iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Alex Clegg @alexclegg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Our report from June explains how the replacement for the triple lock will work (we called it a 'smoothed' triple lock). It's a much better policy than the current triple lock - State Pension is protected from inflation spikes and tracks earnings long term, but the expensive ratchet is removed.

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John Stott @jpsastro.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Had a UKRI funded grant proposal rejected at the "AI triage stage". "This AI-based triage was used only to identify approximately 50% of the strongest proposals to take forward to full human review." 🧪 #academicsky

I am writing to let you know that, unfortunately, your application was not successful.

Review process

As part of the initial triage of the 179 proposals submitted to this call, each was assessed using an AI-based review. Every proposal was read independently by several different AI models against the same seven criteria used to shape this call (including cyber security relevance, research quality and novelty, importance of the problem addressed, feasibility of the project plan, likely outputs and impact, value for money, and responsible research practice), with each model asked to give a score and a written justification with supporting quotations from the text. To guard against any one model's idiosyncrasies, we also ran a second, independent process in which different AI models debated the merits and weaknesses of each proposal before reaching a judgement, again against the same criteria. Scores from both processes were combined to produce an overall ranking.

This AI-based triage was used only to identify approximately 50% of the strongest proposals to take forward to full human review. Projects selected for funding were drawn from those that progressed to the full human review stage. We recognise that AI-assisted assessment is a new and evolving part of the review process, and we are continuing to evaluate how well it aligns with the judgements of human reviewers on this call. We will soon produce a document detailing our method, so that others can build upon it and improve it.

Feedback on your application

Your application was not selected to progress beyond the AI triage stage. To provide transparency on the outcome of this assessment, we are sharing below the scores (out of 5) from each of the two AI review processes described above, together with the mean score across the two processes.

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henry @runeberg.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

which other country/region would each British city fit best in? eg Bristol is West German, Sheffield is East German, Birmingham is American

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JWexTheSpa @jwsidders.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Genuine evil has been unleashed in England.

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timoconnorbl.bsky.social @timoconnorbl.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Carney telling the European Parliament that what's needed is an alliance - his word, repeated - where nobody gets to tell the EU and Canada what to do. Good *LORD*. And met with a standing ovation. Well, that's that for the previously-existing form of Atlanticism, then.

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

'The latest Home Office data – which shows a stark drop in the number of people seeking sponsored study visas in August – is sending shockwaves through UK higher education, with some warning of university closures should the trend continue.'

timeshighereducation.com

‘Universities could go under’: sector responds to UK study visa data

Decline in applications for study in the UK will ‘harm delivery of everything universities do’, observers say

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George Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Fiscal hawks of the left, unite! New post for Arguably. - Raise taxes on middle-earners – stop pretending you can fund social democracy through the wealthy alone. - Scrap the fiscally and morally unsustainable triple lock. - Pursue a far more ambitious EU deal. www.arguably.uk/p/fiscal-haw...

arguably.uk

Fiscal hawks of the left, unite

How Burnham can win over the bond markets

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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 14/09/2026

Your regular reminder: If the Russians stop fighting, the war ends. If the Ukrainians stop fighting, their land will be occupied, their leaders will be killed, their history and language will be erased, their children will be kidnapped to serve Russia.

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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Reform is the richest party in Britain. Its leaders are almost all millionaires. It is funded almost exclusively by billionaires. It has a supportive TV station and widespread media backing. So naturally, this donation comes with the usual attack on "elites". www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.com

Reform UK given record £36m donation by British crypto billionaire

Ben Delo was convicted in US for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls but pardoned by Trump

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John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 11/09/2026

🚨 NEW BLOGPOST 🚨 The last week has seen multiple incidents of masked mobs trying to subvert the power of the state. Their actions have been illegal and unpleasant. But the treatment has been weak. The police haven't dealt with it, and neither has govt. open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...

open.substack.com

Stop the Louts

The tools exist. The will, so far, doesn't.

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Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

After the AI news this last fortnight, I've heard numerous people saying they want to understand more about why some think it could kill us all. It's an area where I still feel very uncertain. But here are three pieces that have helped me understand those who are worried. 🧵

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Dan Davies @dsquareddigest.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

As I keep pointing out, does no one understand Ricardian comparative advantage anymore. FACT: China produces over 1 million engineering graduates per year FACT: To date, China has not produced a single internationally marketable game show format Where does it look like our advantage lies?

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Toby Nangle @tobyn.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

🚨 How big is the open-model threat to AI hyperscalers? (Spoiler: non-trivial) www.ft.com/content/4858...

ft.com

How big is the open-model threat to AI hyperscalers?

