iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Milburn report pushed to after budget because there is no money for his recommendations. Defence spending pushed back too. Spending review is going to be a nightmare.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 05/10/2026

good review and also, there is still something to be written about Sarah Palin as a key figure in creating the political space that trump seized just a few years later.

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Reimagining what central government is for will be as important as the devolution bit.

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James Austin @jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

A big thing missing in the mayoral model - which I'm broadly a fan of - is democratic scrutiny at a similar level. The ideas here are... fine but miss the need that, if we are to devolve power to a local level,we also need to devolve accountability. Models similar to the GLA need to accompany it

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Important story by @guardianheather.bsky.social. Scrutiny of public money is obviously important, but so is a mindset shift in SW1 (see below...) www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Read his book about the fall of the Shah and went straight on to this. Incredible writer

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

James Blunt genuinely looks like Princess Ann, a tough look to land

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

For many years I'd have suggested Ireland's beautiful (and fun!) PR-STV. Less sure nowadays as it seems genuinely difficult to get a change of government

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Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Mildly surprised how many people think "yeah Burnham's speech went down well but did you not notice how he failed to solve the (checks notes) 20 year growth and fiscal problems he inherited" is a devastating and insightful critique.

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Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I see speculation that John Curtice may get chosen to lead Labour's electoral reform commission. And I see speculation that Labour want to end up with SV. I doubt both these things can be true. Because I would be very surprised if any commission led by Curtice ended up recommending SV.

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Finnish apparently (some of those Qs are very silly)

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Steve Akehurst @steveakehurst.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

NEW: How does Burnham’s conference speech land with voters when they see it it? In short, very well it seems. A thread on some new video testing of the PM’s speech among voters by @persuasionuk.bsky.social Top line findings and some caveats below! 🧵👇

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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

On 26 October, we'll be marking 50 years since the IMF crisis by exploring the politics of economic shocks. What is it like to govern in an economic crisis? What happens when "the markets" turn on governments? And what does this mean for democracy? All welcome! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/politics-a...

eventbrite.co.uk

Politics and Economic Shocks, from the IMF Crisis to the Mini-Budget

Join the Mile End Institute for a discussion exploring how financial crises and market pressures have shaped British politics since 1976.

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Jack Bailey @jack-bailey.co.uk · 28/09/2026

Sick of work this Monday lunchtime? Or perhaps hungover from one too many on the first night of Labour Conference? If so, distract yourself with ✨ 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗥𝗣 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ✨ Full interactive at: jack-bailey.co.uk/ward2024

Screenshot showing interactive ward level MRP estimates at the 2024 UK general election.

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Britain is not good at getting people into city centers. (Sign up for nice charts centreforcities.substack.com/p/good-growt...)

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

First time at a party conference in quite a few years. Loved being with @centreforcities.bsky.social, it's a lot of fun being part of a very live agenda. Liverpool is also a cracking city, feels like a place on the move.

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Bonnie Blue, the Vengaboys, Ms Frizzle...your profit margins took a hell of a beating.

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Susan Shaped @susanshaped.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The Mill are brilliant, and this is a fab offer for any young thing in the Manchester-ish area, especially if they're into journalism, politics or just general Manchester *stuff*.

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The Mill @manchestermill.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

We’ve partnered with @postcodelotteryuk.bsky.social to fund 400 annual Mill subscriptions for 16-25 year olds! Be quick and claim one of these free subscriptions before they run out. manchestermill.co.uk/free-mil-sub...

manchestermill.co.uk

Free Mill subscriptions for 16-25 year olds!

A huge boost for our campaign

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Centre for Cities @centreforcities.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Our #LabourPartyConference agenda continues this afternoon with a session in conversation with @dantomlinson.bsky.social 👇

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Busy morning at #LPC with @andrewcities.bsky.social in the Chair. Loads still to come today and tomorrow 🌹 www.canva.com/design/DAHQB...

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Centre for Cities @centreforcities.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

It’s a packed room for the first session of our #LabourPartyConference agenda ‘In Conversation with Mayor Steve Rotherham’ @metromayorsteve.bsky.social @lcrmayor.bsky.social👇

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Centre for Cities @centreforcities.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Next up on our #LabourPartyConference agenda is an 'In Conversation with Mayor Helen Godwin' @mayorhelengodwin.bsky.social 👇 Check out the rest of our sessions today and tomorrow here: buff.ly/nNErF9F

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Are you seriously accusing me of breaking my brand promise

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Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Gavin Bazunu statement on withdrawing from Ireland squad

Posts gavin_bazunu
く

Statement - Gavin Bazunu

Representing my country means everything to me. I have the utmost respect for every single one of my team mates, the Manager, his staff and the Irish people

However I have reached a decision that I have hot taken lightly. I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle therefore 1 feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel.

