iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Louise S

Crime Girl @crimegirl.co.uk · 28/09/2026

I am a barrister who once spent time seconded to the CPS serious crimes unit making charging decisions. Today, you can pretend to be one too and work through the decision-making framework in a very serious case. The police have multiple suspects in custody and the phone just rang. 👨 👨 👨 👨 👨 📱 👮‍♀️ 🚨

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

So the NYT list of 100 best shows of the century has Fleabag at no.5 while The Good Place (one of the most perfect comedies ever written) is a paltry 51st -Am I the only person in the world that thought Fleabag was a bit meh?

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Just had my first experience of using Ticketmaster for an event for the child and friend. It was incredibly stressful and after clicking on the ‘buy’ button the second it appeared, and queuing, it took me to a dead page because it was sold out. In less than a minute.

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I wrote to my MP this morning to say how disappointing the government’s weak response was. I think it’s important to remind MPs that ordinary people don’t support these thugs. Perhaps if enough MPs have a go at Burnham he’ll be a bit more visible in taking a stand against the fascists.

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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

90 years ago, Parliament responded to the rise of Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts by passing the Public Order Act, which banned political uniforms, private militias and the threat of force for political objects. The debates make very resonant reading today. Here's the Liberal Robert Bernays. (Short 🧵)

You cannot conduct a fair match when one side is playing with a ball and the other with bombs and, if democracy is to survive, it must be conducted according to definite and recognised rule. One of them is that no political party should resort to any weapon other than reason and argument. The introduction of private armies, as I see it, strikes at the root of democracy. I know it is contended that the Blackshirts are not armed and, therefore, are not an army, but I do not think that argument can be upheld. … Uniformed men in military formation suggest, and are meant to suggest, the idea of force. It is no argument to reply that at this or that demonstration no force is intended. It is an inescapable fact that a uniform in politics symbolises force, to be used either now or in the future.

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Alice Roberts @profaliceroberts.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

When I see commentators using terms like “DEI” I immediately suspect that they’re trying to ignite a US inspired (and maybe funded?) culture war here. Because the acronym used in the UK is EDI - equality, diversity, inclusion - linked to the equality act 2010. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/1...

legislation.gov.uk

Equality Act 2010

An Act to make provision to require Ministers of the Crown and others when making strategic decisions about the exercise of their functions to have regard to the desirability of reducing socio-economi...

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I’ve discovered some great authors since joining Bluesky, including Tom. I bought his book Villager after reading the brilliant chapter he posted. Please, authors, keep posting about your books!

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Isabel Picornell Garcia @picornell.eurosky.social · 18/08/2026

"The result is that the actual work of writing is rarely taught to anyone in any sustained way: how an argument is built across paragraphs, how reasoning is signalled, how counter-evidence is handled, how a student moves from describing to analysing."

wonkhe.com

What teaching academic writing as a discipline actually looks like

Good academic writing is a skill that can be taught. Anna Yeadell wonders why we don't bother teaching it

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Every time I buy a second hand book now, I feel like I am saving a precious treasure for future generations.

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Celebrating 21 years of marriage with a glass of champagne and a game of Plate Up

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

So I saw the eclipse through a colander last night, like everyone else, pretty cool. We sat out to see Perseids but nothing doing, probably wasn’t late enough. Was able to see lots of stars which had a total perspective vortex effect- we really are just a tiny spot in the universe.

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

A sensible move. I did wonder when the courts would deal with these.

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Reposted by Louise S

Skionar @skionar.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Orchids revived, the corpse ambulant and a poetic ruined abbey. These are the news stories I want to read.

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Going to see the Odyssey today. Excited to see it, but mostly excited to have three hours completely to myself!

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Joshua Rozenberg @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

A High Court judge delivered a shouty message yesterday about respecting restrictions on the draft judgments. Mr Justice Fordham was ruling on what he described as “another case about the vital distinction between a court embargo and a journalism embargo”. rozenberg.substack.com/p/badger-tru...

rozenberg.substack.com

Badger Trust badgered

Judge issues bold type of warning after breach of trust

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Geert Van Calster @gavclaw.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

An abuse of process issue that reads like a spy novel . Re 'privilege hunting' as an abuse of the process of the English court and, if it is, what if anything should be the court's response. Salinas Pliego & Anor v Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 940 www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...

bailii.org

Making sure you're not a bot!

