit of personal interest (fun?) - the
@TheIndGroup
compared to
@HouseofCommons
as a whole on some key demographics. Inspired by
@smthgsmthg
earlier tweet!
Caveats 1) there's only 11 of them and 2) I'm not a graphic designer...
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I'm so happy to be back at
@involveUK
working on
#ClimateAssemblyUK
!
For information and updates follow
@NetZeroUK
lots of exciting things coming up!
The Advisory and Academic Panels working on
#ClimateAssemblyUK
have been announced today. You can find the full list of names in the press release, here: ➡️
Follow ➡️
@NetZeroUK
for future updates! 🌍
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For more information on MPs' staff - who they are and what they do you can check out my report from last year with
@ConUnit_UCL
based on a survey of staff (includes what jobs they're interested in going onto as well!)
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Sister "Can I ask you a question?"
Me "er yeah sure"
Sister "What's the difference between a select committee and an APPG?"
Me *dances around my bedroom shouting "yessss my time has come" *
Sister 👀 ... backs out of the room slowly
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Fantastic weekend at
@NetZeroUK
👏 👏 👏 Well done to all the participants!
Another great weekend with
#ClimateAssemblyUK
. This meeting was all about assembly members deliberating and reaching their recommendations on 'how we travel', 'in the home', 'what we buy' and 'food, farming and land use'.
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My first blog post for
@involveUK
- the Citizens’ Assembly behind the referendum in Ireland
#demopart
#CitizensAssembly
Involving Citizens’ Assemblies in the political process, Ireland has shown it can successfully deal with challenging issues, where it is difficult for politicians to do so and in a country not far from our own.
#demopart
#citizensassembly
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An open letter to Jacob Rees-Mogg "Our parliamentary democracy requires that all voters and all parts of the country be equally represented in the House of Commons by their MP."
By ending the hybrid arrangements the gov is suppressing MPs and our right to representation
NEW BLOG: Ending of the hybrid House of Commons breached fundamental democratic principles
An open letter to Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg from a group of democracy specialists
There's an emergency Commons debate on these matters today.
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Northern Ireland, oh how I've missed you! Started with a 7am flight and ended with a sunset swim.
#VisitNI
#NorthCoast
#Staycation
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Even with the eyes of the country/ world on them MPs' voting today were NOT able to social distance from eachother or other parliamentary staff as they walked through the chamber.
It doesn't work.
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FYI the staff of MPs who step down lose their jobs. If they have 2 years continuous service with that MP (note consecutive contracts with different MPs don't count) they will recieve a redundancy payment. There's no redeployment pool as their employer, the MP has gone.
Breaking:
Nigel Adams, a close ally of Boris Johnson, stands down as MP for Selby & Ainsty with immediate effect
He was nominated for peerage by Johnson but wasn’t on final list that came back from Holac
He recently said the idea he could stand down early was ‘utter bollocks’
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HUGEST congratulations to the newest Doctor on the block Dr
@LotteHargrave
Lotte's PhD on gender stereotypes in the UK parliament is excellent! (I've read a lot of it already 😉) time to celebrate! 🥂
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I try and say this as often as I can. I've been incredibly lucky to have been mentored by amazing, inspirational women in my career
@smthgsmthg
Meg Russell
@ConUnit_UCL
@SarahAllanUK
with support & opportunities from many others inc
@ProfRosieCamp
@MartaCuanti
@rchlgibson4
... 💪
This
#InternationalWomensDay
we want to hear about the women that inspire you. Look out for testimonials from our allies all week, and join the conversation! Let's celebrate women experts in political science this
#IWD2019
! ✨
#womenalsoknowstuff
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😊😊 One very proud daughter here.
Sad that it comes at the end of my contract at
@ConUnit_UCL
so the benefit of free (paid for by dad) lunches across the road from my office will be short lived.
Greatly honoured (and a little surprised) to be invited to be President Elect of
@TheBMA
for 2022-23
#ARM2021
@NeenaModi1
&
@HarryBurns16
will be very hard acts to follow
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Scratching your head trying to work out how England's governance arrangements work? You're not alone.
New paper out today by
@jacknewmanHE
&
@michaelkenny_
from
@BennettInst
@instituteforgov
Constitution Review on devolving English government
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2019 you started as the absolute worst, I honestly didn't know how I was going to get through.
But I did, thanks to the BEST friends & family and their incredible love and support. Knowing that 2020 and beyond will be full of more of this👇is pretty fab! 💕✌️🎉
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After a hard day
@LotteHargrave
and I thought we'd make ourselves feel better by going to a pub quiz.
