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sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks
@sparksstirling.bsky.social
530 followers 1K following 150 posts

Professor of Retail Studies, University of Stirling, Chair Scotland's Towns Partnership, Fellow Royal Society of Edinburgh, Extremely long-suffering Welsh rugby fan, occasional gardener. Stirlingretail.com

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Business 69%
Economics 13%
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Reposted by Leigh Sparks

gwladrugby.bsky.social
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Gwladrugby 🏉 @gwladrugby.bsky.social · 2h
You can dismiss the views of over 1000 people who've been invested in Welsh rugby for over 25 years if you like. We happen to think they're worth listening to.
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Reposted by Leigh Sparks

gwladrugby.bsky.social
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Gwladrugby 🏉 @gwladrugby.bsky.social · 2h
As we wait for the WRU to update us on the outcome of Wednesday's board meeting, some thoughts on Model C (the latest flavour of the month) and how the WRU has deliberately narrowed the parameters of the debate to suit their own agenda rather than what is best for Welsh rugby 🧵
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Reposted by Leigh Sparks

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

Reposted by Leigh Sparks, John Foot

reformexposed.bsky.social
Reform Party UK Exposed @reformexposed.bsky.social · 1d
Reform UK in the dock ⚖

9th October Andy Osborn.
14th October Neil Stevens, Tony Stevens, and Rob Sheridan.
15th October Sarah White.
21st November Nathan Gill.
16th December Mandy Clare.
22nd May 2026 Daniel Taylor.

Under investigation:
Joseph Boam.
Lee Duffy.
George Cottrell.

#ReformInTheDock
18 240 390

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

gwladrugby.bsky.social
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Gwladrugby 🏉 @gwladrugby.bsky.social · 1d
So pleased that the Welsh media are living up to their reputation for steadfastly refusing to scrutinise the WRU in any meaningful way
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Reposted by Patrick Dunleavy, Steve Peers, Leigh Sparks , and 6 more

adambienkov.bsky.social
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 2d
"15 years ago, Polish workers came here to find opportunity. Now Poland is growing twice as fast as we are," says Kemi Badenoch.

Any ideas what may have happened in the interim?
230 870 4.2K

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law, Gavin A. Schmidt , and 23 more

keithwdickinson.bsky.social
Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 2d
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
theverge.com
The Verge @theverge.com · May 26
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
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Reposted by Leigh Sparks

joshgardner.bsky.social
Josh Gardner @joshgardner.bsky.social · 2d
Cheers to @gwladrugby.bsky.social for joining me for this week's @bloodandmud.bsky.social.

You think I spend too much time talking about how shit Welsh rugby is usually? Brothers and sisters, strap in.

www.patreon.com/posts/422-vi...
422: "Visibly defined arms, shoulders and legs" | Blood & Mud
Get more from Blood & Mud on Patreon
www.patreon.com
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Reposted by Leigh Sparks

bladeofthes.bsky.social
BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 2d
Conservative MP Mel Stride claims PIP benefit is thousands of pounds per month.

No it is an absolute maximum of £720 a month, and most people only get £250 or less.

Meanwhile he claims £1,250 a month in rent on his expenses

Lying, thieving b******
32 310 780

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 2d
@kathrynmorrison.bsky.social You might note though that the entrance has been moved?
1

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Richard S.J. Tol, Leigh Sparks , and 3 more

bbcnewsnight.bsky.social
BBC Newsnight @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social · 2d
“You described Reform and other parties across Europe today as among the 'right wing equivalents of the fascists in the 1930s'. Why?”

“Because that’s what they are”

@vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference.

#Newsnight
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Reposted by Steve Peers, Leigh Sparks

nickreeves.bsky.social
Nick Reeves #FBPE #NAFO @nickreeves.bsky.social · 2d
Richard Tice told The Times in March he had “never met Nathan Gill”
searchlightmagazine.com/2025/10/refo...
31 250 470

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

scotnational.bsky.social
The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 2d
Stall holders have been urged to exercise caution after a fake Christmas fayre was advertised in a Dundee shopping centre 🚨
Stall holders to be wary of 'scam' Christmas fayre advertised in Dundee
www.thenational.scot
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sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 3d
ICYMI: My reflections posted 6 October on my recent visit and presentation in Jersey

stirlingretail.com/2025/10/06/t...
The Future of Retail in Jersey
I thought it was about a decade ago I was last in Jersey, but it looks like it was more than 15 years, with my main involvement in their retailing sector being 20 years ago. So it was interesting a…
stirlingretail.com
1

Reposted by Kimberly A. Prather, Steve Peers, Leigh Sparks , and 2 more

acyn.bsky.social
Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 3d
Trump on pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell: Haven't heard the name in so long. I’ll take a look at it. I’ll speak to the DOJ. A lot of people have asked me for pardons.

Reporter: But she’s convicted of sex trafficking

Trump: I’ll have to take a look at it.
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Reposted by Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Leigh Sparks , and 6 more

rollingstone.com
Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 3d
“I voted for none of this."

Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House.

Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
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Reposted by Leigh Sparks

gwladrugby.bsky.social
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Gwladrugby 🏉 @gwladrugby.bsky.social · 3d
Then, a couple of weeks ago the new WRU Chief Commercial Officer seemed to suggest that the refinancing would consist of a 4-5 year deal - a "bridging loan," in effect. We also learned that the WRU had breached its banking covenants.

How bad have things got?
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sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 4d
St Helier, Jersey October 2025. Very nice work by Hettich in taking over Burton's Art Deco store site. Nice outside and splendid work inside.

Two foundation stones.

Have sent photos below to Laid By Monty for their excellent site

laidbymonty.com
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sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 4d
Reflections on my visit and presentation last week in Jersey.

stirlingretail.com/2025/10/06/t...
The Future of Retail in Jersey
I thought it was about a decade ago I was last in Jersey, but it looks like it was more than 15 years, with my main involvement in their retailing sector being 20 years ago. So it was interesting a…
stirlingretail.com
1 1

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 4d
The Future of Retail in Jersey

I thought it was about a decade ago I was last in Jersey, but it looks like it was more than 15 years, with my main involvement in their retailing sector being 20 years ago. So it was interesting and good to go back, albeit briefly, at the invitation of the Jersey…
The Future of Retail in Jersey
I thought it was about a decade ago I was last in Jersey, but it looks like it was more than 15 years, with my main involvement in their retailing sector being 20 years ago. So it was interesting and good to go back, albeit briefly, at the invitation of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce. The invitation was to give a breakfast briefing on ‘The Future of Retail in Jersey’.
stirlingretail.com
1

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Edward Witten, Nando Sigona , and 10 more

davidgilbert.bsky.social
David Gilbert @davidgilbert.bsky.social · 4d
Over the weekend, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller repeatedly attacked judges, calling them part of an "organized terrorist attack" on the US government....

On Saturday, the home of a judge who ruled against Trump, went up in flames

time.com/7323442/sout...
House of South Carolina Judge Criticized by Trump Administration Set Ablaze
Authorities are investigating a fire at the home of a South Carolina judge who had reportedly received death threats in what could be the latest incident of political violence across the country.
time.com
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Reposted by Leigh Sparks

gwladrugby.bsky.social
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Gwladrugby 🏉 @gwladrugby.bsky.social · 4d
#RuckTheWRU2025
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Reposted by Leigh Sparks

gwladrugby.bsky.social
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Gwladrugby 🏉 @gwladrugby.bsky.social · 4d
Great chat with Ben James this morning about our survey and what might happen next in the latest Welsh rugby saga - you can read it on the Inside Welsh Rugby Substack here: walesrugby.substack.com/p/whats-in-a...
What's in an answer?
After a month of surveys and listening, Welsh rugby nears a decision on its radical plans to change
walesrugby.substack.com
7 19

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

mikepullen1969.bsky.social
Mike Pullen @mikepullen1969.bsky.social · 4d
The @gwladrugby.bsky.social survey getting a mention by Le Tache in a defenestration of the WRU

There’ll be hell to pay if WRU goes through with plan to kill Welsh rugby

www.thetimes.com/article/9fd1...
There’ll be hell to pay if WRU goes through with plan to kill Welsh rugby
Donkeys driving restructure of elite game, who are ignoring vast opposition from players, clubs and fans, must be ejected by revolution or evolution
www.thetimes.com
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Reposted by Leigh Sparks

kathrynmorrison.bsky.social
Kathryn A Morrison @kathrynmorrison.bsky.social · 4d
Bet not many of these #Cambridge students realised that Gardenia's shopfront was installed for Lennards (shoe shop) by Pollards in the late 1920s. A tad altered, but recognisable - hope it isn't now swept away!
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Reposted by Leigh Sparks

thisismyglasgow.bsky.social
This Is My Glasgow @thisismyglasgow.bsky.social · 5d
A red sandstone corner tenement on Pollokshaws Road on the Southside of Glasgow. I like the fact that the traditional shop fronts have largely been retained or re-instated on this block, including the canopies.

#glasgow #tenement #pollokshawsroad #architecture #architecturephotography
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Reposted by Lawrence Freedman, Steve Peers, Leigh Sparks , and 1 more

gabrielmilland.bsky.social
Gabriel Milland @gabrielmilland.bsky.social · 5d
Bravo.
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Reposted by Steve Peers, Marc Goergen, Leigh Sparks , and 2 more

ottoenglish.bsky.social
Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 5d
Nine jobs Nigel Farage hasn't updated his ­register of interests in months.

Potentially hundreds of thousands of ££££ from his many "outside interests" remain undeclared

observer.co.uk/news/politic...
‘Nine-jobs Nigel’ Farage denies not declaring extra earni...
Roles outside Parliament make Reform leader the highest-earning MP, but register of interests has not been updated since end of May
observer.co.uk
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