Games without frontiers

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I'm a big Star Trek fan so chairing tonight's 60th anniversary event is the highlight of my week 🖖 Gene Roddenberry was a humanist who filled the Enterprise with people who trust reason and evidence over superstition and dogma, and trust each other over rank. #StarTrek60

humanists.uk

Star Trek at 60: Interstellar humanism

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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

it’s weirdly fortuitous that the FT Magazine just happened to run a brilliant deep dive into James Orr yesterday morning, hours before the scandal broke: www.ft.com/content/c2d0...

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Mark Pack @markpackuk.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Now might be a good time to read up on how political polling is regulated in the UK... and by happy chance, I've just written two pieces on this. Learn to tell your BPC from your MRS here: theweekinpolls.substack.com/p/a-warning-... and here: theweekinpolls.substack.com/p/market-res...

theweekinpolls.substack.com

A warning from the US for UK political polling?

Three different US pollsters have been in the news in the last few days for all the wrong reasons.

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Tony Yates @t0nyyates.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Haha an 'internal investigation' is an interesting concept. How do you investigate something you did repeatedly and knowingly? Who is going to investigate what?

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FT Edit @ftedit.ft.com · 03/09/2026

With Europe’s economic growth lagging, the FT polled dozens of banks, law firms and execs on which companies they would merge to create European champions. Like fantasy football for business nerds, here are the fantasy megamergers — from the creative to the crazy — that could transform Europe 👇

Two charts illustrating Europe’s economic gap with the US and China. Since 2016, real GDP has grown about 18% in the EU, versus 28% in the US and 68% in China. Europe’s Stoxx 600 is worth about $19tn, compared with roughly $66tn for the S&P 500.

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Alice Lilly @aliceolilly.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Some 🚨personal news🚨 After 11 brilliant years at IfG (time that on a personal level has included one cross-country move and the addition of one child) I've decided it's time for a new challenge! From 1 Sept I'm going freelance. If you'd like to work together, I'm on alice[at]aliceolilly[dot]com

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⤵️ @bryce.lol · 26/08/2026

Oh, you're a Dolly fan? Name three ingredients of Party Sweet Potato Balls

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Stephen Hunsaker @hunsaker.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I have a new report out today with @simonpittaway.bsky.social on Britain's productivity revival – which is real, if it you measure it properly. And it isn’t being driven by the economy shedding low-paid jobs. 🧵

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John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 24/08/2026

There is a vigil type event TODAY to mark Ukrainian Independence Day at St Volodymyr Monument, Holland Park Avenue, London W11 18:00-19:30. Followed by a concert of Ukrainian music at the nearby cultural centre starting at 20.00. I intend to be there.

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Ghent University suspends Cofnas, a supporter of eugenics and biological racism. Prior to his role in the Arday controversy, the department in Ghent had issued an account doubting the opaque recruitment process was on merit, or that he was qualified for the role www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Academic who accused Jason Arday of plagiarism suspended by university

Nathan Cofnas says he is being investigated for discriminating against the late Cambridge professor.

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Simon Oldridge @sioldridge.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Fed up with people shirking responsibility by arguing that the UK causes just 1% of emissions? Here are two fantastic analogies from a primary school teacher, Mark in Coventry, who called Sheila Fogerty on @lbc.co.uk - one involving dog poo 😆 Other arguments here: www.nebriefing.org/mp-dialogue

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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

This is a lovely site which helps remind us of much of what we take for granted in material progress ordinaryabundance.com (HT @aveek18.bsky.social)

ordinaryabundance.com

Ordinary Abundance

A walk through a modern apartment, through the eyes of the people for whom everything in it was new.

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Ingrid Kopp @ingridkopp.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Great thread on public interest technology and what Mamdani is doing in NYC.

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John Bull @garius.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

small, single corridor shopping centre in Stevenage Old Town. Called the 'Magnet centre' after the family that owned the land. odd nik-nak and dress shops... ...and in the mid-90s briefly, hidden at the back, the town's first comic shop. we discovered it as teens. it was like finding heaven /1

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Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 02/08/2026

Ed Davey has cared for his mother, his grandmother, and now his son. As cross-party talks on social care begin, he argues it can be fixed by finally putting the millions of unpaid family carers at the heart of any deal.

