Wow some nice checks and balances you have there, sure would be a shame if the people tasked with being the checks and the balances weren’t willing to do it

If a member of Congress thinks war with Iran is so great, they should introduce an AUMF, vote for it, and own that decision. But simply allowing the executive to usurp Congress's war powers is a complete abdication of constitutional responsibility. (War with Iran is a bad idea even if authorized.)

Fantastic to see both of the brilliant @emmanorris.bsky.social and @gemmatetlow.bsky.social recognised in this year's Women in Westminster top 100. Both are incredibly impressive colleagues and I've learnt so much from them. www.politicshome.com/in-focus/wiw...

Lovely to be named one of this year's 100 'Women in Westminster', and proud to to be alongside such an incredible group of women helping to shape policy and politics for the better. #wiw100 www.politicshome.com/in-focus/wiw...

🧵1/Tomorrow (4 March), MPs will vote on in-year spending changes the House of Commons Library calls “significant by historical standards”. Through the Supplementary Estimates, the Government is seeking an extra £36.9bn (+6.8%) in day-to-day spending.

Elizabeth I:

🎧 Essential listening this week as Sir Alex Younger - former MI6 chief - joins the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast to talk Trump, Iran, Starmer, law, war and much more. Plus: The IfG verdict of Rachel Reeves’s spring forecast www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Again, a (rhetorical) question: if this were not 25th amendment territory: what on earth *would* be?

You can't analyse this stuff. It's the foreign policy equivalent of free jazz.

what is there even left to say at this point about the presidency, congress, the cabinet, the constitution... any of it?

Says quite a bit about the differences between the two systems that the UK Prime Minister is giving a full statement to Parliament on the weekend's events while the US President's attitude towards Congress is...

Starting now Rhun ap Iorwerth is speaking on stage at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk stream online via the link below

Our in conversation with @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social, Leader of Plaid Cymru, will be starting in 10 minutes. Watch the livestream and submit your questions via Slido www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/rhun-a...

EVENT| In conversation with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Leader of Plaid Cymru 📆Mon 2 March, 12:30–13:30 Join us to hear @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social discuss the 2026 Senedd election, his plan for government, and @plaidcymru.bsky.social's vision for Wales. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/rhun-a...

Good morning to the FT, I guess

Dydd Gŵyl Totteringham Hapus, pawb!

Well as we all know, if there’s an organisation that carefully observes and thinks through the implications of major geopolitical events, it’s FIFA

George Osborne and Ed Balls have used the latest @polcurrency.bsky.social pod to call out @instituteforgovernment.org.uk (among v distinguished company) for our "technocratic obsession" with a single fiscal event a year. Guilty as charged.

Happy new series of Drive to Survive day to all who celebrate

New comment piece from me and @hcdunlop.bsky.social on independent commissioners. We say that govts fail to recognise the long-term commitment that comes with establishing commissioners. Commissioners need sufficient resources and ongoing engagement from govt to maintain credibility and succeed.

The first event in our series on Making a Success of Local Government Reorganisation is about to start in 10 mins. Tune into the livestream and submit your questions for our panel www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/minist...

Great comment piece from IfG colleagues on what to expect from next week's Spring Forecast, and why approaching it as a fiscal NON-event is the right call from Reeves Do follow @danhaile.bsky.social, @martha-ford.bsky.social and @jillongovt.bsky.social for more on this in the week ahead

For fans of parliamentary procedure *and* those nostalgic for the Brexit era, there are a pair of interesting opposition day motions on the Commons order paper today - a humble address (Andrew M-W) & a motion to set aside SO No14 for the day to consider a Bill (online services (age restrictions)

Here you go again

every day is just seeing news headlines made of combinations of words you previously never even imagined

Never in doubt 🫠

Arsenal fans

Didn’t realise that having kids required obtaining a PhD in “how the straps in high chairs work”

Said this about Scotland men a couple of weeks ago and following England’s performance the last two games I wish to apologise for the error

I think he's referring to other countries, according to my reading of the BBC live reporting: "In other words, I can destroy the trade, I can destroy the country," he says, adding: "But I can't give them a little fee". www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...

Footage if anybody can make head or tail of this bsky.app/profile/atru...

I’m on antibiotics and painkillers for a sinus infection at the moment and honestly it’s making watching this press conference more bearable

Me in April 2025 on how Trump was unlawfully using emergency powers for tariffs. US Supreme Court has now ruled 6-3 that they are being used unlawfully. emptycity.substack.com/p/how-trump-... davidallengreen.com/2025/04/how-...

Well, hello world! State of the Future is a new think tank (from @gavinfreeguard.com) for public servants and others who believe data, digital, openness and innovation can deliver better policy, better services and better outcomes for people. sotf.org.uk (Quiet news day to soft launch, eh?)

Fwiw this in the Playbook evening email is not me…(am quoted later on) The Mountbatten-Windsor arrest is a challenge alright, but neither the biggest for a new cab sec nor historically challenging for the cab sec Maurice Hankey started in the middle of the First World War! Edward Bridges in 1938!

Antonia Romeo appointed as cabinet secretary - @alexgathomas.bsky.social and I wrote last week about the challenges ahead for her and what lessons need to be taken from Wormald's tenure: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/next...

Arsenal fans: we are so back

Arsenal is pain

This is SO good and somebody should do something similar with Hansard/Votes and Proceedings!

New comment piece from @matthewfright.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social and me.

There's still time to register for this afternoon's Working in a Think Tank event! I'll be joining the 4.30 panel - talking about what policy impact looks like for us at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Tune in to watch that, and more: www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/worki...

Have written about how the below is one symptom of a really bad set-up at the centre of government. It makes sense that in the moment prime ministers keep trying to find a different person to do various jobs, but the problem is also a structural one, and the dysfunctional structure keeps on winning

I am, once again, banging my head against a wall and begging for MP staffing budgets to actually reflect the *thousands* of items of increasingly complex casework and correspondence that come through our offices every month so we can actually give our constituents the service they deserve.

Thinking of a career in think tanks? This afternoon, we're hosting a webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. We'll have speakers from numerous organisations sharing their insight and experience. Register here 👉 buff.ly/a3cO0df

A short 🧵 This is a really good article & shows the challenge MPs face. I received over 2,000 emails last month in our casework system; this covers 'campaign emails', personalised emails (often asking for my view on something) and people getting in touch who needing my team's support.

Thank you Playbook for the shout-out this morning- piece is here www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Really good piece by @aliceolilly.bsky.social on MPs' mounting constituency casework. A big problem that lies at the heart of so much else IMV:

Great thread on the reality of MPs’ offices and the constant triaging and prioritisation that goes on - and trade offs involves

The workload facing MPs and their staff is growing, in ways that aren't visible to the public: casework and the inbox. For @thehousemag.bsky.social, I delved into what the workload looks like, why it's growing, and what this means for how MPs can balance the different aspects of their role

Yesterday the Cabinet Office published the ministerial direction on Chris Wormald's exit payment 👇 This has been discussed a bit in the media, mainly in terms of 'civil service tried to block the huge payout' A few points on this.. www.gov.uk/government/p...