iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

What's hilarious about this is 'The Right Way' was the deliberately ludicrous conference slogan of the fictional flailing Tory leader in House of Cards (UK version obvs) before he was couped It was supposed to comically bad and there were a few jokes about it in the series. Badenoch clearly unaware

Henry Collingridge at the House of Cards series 1 party conference in front of poster with The Right Way slogan

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

If you're in the Hereford area on Friday and are interested in anti-fascism, the International Brigades and the Spanish Civil War, come along and here some top historians talk about those things! www.ticketsource.com/military-his...

ticketsource.com

The Spanish Civil War at College Hall

Tickets are now available for The Spanish Civil War at College Hall, Hereford on Fri 25 Sep 2026. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This is the bit in the documentary about the rise of the Nazis where you can't believe the black-and-white crowd are so callous, so thoughtless, so joyous in their depravity

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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

A lot of people asking me how this isn't the New InfoWars and guess what maybe it is?

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

The British Library is a national embarrassment. The single worst institution I’ve ever interacted with And I’ve lived in Germany, in which the idea that a public institution should serve the public in a convenient way is an alien concept

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

See if I could see this coming, why could the leader of the opposition or her team not? Utterly bizarre

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

This story will run for a few days, maybe weeks, then he'll withdraw or be withdrawn. It's so obvious how it'll play out, so why on earth is Kemi defending him? Does she think it'll play badly on Twitter to hang him out to dry?

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I can imagine her giving a concession speech in 2029, in which she insists she has won the argument

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Please tell me about how Andy Burnham can’t be allowed to become an MP because it risks Labour losing Manchester to the Greens… (or indeed Reform)

Result of the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election. Labour 47.1% first preference (66% second preference), closest are reform on 21% and green on 12.2%

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Also Burnham explicity ruled out an early general election in his first major interview yesterday Not exactly a good look to go back on that. And there's an elections bill in progress that team Burnham seems to want to amend. And all his bold ideas will take time...

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

First impressions count a lot in politics and once formed they’re very hard to shift See Starmer & Reeves Farage had a hold of people who formed a good first impression of him and generally have stuck to it regardless Burnham is very much hoping to make this a week of good first impressions

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Burnham is clearly trying to start his tenure with a series of good news story announcements At the very least he’s learnt from the first mistake his predecessor made. And he’s clearly prioritising policies that will help alleviate the cost of living, especially for the poorest

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Need some holiday reading? Pen & Sword are doing *50%* off practically everything! My books are on there, including: Fighting for Spain - an illustrated history of the International Brigades w/ 150 photos www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Fighting-for... Buy direct from an indy publisher to support authors!

pen-and-sword.co.uk

Fighting for Spain

In the English-speaking world, the Spanish Civil War is perhaps best remembered through the exploits of thousands of foreign volunteers from across the globe who…

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

The French at their Bastille Day celebrations rn

David Brent in the Office getting sacked and
saying “that’s that ruined”

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Oh no…. Put it back!!! This headline reads like the opening of a Buchan or Blackwood spooky story Or indeed could be lifted from Shades of Rome by @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Ancient Roman 'guardian spirit' discovered in Northumberland

A sculpture of a Genius is discovered at the Vindolanda archaeological site in Hexham.

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

A seminal moment for me as an historian was reading John Buchan’s Witch Wood about a small Scottish village in the 1640s There’s a vivid chapter that spans a difficult winter and it brought home to me for the first time how genuinely challenging winter was for most humans for most of human history

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

She wanted to be in this war and argued that the only reason Keir Starmer didn't want to is that he was in hoc to British Muslims. Not a serious person.

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Guess I'm converting 🤷‍♂️ britmonkey.com/2020s-politi...

