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Sat, 24 October 2026
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Alice Lilly

Alice Lilly

@aliceolilly

Casework Crisis: Increase In Constituency Caseload Takes Its Toll
Political parties
Casework Crisis: Increase In Constituency Caseload Takes Its Toll
The inexorable growth in casework is stopping MPs from fulfilling their other roles. Alice Lilly sifts through the inbox looking for what might be done to relieve the pressure
The Slow Death of Parliamentary Scrutiny
History
By Alice Lilly
The Slow Death of Parliamentary Scrutiny
One of Parliament’s core roles is to scrutinise policy and legislation. Dr Alice Lilly from the Institute for Government finds that with a Commons that has limited time to look at bills in detail, and an overworked second chamber, it is struggling to do its job properly. Illustrations by Tracy Worrall
There is something deeply wrong if we need stronger rules to compel MPs to act with integrity
Parliament
By Alice Lilly
There is something deeply wrong if we need stronger rules to compel MPs to act with integrity
Controversy over Boris Johnson’s remarks about Sir Keir Starmer’s record as Director of Public Prosecutions – repeatedly proven to be false – have highlighted the weaknesses in Parliament’s ability to force MPs and ministers to correct the record when they say something false.
Decision to overhaul standards system highlights the need for greater independence for regulators
Parliament
By Alice Lilly
Decision to overhaul standards system highlights the need for greater independence for regulators
In its decision today not to suspend Owen Paterson from the Commons for breaching the rules, and to instead set up a new committee to investigate the standards system, the Commons has highlighted the need for even greater independence for regulators. But the prospects for that are also very unclear.
What we can learn from the hybrid Parliament
Coronavirus
By Alice Lilly
What we can learn from the hybrid Parliament
The 2019-21 session looked as though it would be a return to business as usual. A government was elected with a large majority, and was able to finally push through a Brexit deal and begin to focus on other matters. But then the pandemic hit, and the session ended up being anything but ordinary.
This government is averse to parliamentary scrutiny
Political parties
By Alice Lilly
This government is averse to parliamentary scrutiny
Brexit and Covid legislation has repeatedly been rushed through Parliament, demonstrating there is a dual problem facing the Commons. The government’s aversion to scrutiny, and the Commons’ inability to control its own agenda.