We came last
But it's fine we wrote a list of things we're good at to validate ourselves. Highlights include naming all the stops on the Victoria line 👏
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That's it! The final weekend of the
#brexitassembly
is done. Thanks to all the volunteers including from
@OfficialUoM
@UoMNews
#demopart
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At some point let's have the chat about a woman who's worked incredibly hard to get to the top of her field as Director of an institute at KCL... being misnamed
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I hold Dido Harding personally responsible for my credit card bill this month...
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Labour's plans to give councils multi-year funding settlements & end competitive bidding are welcome as
@tompope0
and I set out in our latest report the current model prevents local leaders joining up policy to target local growth & doesn't work for anyone
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This time two years ago when
@LotteHargrave
and I turned up to the
@StudyofParl
conference dressed as twins. Looking forward to the online version this year! But can't promise I'll be dressed (as well).
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Took the day off to enjoy what London has to offer before tomorrow. Going from isolation to lockdown in just a few days is not good for the soul. London on a day like this is ☀
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Stepping down as editorial assistant at
@journalEPOP
after 4(I think?!) years
It's been a total pleasure working with the fantastic editors and fab reviewers and authors who do so much work to keep this resource going
Thanks to
@femalebrain
@JaeJaeSpoon
& Dan for the flowers!
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These short videos from
@picture_zero
are really fantastic!
#ClimateAssemblyUK
is all about the people who gave up their time and worked incredibly hard throughout the whole process.
Take a look at the people and stories behind the assembly 👇
This is Marc, a member of the UK’s first ever citizens’ assembly on
#climatechange
. He’s from a mining family and ex-forces. But for him, a prosperous future lies in green jobs that his children can be proud of
#ClimateAssemblyUK
@netzerouk
@FilmsCurious
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Today MPs will debate the second report of the Speakers’ Conference on the employment conditions of MPs’ staff. My recent report at
@ConUnit_UCL
with a survey of MPs’ staff, offers an analysis of how staffing works, who these staff are and what they do 🧵
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Still at the stage of getting really excited when I'm cited in someone else's paper and then the bubble bursts when I read "McKee says x" when in fact McKee says nothing of the sort
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Public Service Announcement. If you haven't yet been to the
@GalgormResort
you need to. It's hands down the best Spa I've ever been to.
If
@PolStudiesAssoc
2021 goes ahead in Belfast, I suggest a
@psa_parl
away day?? 🙌
#Staycation
#VisitNI
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The best present you could possibly send two people stuck inside ❤️ the most incredible gingerbread from
@BestGingerbread
dreaming of when we're free again to travel up to the Lakes! 🍃🌿🌱
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New report out today from
@instituteforgov
@BennettInst
Review of the UK Constitution examines the implications for electoral reform across the constitution which would go far beyond the electoral outcomes themselves.
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A (rightly) packed out audience for the fantastic inaugural lecture from professor
@alanjrenwick
He professes not to offer all the answers but he gave a set of absolutely brilliant ones (and ones that can actually be achieved!). Super proud 👏
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I've been blown away by how wonderfully
@involveUK
have handled everything. Staff wellbeing, duty of care to participants, and the practicalities of working from home etc. all dealt with marvellously 👏
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Sue Gray's comments have put citizens' assemblies back on the agenda this week. There are lots of common misconceptions about what they are and how they're run. Having worked on several I'm always happy to chat - and handily Involve have a myth busting guide for you too!
💥Citizens' Assembly Myths: Busted!
#CitizensAssemblies
are gaining global momentum and voices from across the political spectrum in the UK are now advocating for their use.
However, misunderstandings persist about their purpose and benefits.
🔍 It's time for clarity…
🪡👇
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Me in 1995 on a swing & a boat considering the important constitutional issues of the day, before nap time. 5yo me may question how working at
@ConUnit_UCL
helps my life goal to be Minnie Mouse's best friend but 30yo me is so proud to work here, and has a plan...
🧵👇25 years!👏
🎂The Constitution Unit is 25!🎂
To celebrate, we’re launching a 25 years campaign.
For the next 25 weekdays we’ll be tweeting about ways in which the Unit has helped to inform policy change over the last 25 years.