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Shoaib M Khan @shoaibmkhan.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Great news! "Erasmus+ is an EU programme that provides grant funding for placements and projects for organisations working in education, training, youth and sport". The UK and the EU have agreed for the UK to associate to the Erasmus+ programme from 2027. www.gov.uk/government/p...

gov.uk

Overview of the Erasmus+ programme

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

We may well see more media headlines once the first boat arrivals come under the new government. That can be a partisan press choice. The public service broadcaster should be looking to inform the broad public of a significant, unknown shift + to explore what it means and does not mean

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Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 21/07/2026

Summary of Cabinet Changes that doesn't require you to read a whole article behind a paywall :)

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

RIP Kevin Keegan. So many iconic eras over 3 decades as player + manager with Scunthorpe Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, Newcastle, Man City & England on and off the pitch (Superstars!). I indelibly associate him with the first World Cup that I remember, when he battled with injury to play Spain

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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

"A closed country will be poorer. A country that underinvests will not grow. A state that refuses to reform tax will ration ambition. And a Labour government afraid to say these things will discover once again that caution, too, has costs." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.com

Burnham must learn from Starmer’s mistakes: Labour was elected to transform the economy, not just stabilise it | Jonathan Portes

Devolution, tax, the EU and immigration: these are all opportunities for growth if Burnham abandons the excessive caution of the past few years, says economist Jonathan Portes

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Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Stamp duty and council tax are terrible taxes. Land value tax could replace both - and Andy Burnham has backed it for 16 years. Who wins? Who loses? What happens to house prices? LVT could drive growth. But it isn’t easy. Our model shows its promise - and its problems.

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Christian Odendahl @codendahl.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Bold move, Spain. Though calling it ESF is a bit disappointing when "PURSE — Pan-European Union Resource for Sovereign Expenditure" or even "BRAVE — Borrowing and Refinancing for a Viable Europe" was there for the taking. Needs work. www.politico.eu/article/spai...

politico.eu

Spain’s mega EU debt proposal sets up showdown with northern European countries

Madrid is pitching its proposal to increase joint EU borrowing as a cost-saving measure.

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Jonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Was chatting about the relative invisibility of Birmingham compared to Manchester yesterday. Theories: -Lack of top flight football and music scene -Lack of defining visuals -Made bad bet on wrong kind of urbanism -Midlands identity just gets lost in north/south duality -Relative economic decline

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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

On this topic and immigration, the current Labour government has been steering in the rear view mirror. When immigration plummets and hits OBR estimates and they have to bail out Russell Group universities it might finally dawn on them.

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Katie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 24/06/2026

I don't have anything profound to say about the 10-year anniversary of the Brexit vote. Brexit was always going to be shit, was shit, and now continues to be shit. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 23/06/2026

This is a good thread. I think fundamentally, support for Brexit tended to be based on one of two things.Unreality - which ignored many of the wants were mutually exclusive, believed all the good could be retained without the bad, and ignored many of the forces of economic gravity. Or...

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Phil Tinline @philtinline.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Exactly. From what I've heard, what most alarmed bond traders about Truss was her & Kwarteng braking and accelerating at the same time. The idea that doing anything beyond what's happening now = Immediate CaTrusstrophe is an example of what Robert Jay Lifton called the thought-terminating cliché.

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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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John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 17/06/2026

It starts today!!!

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Dorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

My favourite Hattersley quotes From 1987: “For too long the mainstream of the Labour Party believed that it was possible to combat bad ideas by opposing ideas in general.” On Tony Blair: “Since the prime minister believes in the Third Way, it is important for him to find out what it is."

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Katharine Rimes @krimes.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Exciting opportunity: Professor/Associate Professor post, part of Mental Health Research Group. Come to work with us in the beautiful South West of the UK! Please circulate to anyone who might be interested. hrservices.plymouth.ac.uk/tlive_webrec...

hrservices.plymouth.ac.uk

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Eddy Rhodes @eddycurrents.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

The deadline for this opportunity has been extended! Can still apply up to the 22nd June. #phd #phdposition #sciencejobs #neuroskyence #neurojobs

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Julien Hoez @julienhoez.eu · 11/06/2026

France and Germany want to gut the EEAS, but dismantling the EU's diplomatic service won't fix EU foreign policy. The problem is structural. www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/eeas-refor...

frenchdispatch.eu

The EEAS Isn't Broken. The System Is.

France and Germany want to gut the EEAS. But dismantling the EU's diplomatic service won't fix EU foreign policy. The problem is structural.

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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Sensible in part, but culminates in a blatant falsehood - the ECHR does not prevent all deportations

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John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 11/06/2026

Some news: 🇺🇦 Next month I'm driving to Ukraine. 🇺🇦 I'll be delivering an evacuation vehicle, specially modified for saving lives in areas of the highest danger. But that's only possible if I can fundraise enough - £3,500. I'd be so grateful for any support you can give. donorbox.org/johnoxleydu

donorbox.org

Support John's Mission: Buy and Drive an Evacuation Vehicle to Ukraine 🇺🇦 | Driving Ukraine (Powered by Donorbox)

Help John to Drive and Deliver a Life-Saving Evacuation Vehicle to Ukraine 🇺🇦In July 2026 John Oxley will drive 1,318 miles across Europe in 3 days to deliver an evacuation vehicle to Ukraine, where i...

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