2020s political compass result giving me Pope Leo XIV

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

A friend who works in commercial property has alerted me to this case His view was that it is *possible* Burnham has been a very naughty boy indeed, loaning public money to developers at overly generous rates. The developer has fled to Monaco www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Manchester skyscraper loans were made based on ‘unlawful’ decision, court hears

A case is being heard in the Court of Appeal over GMCA's loans to Renaker

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

The strangest looking result on this funny scale. Anyway, down with free markets! Your overall right-wing affinity is 17%. Take the quiz here: www.edrith.co.uk/p/discover-y... moryscarter.com/vespr/starpl...

Strange shaped pentagon map of my Right Wing beliefs - 0% Nativist, 0% Libertarian, 0% Free marketer, 40% traditionalist, 5% social conservative

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Reposted by Alexander Clifford

Ollie Randall @ollie-randall.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Fun fact: unless I've gone wrong somewhere, Clement Attlee and Ted Heath are the ONLY prime ministers in British history whose time as PM began with winning a General Election and ended with losing one. And both of them eventually lost to the same man they initially beat.

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doom boy @doomboy.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

"i'm a committed catholic. also i waited six years to baptize my child"

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Reposted by Alexander Clifford

George Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Reform have now lost six by-elections in a row in England, Scotland and Wales. Their national poll rating is 26% – below Labour in 1983 – and Farage’s approval rating is -37. They’re very far from the voice of the people and need to stop being treated as such.

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Spagatha Christie @yesmissmurphy.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Let’s go

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

My father didn't go to university & also I'm the son of a university lecturer Using just 1 grandfather I can say 'My grandad left school at 15 and went to sea, serving many yrs in the Merchant Navy' & also 'My grandfather was a successful salesman for Shell who sent his daughter to private school'

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Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 15/06/2026

Despite Spain having more than 74% possession, Cape Verde committed only one foul all game. It's the fewest by any team in a World Cup match in Opta's record books (since 1966).

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Scrolling through this thread, banning social media appears to be the most popular idea since sliced bread, including amongst the young

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Britain's Iron Chancellor 35% off right now The unlikely story of Bronte country's Philip Snowden, who overcame disability to reach the top, before embarking on a stunning revenge arc Cheaper than Amazon & supporting indy publishers! Perhaps a father's day treat for your history/politics buff dad?

pen-and-sword.co.uk

Britain’s Iron Chancellor

PHILIP SNOWDEN was a proud Yorkshireman, a founding father of the Labour Party, its first Chancellor of the Exchequer and eventually was seen as a…

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Reposted by Alexander Clifford

Helen Gittos @helengittos.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

These are *wonderful*! What a joy. Thanks so much for sharing them @alexclifford.bsky.social.

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Inspired by this public lecture by @helengittos.bsky.social & the Hild novels of @nicolaz.bsky.social, Y8s have been immersing themselves for project week in 7th c. Northumbrian material culture & history Each group made a dress, necklace & broach that Hild could have worn & illuminated manuscripts

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Moors weekend - Cowling, home to Labour’s first chancellor, Philip Snowden I’m rather taken with the place - still isolated and tranquil

Snowden’s house in the hamlet of Ickornshaw, parish of Cowling. Moors stretching in the distance

View of Cowling from Wainman’s Pinnacle at sunset

Snowden’s house, where he was born, grew up and spent his period of disability

Plaque on Snowden’s house. Reads “In this cottage was born on July 18th 1864 the Right Hon. Philip Snowden P.C. First Viscount of Ickornshaw who was three times chancellor of the exchequer of Great Britain

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

In action at the beautiful Keighley Library today Repeatedly stabbing Philip Snowden in the front on his home turf by explaining why he was Labour’s Heathcliff (in a bad way) A great turnout and some really interesting questions - not least, was he just a conviction politician?

