iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Imagine if Nigel Farage had a gotten this kind of scrutiny in his first few years as leader. The British media is absolutely ravenous when it comes to left-wing leaders - same thing happened to Corbyn. They are profoundly anti left.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Fans intent on getting heavily drunk can already do so before entering the ground, in pubs, on trains, in concourses etc. Alcohol and disorder are clearly linked, but the evidence simply hasn’t established that preventing someone from taking a pint onto the terrace reduces disorder.

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Reposted by Dr Stefan Lawrence

Digital Football Network @digifootball.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

📢 Call for Chapters: The Digital Football Reader: Platforms, Data and Power 📅 Abstract deadline: 30 November 2026 📄 Proposal: 500-word abstract + approximately 100-word author biography 📚 Full chapters due: 30 September 2027 Full details: stefanlawrence.wordpress.com/2026/09/02/c...

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John Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch.ft.com · 07/08/2026

New from me: Britain’s graduate earnings premium is falling, cue “too many go to university!” But non-university outcomes are also bad, cue “we must reform vocational routes!” Both miss the point: people used to think education drove economic outcomes, but the economy drives educational outcomes.

Chart showing that US workers who are functionally illiterate earn roughly the same per hour as the average British worker

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Reposted by Dr Stefan Lawrence

FairSquare @fairsqprojects.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

FIFA's rules say no one can be President for more than three terms. So why are they letting Infantino stand again? Thread 1/5 #football #soccer #sport

FairSquare graphic. Blue duotone photo of Gianni Infantino. Headline: FIFA's rules say Infantino should not be able to stand for President. Below: he is serving his third term, elected 2016, 2019 and 2023, and we have written to FIFA demanding they bar him from standing. Reboot FIFA Campaign.

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flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

A great example of what always happens when the lads are asked to consider their own deep, immediately obvious guilt: like the Iraq War or austerity or Brexit, it turns out it was everybody’s fault. And if it’s everybody’s fault, nobody is really to blame www.thetimes.com/article/aadd...

thetimes.com

Jason Arday was failed by the system — and by me

The academic my sister knew was ‘kind, wise, warm and fun’, if also deeply flawed. The system that overpromoted him should have been the target, not him

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

This rhetoric sits very comfortably in the Times opinion ecosystem in a way it might have seemed more conspicuous in the Observer. Her change of employer has made a particular side of her politics more visible.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Her Arday comments sits very comfortably in the Times opinion ecosystem in a way it might have seemed more conspicuous in the Observer. Her change of employer has made a particular side of her politics more visible.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to message, following the news of my promotion to Reader. Promotions might have one person’s name attached to them, but academic careers are rarely individual achievements. They are built through collaboration, mentorship, friendship, and challenge.

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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Private equity backed European education group eyes takeovers of UK universities. Govts created crisis. Froze fees, limits on foreign students. 40% of unis in financial distress. What will PE cut - staff, wages, research, subjects? Takeover will be funded by student loans. archive.ph/lPWC1

ft.com

European education group eyes takeovers of UK universities

Britain ‘an appealing market’ for long-term investment, says Galileo chief

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

She talks about undermining rehabilitation by blocking him. But it’s like saying that because someone has been rehabilitated, they should automatically be eligible for any position of trust. Rehabilitation is about giving people a chance to rebuild, not guaranteeing access to public office.

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Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

The media is desperate to find some reason why Elon Musk's politics are complicated or more sophisticated than they seem, because the simple truth is too ugly for them to admit - an actual Nazi is the world's wealthiest person, and his companies hold substantial American government contracts.

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Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Is “pragmatic” the new, “grown up” word? Andy, there’s nothing “pragmatic” about drilling for more oil & gas - to even consider it with the planet literally on fire is total madness. How many times must we say it will do nothing for energy bills or security? It would be an act of utter recklessness

theguardian.com

Burnham promises ‘pragmatic’ approach to North Sea oil and gas

PM tells reporters the government cannot ignore the energy resource ‘when people are struggling’

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Reposted by Dr Stefan Lawrence

Ella Brockway @ellabrockway.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

What is in Fifa's 25-page sales pitch: a reference to more than doubling the number of global tournaments held each year, from 200 to 450 What is not in Fifa's 25-page sales pitch: a single reference to women's football

theguardian.com

Fifa’s sales pitch revealed: more tournaments, more debt … but no mention of women’s game

Fifa’s sales pitch to persuade members to approve the sale of the World Cup’s commercial rights clearly states that their plans for financial growth will be achieved by staging more tournaments, havin...