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

I wanted to believe things had changed. I felt a bit of hope with Burnham’s speech yesterday, it was good and the focus on homelessness is humane and something that Labour should focus on. But keeping the Home Secretary… so much for a new start.

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The Bear @bearlypolitics.co.uk · 11/07/2026

Reform UK and Ring Leader Nigel have many (oh so many) excuses, arguments and obfuscations that they’re all rolling out to somehow justify the utter farce they’ve launched straight into the body politic. They range from “it’s the establishment!” to “he isn’t really a politician!” Each one of (1)

bearlypolitics.co.uk

Faragian Farce Day 4: A Deep Dive Into The Nine Bins Of Reformati Arguments

The Farage/Reform response has become a panicked tour of grievance, victimhood, and procedural illiteracy, with one very large question still sitting slap bang in the middle of the room.

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Shoaib M Khan @shoaibmkhan.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Official figures on the diversity of the judiciary have once again revealed sluggish progress – with female and ethnic minority representation rising but the number of solicitor-judges shrinking. The proportion of black judges has effectively stalled. www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/slow-pr...

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

I’ve just bought a big circus tent of a dress that makes me look like I’m Boss Hogg’s wife, but it is so nice and cool to wear I don’t care.

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

This is atrocious, to lose so much talent. The people who created so many amazing games deserve better. What are Microsoft thinking.

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Reposted by Louise S

Joshua Rozenberg @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Reforms aimed at reducing delays and prioritising trials in the criminal courts of England and Wales have been announced by the lady chief justice, Baroness Carr. There will be greater use of live links so that more participants can attend hearings remotely. rozenberg.substack.com/p/making-tri...

rozenberg.substack.com

Making trials run on time

Judges must minimise the ‘human impact’ of delay

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Is this by-election because someone is on manoeuvres in Reform? I just can’t see a rational reason for it otherwise.

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

We’re rewatching this at the moment and said exactly this last night.

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Just had a man canvass for Reform, and I was so shocked that instead of all the clever things I’d planned to say, I stuttered something about Reform being a bunch of disgustingness (??😅) Think the look on my face told him how I felt, as he said ‘no?’ before he even finished saying who he was!

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Joshua Rozenberg @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

“This consultation,” wrote David Lammy, “proposes some of the biggest reforms to family law in decades — bringing the law into the 21st century, helping families feel better off and increasing protections.” Top marks if you already know what he’s talking about. rozenberg.substack.com/p/justice-fo...

rozenberg.substack.com

Justice for the unmarried

Whisper it quietly, though

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Reposted by Louise S

Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

"The government will repeal the Vagrancy Act on Monday 29 June 2026, ending nearly two centuries of legislation that has criminalised rough sleeping and begging" www.gov.uk/government/n...

gov.uk

Rough sleeping no longer a crime as Vagrancy Act repealed

The government will repeal the Vagrancy Act on Monday 29 June 2026, ending nearly two centuries of legislation that has criminalised rough sleeping and begging.

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Spent last night at Classical 80s in Leeds having a great time. Nik Kershaw is probably the only artist that we all love in my family, especially the teen - possibly the youngest person there and she knew all the words. So proud.🥰

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Well, now he knows how a lot of people who voted Labour last election feel.

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Reposted by Louise S

Cathal Malone @cathalmalone.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

To expand on my theme slightly, people often misunderstand the purpose of a law degree. It is, emphatically, *not* to learn "The Law." That changes daily. By the time my first degree was over, Irish property law (as an example) had been overhauled beyond recognition. What a law degree is for is...

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

The Law Commission has opened a consultation on the UK homicide laws. I’m particularly interested in the suggestions for clarifying unlawful dangerous act and gross negligence manslaughter offences. lawcom.gov.uk/project/law-...

lawcom.gov.uk

Law of homicide – Law Commission

Reforming the law

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

When still a barrister in 1870s, the future Lord Chief Justice Coleridge prosecuted a perjury charge and gave a closing speech that lasted 28 days! (From Tom Hughes’ ‘A Shattered Idol’) I get worn out after a 90 minute teaching session.