My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.

It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition of the Israeli people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region.

There are few times where you get a chance ir ife to stand up for something bigger and strongly believe that this is one of them

gavin_bazunu

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

In the US, David Axelrod talks about the left approaching the working class "like missionaries and anthropologists".

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I suppose it's what he would have wanted. His family looking into contactless payment

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Heather Stewart @guardianheather.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This seems as though it might avoid some of the pitfalls of the Osborne version of Help to Buy - which the IFS recently found helped higher earners most...https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/26/andy-burnham-announces-new-scheme-for-first-time-home-buyers-england

theguardian.com

Andy Burnham announces new homes scheme for first-time buyers

Exclusive: Policy initiative for England will help more young people on to property ladder, prime minister tells Guardian

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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Every piece I read from the ex-Starmer crew has the same flavour- a bleeding over of their distaste for other more socially liberal colleagues in the Labour Party, which has been retro-fitted into an entire explanation for how politics should work, even as it failed when actually tested.

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Fun piece. I wouldn't bring an iced coffee personally, but nor would I mind / care if a candidate did.

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Michael Savage @michaelsavage.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Nothing has made me fear AI-powered extinction more than Nick Clegg saying not to worry about it

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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Such a great opportunity. We are offering scholars the chance to spend a year at the Foreign Office through one of our Innovation Fellowships. The priority themes are outlined below. We offer up to £120k for the fellowship. Please help spread the word! www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...

The Academy and the FCDO invite applications for Fellowships in any of the following areas:
1. Applied History
2. Critical Infrastructure and European
Warfare
3. South Asia Geopolitics and Regional
Security
4. The UK-France Relationship in 2027 and
Beyond
5. UK National Security Strategy
Scheme opens date: 22 September 2026
Application Deadline: 18 November 2026,

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Picked a beautiful day to be in Manchester and nice to see No 10 North!

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Maurice Lange @mauricelange.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I have a new paper out today on what Andy Burnham needs to do to achieve “the biggest council housebuilding programme since the post-war period”. A coherent (I hope) to-do list, explaining the contingencies and pre-empting potential missteps. Do read the paper in full, but here's a 🧵

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Archie Hall @archiehall.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

My latest for @economist.com: AI writing is taking over politics. 10% of what was is said in Parliament is now AI-drafted, per Pangram. Yet more in the House of Representatives, or in Australia and Canada. Link: www.economist.com/britain/202... And a 🧵 below, w/ some main offenders

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Andrew Carter @andrewcities.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Mike is hugely worth listening to. Insights based on experience and a sharp way of expressing them.

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Simon Nixon @nixonsimon.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Rejoining the single market but not the EU is also a fantasy policy. No responsible government could agree to the City becoming a rule-taker given the risks to financial stability, even if the country was willing to become a rule-taker in everything else (highly unlikely)

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Owen Winter @handle.invalid · 22/09/2026

The latest Economist/YouGov poll has Trump's approval -28 and Democrats leading the generic ballot by 14 points among likely voters. If replicated in November it would be the biggest popular vote victory for either party since 1976

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Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Look how pretty our new @centreforcities.bsky.social Substack is 😍 One chart about cities and urban economics, every Tues. Sign up here: centreforcities.substack.com

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Centre for Cities @centreforcities.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

🟡We are at Liberal Democrat Party Conference today and excited to host our Building Better Places event this afternoon alongside our expert panel 👀 @timleunig.bsky.social @bhamcitycouncil.bsky.social @steve-pitt.bsky.social @macegroup.bsky.social

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Tim Leunig @timleunig.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Monday 1.45pm - come join us. No conference pass required!

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

A lot of Labour people visibly believe that a Labour government gives off tolerance particles, and therefore sitting mute is fine and good. The reality is that it took a cross party, whole society effort to make us, as Sunak says, the most successful multiethnic, multifaith democracy in the world:

thetimes.com

Rishi Sunak: Britishness must not be turned into a DNA test

I worry that the immigration debate is going far beyond arrival numbers

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