Read the full story here –
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Great way to start a Saturday with a morning swim at
@WestReservoir
, first time there since it reopened. It was ever so slightly warmer than this looks and so well organised. Exactly what I needed 😊
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The Horizon Europe programme has recently landed in the headlines
A 🧵 on what it is and the UK's position now
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Mum, a nurse: I'm exhausted I need a day off
Me: oh god no
Mum: Come on give me a hand... Wallpapered, built a bed, cleaned the windows, organised the kitchen, cleaned the house
I swear nurses* are just wired differently!
*also Irish mothers
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If I'm willing to get up at 3am to save £30 on a flight, I'm willing to get up at any time of the night for a vaccine. If it puts an end to forever lockdowns, and keeps people safe I'm pretty sure you'll have a long queue at any time.
No 10 says Covid vaccinations could be delivered late into the night, but insists there's currently 'not a clamour for jabs after 8pm'
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Having now had a chance to listen to this, I can confirm I've managed to make coherent sense of my research so do give it a listen!!
@MichaelLCrick
is also excellent! 🎧
🚨 OUT NOW » Parliament Matters special:
⭐
@MichaelLCrick
⭐ reveals the latest news on candidate selections ahead of the GE from his
@tomorrowsmps
project.
And
@RMCMcKee
unpacks her groundbreaking research on MPs’ staff with
@ConUnit_UCL
.
🎧 Listen at: .
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If you have a moment this is a wonderfully moving piece from my dad, a reflection on growing up in Belfast during the Troubles, how it shaped his early life & led to a career in public health fuelled by a passion to expose & rectify social & corporate determinants of poor health
I went to the cinema to see Kenneth Branagh’s
#Belfast
. That city, where we were both born, has left an indelible mark on both of us. Thanks to
@Juliet_hd
for giving me space
@bmj_latest
to reflect on my personal journey over 4 decades
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'Putting citizens at the heart of the UK constitution' is an excellent new report for the
@instituteforgov
@BennettInst
Review of the UK Constitution from guest author
@TimJHughes
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Parliament still has business to get through, the period before dissolution is called 'wash-up' but what is left to get through and what happens during this time?
As ever...check out below
The dissolution of parliament will take place on 30 May ahead of a general election on 4 July.
But what is dissolution? And what does it mean for parliamentary business, including legislation?
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Cheated on
@WestReservoir
with
@LidoPh
today, maybe we can come to some sort of arrangement 😉
Gorgeous end to a Tuesday, swim and a 'hike' 🙌
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Do you ever get the feeling that even when you're on holiday you just can't escape work??
Up pops Meg
@ConUnit_UCL
at Belfast Airport saying some very sensible things as usual.
I suppose it's time to catch up with what's been going on...
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@jillongovt
@London_Cycling
It should be! I pay £135 a year (£30 key deposit) to store mine in a bike hangar, a car parking permit at the same address for the year would be £40
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A
#prouddaughter
post if you'll allow me for my amazing mum who today retires as an NHS nurse (her job since she was 16!) from Belfast in 1974 to London in 2023 ❤️ it's a job like no other.
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The new normal? It's pretty awful having a park just outside your window that's now illegal for you to walk around but at least it can be used for a catch up (4 floors up 😂)
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Equally important are the informal networks & friendships that give vital support
@LeahCulhane
@EHill_Politics
(can't forget
@SocPolResearch
!)
@LotteHargrave
@Jess_Sargeant
@MichelaPalese
@nspmartin
@NeemaBegum
@katyfootman
and so many more! Let's keep up the great work 👏
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Weekend one is done!! What a fantastic team and huge thanks to the participants for all of their hard work! 👏 👏
End of a long but fantastic weekend with
#ClimateAssemblyUK
.
Thank you to our amazing assembly members, experts, facilitators and support team 👏
Looking forward to weekend 2 in a couple of weeks!
@NetZeroUK
@involveUK
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When we told assembly members weekend 4 was postponed the response was huge disappointment but also massive enthusiasm to keep going. They wanted their assembly to continue and so it did! Read
@SarahAllanUK
fab blog post (one of a series) on how
@NetZeroUK
moved online
#demopart
You’ve been asking us about this, so… in the first of a series of posts,
@SarahAllanUK
writes about how we moved
#ClimateAssemblyUK
online.
Check it out for thoughts on accessibility, design, wellbeing and more.
#DelibDem
#demopart
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New from me and
@matthew_fright
on 4 questions the next government faces on English devo
- How to complete the map?
- How to resist temptation to roll back?
- How to manage relations with mayors?
- How to ensure strategic capacity & scrutiny of CAs?
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