Yorkshire and the Humber Roadshow – October 2025

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We are excited to share that the Members and Members’ staff Services Team (MMSST) are planning a roadshow event in Yorkshire and the Humber this October. This forms part of a wider programme of roadshows taking place across the UK throughout the year.

What to expect

The roadshow event is aimed at all Members’ staff and is a valuable opportunity to:

  • Learn more about the wide range of support and services available to you
  • Connect with colleagues from other local offices
  • Attend informative presentations and engaging breakout sessions
  • Meet 1-2-1 with key service providers

Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided.

Help to shape the event

The MMSST are keen to hear from you as we begin to plan the event. Your input will help us tailor the event to your needs.

The roadshow will take place during October 2025. We have not yet confirmed a location for the roadshow, as we are keen to hear your feedback and preferences for location within the region. We are provisionally looking to host the event w.c. 27 October.

Please email MMSST@parliament.uk to register your interest and share your suggestions by Friday 29 August. Please let us know:

  • Which services you would like to hear from
  • What you would find most valuable from the roadshow
  • Your preferred location and timing

Bank of England Briefing in Cardiff for MPs’ Staff

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Want to find out more about the Bank of England and how it affects your constituents?

The Bank of England is inviting MPs’ staff based in Wales to a briefing session on the work of the Bank at a venue in the centre of Cardiff, taking place on the morning of Tuesday 23 September.

Senior Bank staff will deliver a briefing on the Bank’s responsibilities – including setting interest rates and regulating the banking sector – and how it affects your constituents. The Bank’s Agent in Wales will provide an overview of his work and themes from recent conversations with businesses and community organisations.

With an interest rate decision on 18 September, this will be an ideal opportunity to learn more about the work of the Bank and ask your constituents’ questions. You can learn more about our Agent for Wales here.

We would be grateful if you could share this with any colleagues based in constituency offices in Wales and the surrounding area who may be interested in attending.

The briefing will take in person and online and is for staffers only. Please email ParliamentaryAffairs@bankofengland.co.uk from your parliamentary network account to book a place.

Caseworker Discussion Forum: Correspondence processes in Government departments and executive agencies

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Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: Thursday 18 September 2025
Location: Online via MS Teams

The Casework Discussion Forum takes place each month via MS Teams.

This month’s discussion is about correspondence processes in Government departments and executive agencies.

Cabinet Office staff will provide an overview and outline any particular areas of these processes that have been updated recently and how they may affect Parliamentarians and their staff

Book your place on Act.

The forum is complemented by a dedicated Teams chat which enables you to share ideas and best practice, with support being on hand from the Library should specialist knowledge be required.

You do not have to be a caseworker to attend these sessions – they are open to any Members’ staff who handle casework.

Scotland Roadshows – September 2025

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The Members and Members’ Staff Services in collaboration with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) are pleased to invite Members’ staff to attend our upcoming roadshow events in Scotland this September.

Event details

The roadshows are open to all Members’ staff. There will be two roadshow events taking place in Scotland:

  • Inverness Roadshow on Tuesday 9 September 2025 
  • Glasgow Roadshow on Wednesday 10 September 2025.

Both events will follow the same agenda, so please attend the event that is more convenient for you to travel to.

To register to attend please email (MMSST@parliament.uk) and you will be sent an outlook invitation.  Please register your interest by Tuesday 2 September.

What to expect

The agenda will include informative presentations from IPSA and the Home Office, as well as updates from the House Administration. The events are also a chance to connect and network with colleagues from other local offices.

For more information, please contact MMSST@parliament.uk

Alt-text and LLMs

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We have been publishing cartoons by Hoby on the w4mp site for many years, and we know readers enjoy them. However their accessibility has always been an issue. From time to time we’ve experimented with ways to describe the cartoons in the alt-text of the image but it’s now clear that, with the right prompt, LLMs are good at the job.