Me speaking at keighley local studies library

Me reading from Britain’s Iron Chancellor, Snowden’s autobiography

The lovely interior of Keighley Local Studies library, upstairs in the library. The Snowden Library - his collection of books, is to the right at the back

Poster advertising the talk - Labour’s Heathcliff: the political revenge story of Philip Snowden

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

On Bede’s feast day, I’ll share these photos I took on Friday evening of St Paul’s, Jarrow It’s a remarkable 7th century church that was part of Bede’s monastical complex. Contains a dedication stone from 685 and the oldest stained glass in England This is where Bede prayed and preached and sang

Sunset at St Paul’s Jarrow. The right hand section dates from the 7th century and was the chapel within the monastery that stood here and was home to Bede

Interior of the nave of St Paul’s, which was completed in 685

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Yesterday’s game: ARVN Rangers v Communists The ARVN had to destroy 6 objectives - tunnel entrances, arms cache, encampment - against unlimited reinforcements of first VC then NVA After surviving a tunnel ambush and eliminating 3 objectives, the Rangers ended up pinned at the river crossing. Draw!

Opening moves of the game - ARVN Rangers emerge from the village, VC move in from the west

Tunnel ambush! VC emerge and engage an ARVN MG team at close range

ARVN Rangers attempt to force the river with their Commander, only to be pincered by NVA reinforcements. The commander was killed and the attack faltered

End of the game, with the Rangers having hit their exhaustion point of 50% casualties. Stalemate at the ford with ARVN MGs having the crossing under a crossfire, while NVA mortars and infantry make the Ranger toehold on the north bank untenable. 3 of the 6 objectives remain intact, including the guerrilla camp in the woods to the west

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Excellent analysis of a really not very nice faction emerging in the Green Party

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

More in Common also consistently put Reform higher than other pollsters

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

My result: Democratic Socialist - although I’m managed to land almost perfectly in the middle on everything except the economy 🤷‍♂️ Economic: collectivist Social: centrist Sovereignty: centrist Military: leaning anti-interventionist Authority: leaning authoritarian Constitutional: centrist

quiz.jmoxley.co.uk

British Political Spectrum Quiz

Find out where you sit on the British political map across six dimensions.

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Labour's Heathcliff: The Political Revenge Story of Philip Snowden Join me to explore the fascinating story Snowden's betrayed self-destructive political vendetta Sat 30 May, Keighley Library, 1.30pm Tickets here - www.ticketsource.com/bradfordlibr... RTs would be appreciated to spread the word

bradfordlocalstudies.com

Labour’s Heathcliff – the Political Revenge Story of Philip Snowden

A talk by Alex Clifford at Keighley Local Studies Library, on Saturday 30th May at 1:30pm. Philip Snowden was a product of the moors of Brontë country. With typical Yorkshire grit, he overcame grin…

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

I got progressive realist on findmypolitics.com, which is what I’d say I am. Apparently I’m most like Bernie, as it’s a little US-focused findmypolitics.com?e=-62&so=-28...

Breakdown of my result on findmypolitics.com

Find My Politics Results — findmypolitics.com
Test: Deep Dive · 80 Qs
Closest Ideology: Progressive Realist

Leans left on economics and social issues, but focuses on what's actually achievable rather than what's ideal. Pragmatic about working within existing institutions and building coalitions. Values evidence and compromise over ideological consistency. Obama-era politics and mainstream center-left Democrats are the clearest reference point.

Economic: 62% Left-wing
Social: 28% Libertarian
Civil Liberties: 3% Pro-Liberty
Governance: 37% Globalist
System Trust: 50% High Trust

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

After this week I couldn’t resist starting this again… it’s so delicious acted, just the right level of camp Already looking forward to series 2 and the brilliant fictionalised Charles. The final scene in which Urquhart verbally destroys the king sends a chill down my spine every time

Start titles to the 1990 UK series House of Cards

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Steps 1 and 4 are ✅ I think today’s the clearest indication yet Streeting has a deal with Burnham

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Starmer is letting Burnham run! First step ticked off…

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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Scenario: - Enough on the NEC switch and Burnham runs - Burnham wins & immediately launches leadership challenge - Only 2 candidates in the leadership election, Burnham vs Starmer (Carns doesn’t get 81) - Streeting backs Burnham - Burnham wins, makes Streeting chancellor to calm the bond markets

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