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Finally at the other side of a particularly intense and long marking period, I am treating myself to this read. ‘A Shattered Idol: the Lord Chief Justice and his Troublesome Women’ by Tom Hughes, about the Victorian Lord Chief Justice Lord Coleridge’s scandals.

Picture of the book ‘A Shattered Idol: the Lord Chief Justice and his Troublesome Women- the scandal that enthralled Victorian Britain’ by Tom Hughes.

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UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

How did the Petitions Committee come about, and what can this teach MPs seeking House of Commons reform today? Our new guide, Reforming the Commons: The backbench MP's guide to achieving procedural change, discusses just this. Read it 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Box 2: Introduction of the Petitions Committee

For much of the twentieth century, public petitions to the House of Commons had limited practical impact on parliament. Although individuals could submit petitions through MPs and receive a published government response, petitions were not debated and rarely shaped parliamentary business. As expectations of public participation evolved – particularly with the growth of online engagement – this increasingly came to be seen as a missed opportunity for parliament to respond more visibly and meaningfully to public concerns.

The launch of the Number 10 e-petitions website in 2006 marked an important shift, demonstrating strong public appetite for digital participation. However, because the system was owned by the executive rather than parliament, it reinforced concerns that petitions were being treated as a communications exercise rather than a route into parliamentary scrutiny. These concerns were taken up by select committees and external bodies, which argued that petitions should provide a clearer link between public support and parliamentary debate.

Over the following years, a series of committee inquiries and reports, including from the Procedure Committee and the Wright Committee (see box 1), made the case that parliament needed to become more responsive to pressures from outside Westminster. They argued that petitioning should be better integrated into parliamentary processes, allowing issues with demonstrable public backing to be considered, debated and, where appropriate, investigated by MPs.

Initial reforms, including the introduction of petition debates organised through the Backbench Business Committee, improved visibility but proved difficult to sustain within existing time constraints.

The text of this box cannot be fully reproduced because of character limits on ALT-text on Bluesky. However, its content can be found in the full report available on the Constitution Unit's website.

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Reposted by Louise S

Lauren Deschain @thatnerdchick.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Thanks, Vonnegut. 💜

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

This is really interesting, about US states reducing the way that corporations can flood elections with money. I hope the UK government sees the urgency of tackling this, I’m not sure the Representation of the People Bill sections on donations to political parties will be enough.

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National Trust @nationaltrust.org.uk · 03/05/2026

We have an *extremely* important announcement to make. From Wednesday, we will be launching our puffin live cam, coming to you from the Farne Islands. So you can watch puffins all day long. In celebration, please enjoy this clip of puffins being really busy for 39 seconds straight.

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UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

What is the role of referendums in UK politics? As part of a new set of explainers published this week, we explore past referendums in the UK, when they are required, and the arguments for and against them. Read our brand new explainer 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Explainer. What is the role of referendums in UK politics? The Constitution Unit. Referendums have repeatedly been used in the UK to resolve important constitutional questions. There is no general requirement for their use (as in some other countries). Referendums can allow fundamental constitutional questions to be decided by voters, and give legitimacy to major decisions. But they can also carry the risk of increased polarisation, or fail to inform voters adequately about the options.

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Louise S @louises.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

‘President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock told the opening of CSW that the backlash against women’s rights “feels as though we are forced to fight the same old battles again and again, battles from 80 years ago”.’

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Prof Rob Dover @robdover.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-univ... yes, but ... if we were market stall holders.. you said we could only sell apples for 50p. and it didn't matter how much inflation was, 50p was the price. but you also said we could sell peaches for as much as we like, because the price of apples was.. 1.

timeshighereducation.com

UK universities ‘foolish’ to bank on overseas student growth

Foreign students no longer a magic bullet for cash-strapped universities as visa changes and pricing wars force leaders to reconsider growth strategies

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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

A lot has bothered me about the reporting of the Kanye West banned. Firstly how it has been framed as all about it the Jewish community - but we should all be against Nazism! This country fought Nazis. Songs called Heil Hitler should not just be for the Jewish community to object to. And secondly…

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