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Reposted by Dr Stefan Lawrence

Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

New UEFA statement. "UEFA knows there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme. FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly. It’s time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans"

Further UEFA statement on FIFA plans

Today we have learned of FIFA’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan.

But having held discussions with many stakeholders across the game, UEFA knows there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme. FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly. It’s time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Infantino exemplifies claustropolitan leadership: power that retreats into a self-referential world where criticism is betrayal. His Instagram rant wasn’t an aberration—it was symptomatic. FIFA parades as global but is a closed ecosystem, reflecting the authoritarian logic it so readily embraces.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

This really is Labour’s last chance. They will end up like the Tories if they don’t reform tax in a progressive way and deal with inequality. It really is that simple.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

When the world gets you down, there’s always Norway ❤️

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Yes France are on the plane home already but it makes the Argentina game so much more difficult to take. Why we didn’t freshen up legs in midfield and on the wings with Eze, Saka, Rashford et al. Is even more perplexing after this!

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

So many unanswered questions from Argentina? One of which is why didn’t Saka start? If he’s fit enough for today was he not fit enough 3 days ago?

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Infantino clears Blatter and that is some bar.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Too raw for me to find an answer right now!

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

It all felt very England: get close, become conscious of what is at stake, retreat, and try to endure history rather than make it.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I’ve really liked Tuchel this tournament just gutted for him and just know the press are gonna go for him in a way he doesn’t deserve. Even if he was at fault in my view.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Said to my mate. Massive 10 minutes decides the game after the goal. And it did insofar as the changes he made set us up to fail. I just can’t fathom why he didn’t freshen up the legs in midfield and wings and keep calm.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Argentina aren’t Mexico. So why invite the same pressure. Equally Argentina aren’t the Argentina of 4 years ago. So why did Tuchel park the bus? Just why?

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Absolutely gutted to go out like that.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

He got it sooo wrong and I’m gutted for him.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Younger working people are expected to carry risks that previous generations were partially protected from. They face high housing costs, insecure employment, and declining access to defined-benefit pensions. Their wages are not triple locked.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

A progressive welfare state should protect people against poverty and insecurity, not automatically privilege one demographic category regardless of wealth.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

The triple lock treats age as a proxy for economic need. But being old and being poor are not the same thing. A retired homeowner with a private pension, significant housing wealth and no mortgage receives exactly the same increase in State Pension as a pensioner struggling to heat a rented flat.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

A genuinely left-wing case for ending or reforming the pensions triple lock is really quite strong. The argument is not that pensioners have too much or that older people should be punished. It is that the current mechanism is a poorly targeted, generationally uneven way of pursuing social justice.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Why stopped there? Why don’t we allow Brazil, Argentina, England, Spain, France all to enter B teams.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Brilliant that from Tuchel. The nonsense from Gabriel Clarke over the years, always on the wind up has been embarrassing and about time he’s been called out.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

This team 🔥🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

This game is unreal. Come on England.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

And it was all going so well … Labour’s propensity to give hope then disappoint knows no ends.

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Reposted by Dr Stefan Lawrence

Christopher Hale @christopherjhale.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

“I carry with me a photo of a Muslim child who, during my visit to Lebanon, was standing there holding a sign that said ‘Welcome, Pope Leo,’ and in this latest phase of the war, he was killed. “As a Church, I say again: as a pastor, I cannot be in favor of war.” — Pope Leo XIV

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Going through the Starmer comments on here. And wow. When did this platform become just the opposite of X but for the left? The bile is completely unfathomable to me. He made too many mistakes and policy faux pas that I personally don’t like but my God he doesn’t deserve the level of hate.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I fear you’re right. I’m not denying his many failings but it’s simply undeniable that the bile he has received is disproportionate to his actual record.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I’m not a Labour or Starmer supporter. I’m an objective observer. He’s not been anywhere near as bad as he’s been made out to be.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Future historians may struggle to explain the level of hostility toward Starmer. In two years: NHS waiting lists down, workers’ rights strengthened, rail renationalisation underway, childcare expanded, child poverty reduced, pensions increased, immigration falling & relations with Europe improved.

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Tony Parry @tonyparry17.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Tribute at the #WorldCup to the 168 innocent girls MURDERED by US forces under the command of #TrumpThePaedo.

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Dr Stefan Lawrence @drstefanlawrence.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Scott as always doing so well at almost getting it.

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