Here’s the latest cartoon:

A four-panel, black and white cartoon featuring an MP, Sir Justin, and his aide, Trey. **Panel 1:** Trey is at his desk in an office, with Big Ben visible out the window. He is on the phone with his boss, Sir Justin, who says, "Hello? Trey? Hi, it's Sir Justin. Listen, you must be bored couped up in the office with all this nice weather we've been having." **Panel 2:** A close-up on Trey listening to the phone. Sir Justin continues, "Why don't you come down to the constituency for a change of scenery and some fresh air?" **Panel 3:** Trey looks flattered as Sir Justin says, "I need some help with an important event and I think you're the only one with the requisite skill and expertise." Trey replies, "That's very flattering sir, thank you!" **Panel 4:** The scene cuts to a golf course. Sir Justin, dressed in golfing gear, is holding a club. A dejected-looking Trey stands beside him, holding a heavy bag of golf clubs. Sir Justin thinks to himself, "Can't believe I fell for that. Especially as it's not the first time." He then says to Trey, "Five iron please."
Hoby Cartoon for August 2025

And this is what Google Gemini came up with, given the prompt:

“this is a four frame cartoon featuring two characters, Trey and Sir Justin. Trey works for Sir Justin who is an MP. Please generate a description suitable for alt-text”

A four-panel, black and white cartoon featuring an MP, Sir Justin, and his aide, Trey.

Panel 1: Trey is at his desk in an office, with Big Ben visible out the window. He is on the phone with his boss, Sir Justin, who says, “Hello? Trey? Hi, it’s Sir Justin. Listen, you must be bored couped up in the office with all this nice weather we’ve been having.”

Panel 2: A close-up on Trey listening to the phone. Sir Justin continues, “Why don’t you come down to the constituency for a change of scenery and some fresh air?”

Panel 3: Trey looks flattered as Sir Justin says, “I need some help with an important event and I think you’re the only one with the requisite skill and expertise.” Trey replies, “That’s very flattering sir, thank you!”

Panel 4: The scene cuts to a golf course. Sir Justin, dressed in golfing gear, is holding a club. A dejected-looking Trey stands beside him, holding a heavy bag of golf clubs. Sir Justin thinks to himself, “Can’t believe I fell for that. Especially as it’s not the first time.” He then says to Trey, “Five iron please.”

Which is pretty good. So we’ll start doing this regularly.

Understanding the impact of disability benefits reforms on local authorities

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Free webinar from Policy in Practice

Time: 10:30 – 11:45
Date: Wednesday 27 August 2026
Location: Online
Registration: Please click here for full details and registration

Changes to disability benefits are set to affect millions of low income households across the UK. Despite recent government concessions softening the immediate impact, significant changes remain on the horizon, with major implications for councils, NHS services and local support systems.

An increase to Universal Credit and investment in employment support is offset by changes to the health element of Universal Credit, putting additional pressure on already stretched services.

For councils, understanding who will be affected and preparing early will be key to avoiding deepening hardship in their communities.

Caseworker Discussion Forum: Disability Services (DWP)

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Time: 14:30 – 15:30
Date: Thursday 7 August 2025
Location: Online via MS Teams

The Caseworker Discussion Forum takes place each month via MS Teams.

This month’s forum will focus on a Disability Services benefits overview and handling constituent correspondence, with staff from DWP.

Book your place on Act.

The forum is complemented by a dedicated Teams chat which enables you to share ideas and best practice, with support being on hand from the Library should specialist knowledge be required.

You do not have to be a caseworker to attend these sessions – they are open to any Members’ staff who handle casework.

Scotland Roadshow – September 2025

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The Members and Members’ staff Services Team (MMSST), in collaboration with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), is planning a roadshow event in Scotland this September. This forms part of a wider programme of roadshows taking place across the UK throughout the year.

What to expect

The roadshow event is aimed at all Members’ staff and is a valuable opportunity to learn more about the wide range of support and services available to you and connect with colleagues from other local offices.

The event will take place week commencing 8 September. Further information, including location and timings, will be communicated shortly.

Help to shape the event

The MMSST are keen to hear from you as we begin to plan the event. Please email MMSST@parliament.uk to receive a link to a short feedback form to share your suggestions.

We look forward to connecting with you in Scotland later this year.

Escorting Guests

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New guidance has been issued on escorting guests on the visitor route in Parliament, including a new tour script.

Please visit https://parlinet.parliament.uk/on-the-estate/visitor-access/visitor-route/ for details of the route and the permissions and rules required relating to escorting guests.

Please note that Members’ staff on occasional day passes, even if security-cleared, are not permitted to escort guests.