Rebecca McKee
@rebeccamckee.bsky.social
1.8K followers 570 following 260 posts
Senior Researcher at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk working across constitution/parliament and local growth/regional economic policy. Former academic and citizens' assembly organiser 🫶
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Reposted by Rebecca McKee
aliceolilly.bsky.social
If we can’t even talk in general terms about MPs’ workload- which MPs of all parties agree is v casework- heavy and getting heavier- without a lot of responses being to assume that MPs are not telling the truth/just whinging/ working on the wrong things etc- then I think we’re in a bad place
Reposted by Rebecca McKee
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
The government will consult on whether children aged between 13 and 16 years old should be included in the roll-out of digital IDs.

Our explainer takes a closer look at how digital ID works and why it's back on the political agenda www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/di...
Digital ID cards | Institute for Government
The introduction of ID cards has been debated in Westminster for decades.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
Yes, or not if political relations are particularly fraught between people in different parties at different levels locally! Which would also be interesting to see - how does party alignment impacts this e.g. Manchester vs Cambridgeshire
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
It would be so interesting to be able to dig into this across all MPs/ constituencies, and also on housing and planning given the different roles that LAs and other actors play in the system.
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
Ages ago I did some research on Patsy Calton MP for Cheadle and I always remember this story about her going street to street in Cheadle with her surgeries!
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
It's 'funded' by parliament because it's a post about activity that the MPs' staff have undertaken to support the MP in their parliamentary role which they are paid to do by IPSA. If you're interested in MPs staff (it's fascinating!) I have a report on just this www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...
NEW REPORT: MPs' Staff, the Unsung Heroes: An Examination of Who They Are and What They Do
A new Constitution Unit report examines the key role played by MPs' staff in our political system, shedding new light on who they are, and what they do.
www.ucl.ac.uk
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
I am going to regret jumping in here, but alongside everything Alice has rightly said, MPs staff who are paid by IPSA cannot carry out party political work on IPSA time. This is parliamentary work, carried out by staff who are paid through IPSA, so it's legit to use the House of Commons green.
Reposted by Rebecca McKee
chrischirp.bsky.social
🧵🚨

The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.

Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

1/11
UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.
www.ucl.ac.uk
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
I am actually not surprised by this
Reposted by Rebecca McKee
sammacrory.bsky.social
And here's a new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer by @jillongovt.bsky.social on how stamp duty works (and whether Kemi Badenoch's plan to abolish it is sensible..)

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/st...
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
Of course the fact I'm posting this might mean my peak hours are just 5-8pm...
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
I hate this about myself but I think it's finally time to admit that I am the type of person who writes better/more in the evening

Are there any self help books out there for recovering academics?
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
That is absolutely wild, to me 20-30 is totally normal, over or under on a regular basis is incomprehensible
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
Not sure our friendship can withstand this shocking news
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
Feeling very alienated over here with my 27 tabs open across 3 windows on my laptop

I'm currently working on 3 different projects, so one window for each helps to keep me organised *or that's what I tell myself
yougov.co.uk
How many browsing tabs do you typically have open?*

1: 6%
2-5: 54%
6-10: 14%
11-20: 8%
21-30: 2%
More than 30: 3%

*across all windows, on desktop/laptop

yougov.co.uk/topics/techn...
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
It can be difficult to keep momentum going and resource this work once a strategy is published but implementing the plan well is vital - including communicating and engaging with businesses, investors and residents and insuring growth, housing, transport and net zero plans link together
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
With expert panellists @mayaellismp.bsky.social Mayor Steve Rotherham and Professor Lisa Collins we talked about how places that have a good understanding of their economy, and existing economic strategies can maintain momentum and deliver on their plans.
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
Last week the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk travelled north to Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference 2025.

At our event on the Monday, with @uniofsurrey.bsky.social & chaired by @tompope.bsky.social we explored how local places can maximise the benefits of devolution to drive growth
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
I was joined by expert panellists Baroness Pinnock, Cllr @lornadupre.bsky.social and Professor Lisa Collins to discuss how local places especially those at an earlier stage can best prepare for new powers and build good foundations for growth as they develop their plans
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
A the end of last month @instituteforgovernment.org.uk headed to Bournemouth for the Liberal Democrat Party Conference 2025

We held an event in partnership with @uniofsurrey.bsky.social exploring how local places can ensure devolution delivers economic growth, chaired by @tompope.bsky.social