Declan McLean

PhD Student, @CardiffUni / @WalesGovernance. Conducting research on the UK’s territorial constitution. DMs open.

[Presiding Officer @POScotParl]

The Presiding Officer has informed Parliament of changes to business.

Kenneth Gibson MSP has made key changes including:

🟣 FMQs now twice a week
🟣 Questions for FMQs will NOT be published in advance
🟣 More General Questions

[Declan McLean @declanmclean]

It’s encouraging to see the new Presiding Officer taking early steps to reform Holyrood procedure.

In my piece for @Con_Soc, I discuss further changes the Scottish Parliament could pursue to strengthen democracy in Scotland.

https://t.co/Jf0IhDOZxK

[Kieran Andrews @KieranPAndrews]

New Holyrood presiding officer Kenny Gibson is overhauling FMQs

Starting a week on Tuesday, backbenchers will get 30 mins to themselves

There will then be another 30 minute session on Thursday purely for opposition leaders

Questions will no longer be published in advance

[@GinaDavidson @ginadavidsonlbc]

Kenny Gibson says he’s a “repentant sinner” and a “poacher turned gamekeeper” as a result of his election as Presiding Officer. Says the era of a “dull” Parliament is over and the result was “unexpected for the Scottish Government”

@LBCNewsScot l @LBC

[The Constitution Society @Con_Soc]

How self-determination is practiced has become a source of contention in recent times - @declanmclean considers the Scottish Government's latest contribution to the debate on our blog this week. Read it now at: https://t.co/IQSuBKzgcH

[The Constitution Society @Con_Soc]

What has happened to the debate over Scottish Independence? @declanmclean explores in our latest blog #ScottishIndependence
https://t.co/iWulVgma3A

[Declan McLean @declanmclean]

At #PMQs Kemi Badenoch claimed that she personally blocked the GRR Bill.

But s35 of the Scotland Act hands the veto power exclusively to the SoS for Scotland.

Either Badenoch has misled the House or s35 was/is interpreted as a veto power for ANY UK Gov minister

[Kamala Harris @KamalaHarris]

There is an adage: Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.

I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time. For the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case. But, America, if it is: Let us fill the sky with the light of a billion brilliant stars.

[Jacob Collier MP @JacobCollierMP]

My first PMQ today ✅

The new Leader of the Opposition has said maternity pay is “excessive” whereas Labour is on the side of hard working families.

My question to the Prime Minister 👇

[Wales Governance Centre @WalesGovernance]

BRECWAST BRIFFIO: Ymunwch â'r tîm Astudiaeth Etholiad Cymru bore Iau i drafod data a dadansodiaddau newydd o'r etholiad y DU 2024:

BREAKFAST BRIEFING: Join @Jaclarner & @RWynJones on Thursday to discuss new data and analysis from the Wales Election Study:
https://t.co/ep93j5bx8G

[Declan McLean @declanmclean]

There’s a lot of people who appear to have no experience of living in fear of mounting bills or worrying about who is knocking at the door bemoaning tuition fees.

Opposition in principle is fair, but fee repayment ≠ “debt” in many people’s conventional understanding of the word

[Centre for Public Policy @UofGPolicy]

We're recruiting two Research Associate positions to join our team at the Centre for Public Policy.

Applications close 12th November.
Full time, fixed term for up to two years.
Salary band: £40,247-£45,163.
More information here: https://t.co/00jxUcn39q

[Sylvester McCoy @4SylvesterMcCoy]

Sylvester wants to remind Doctor Who fans in America that Donald Trump is the absolute opposite to everything the Doctor stands for. The opposite to everything you love about the series. Please remember that when making your vote.

[Declan McLean @declanmclean]

Painfully unfunny

[Russell Findlay @RussellFindlay1]

Sir Keir Starmer has clearly decided to become Nicola Sturgeon this Halloween.

Labour’s tax-raising budget is straight out the SNP playbook and will terrify hard-working Scots.

This is not the change they promised.

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 BREAKING: Rachel Reeves has announced she's raising air passenger duty by 50% on private jets #Budget

[HM Treasury @hmtreasury]

Every child should have access to a high-quality education.

From 1 Jan 2025, VAT will apply to all education, training and boarding services provided by private schools.

This money will help us to invest more in state education, improving standards and opportunities for all.

[HM Treasury @hmtreasury]

WATCH LIVE: Chancellor @RachelReevesMP delivers the Autumn Budget 2024 to the @HouseofCommons. https://t.co/Sdn3wrPywB

[UK Parliament @UKParliament]

Today from 12.30pm the Chancellor of the Exchequer @RachelReevesMP will deliver the Budget Statement.

🔴 Watch live with #BSL interpretation here on our X.

#Budget2024

[Declan McLean @declanmclean]

A chaotic good opinion(?): Senedd expansion is absolutely necessary - and is literally decades overdue - but the current individual workstations are not very nice and a modern take on HoC benches would be a superior design

[WalesOnline 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @WalesOnline]

Senedd expansion costs rise as MSs make demands for furniture
https://t.co/x13Z0X1wN5

[Daniel Gover @DanielGover]

Essential reading from Meg Russell for today’s second reading of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill.

‘Labour’s removal of hereditary peers from the House of Lords: 10 key questions answered’.

https://t.co/YQpa8s6eWx