Leigh Sparks
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sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks
@sparksstirling.bsky.social
580 followers 1K following 250 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

Videos
Business 69%
Economics 13%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

parodypm.bsky.social
Parody Nigel Farage @parodypm.bsky.social · 1h
I'm deeply honoured to have had a beer named after me.

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Steve Peers, Leigh Sparks , and 4 more

parkermolloy.com
Parker Molloy @parkermolloy.com · 17h
Kind of wild how the take that some of Trump's supporters were "deplorable" was some huge scandal, but regularly screaming about "radical left scum" is just a thing he'll say with no media backlash.
Donald J Trump Truth Social post: Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly. We no longer have Open Borders, Men in Women’s Sports, Transgender for Everyone, or Weak Law Enforcement. What we do have is a Record Stock Market and 401K’s, Lowest Crime numbers in decades, No Inflation, and

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 23h
Bought this Santa in 2000 at the State Fair in Tallahassee, when we lived in Florida. Been with us every Christmas since wherever we are. Carved in 1999 so his 27th Christmas.

Not sure he will see another one in the USA.

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

davemcardle.bsky.social
David McArdle @davemcardle.bsky.social · 1d
BBC News - Cardiff couple invited man in for Christmas, he stayed for 45 years - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cardiff couple invited man in for Christmas, he stayed for 45 years
An arrangement Rob and Dianne Parsons thought would last a few days ended up changing their lives.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Steven Heydemann, Joe R. Feagin , and 14 more

adamrothman.bsky.social
Adam Rothman enjoys a good sandwich @adamrothman.bsky.social · 1d
“Like Prime, but with human beings.”
“We need to get better at treating this like a business,” ICE acting director Todd M. Lyons said at a border security conference in April, according to the Arizona Mirror. The administration’s goal, he said, was to deport immigrants as efficiently as Amazon moves packages: “Like Prime, but with human beings.”

Reposted by Leigh Sparks, Alfie Kohn, Susan D. Amussen

schwarz.bsky.social
☀️ Jon Schwarz ☀️ @schwarz.bsky.social · 1d
Remember the 1920s when nobody was left-handed

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

eric-reinhart.com
Eric Reinhart @eric-reinhart.com · 2d
On Trump’s orders, the National Center for Atmospheric Research will be shut down after more than 50 years as a leader in global research on climate science and monitoring. This is what authoritarian science looks like.
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Destroy the Metrics, Destroy the Truth
Trump’s decimation of public health systems isn’t about efficiency, cost-saving, or even ideology. It’s about building a world without truth or the possibility of accountability.
www.thenation.com

Reposted by Steve Peers, Leigh Sparks, Rebecca Tushnet

financialtimes.com
Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 2d
US bars former EU commissioner Breton and others over tech rules ft.trib.al/TgoG45B
US bars former EU commissioner Breton and others over tech rules
France hits out at visa sanctions as Washington targets what it calls the ‘global censorship-industrial complex’
ft.trib.al

Reposted by Leigh Sparks, Laurent Pech, Holger Hestermeyer

stevepeers.bsky.social
Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 2d
free speech news
thetnholler.bsky.social The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d
Stephen Miller wants everyone at 60 Minutes who “engaged in this revolt” (aka told the truth) fired

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

neilretail.com
Neil Saunders @neilretail.com · 2d
🇬🇧 RM Williams to open first store in Edinburgh www.drapersonline.com/news/rm-will...
RM Williams to open first store in Edinburgh
RM Williams is set to open its first standalone Scottish store in Edinburgh as the Australian bootmaker expands its UK physical retail footprint.
www.drapersonline.com

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

davidrvetter.bsky.social
Dave Vetter @davidrvetter.bsky.social · 2d
More anti-renewables astroturfing from the BBC, quoting exactly three (3) villagers opposed to a solar farm, and zero data.
Plans to build a huge solar farm set to be opposed by villagers - BBC News
Villagers have expressed concern about plans to build a 373 acre solar farm nearby.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Leigh Sparks, Martin Paul Eve, Lesley A. Hall , and 2 more

soapachu.bsky.social
badly-drawn sleigh 🛷 @soapachu.bsky.social · 2d
He isn't "losing" this money. This is called "paying tax like a responsible citizen and not hiding your money offshore" and we need to start recognising and applauding it.
Manchester Evening News headline 'Anthony Joshua to lose £32m prize money after Jake Paul victory' and then goes on to clarify that this just means he'll pay tax like a responsible UK citizen.

Reposted by Patrick Dunleavy, Steve Peers, Leigh Sparks , and 2 more

thetnholler.bsky.social
The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d
Stephen Miller wants everyone at 60 Minutes who “engaged in this revolt” (aka told the truth) fired

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 2d
Allen

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 2d
Real name. Allen Forward capped 6 times by Wales and GS winner

Allen Forward - Wikipedia share.google/qemijvOk6Q5N...
Allen Forward - Wikipedia
share.google

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 2d
Allan Forward I think, but great isn't it

Reposted by Leigh Sparks, Lesley A. Hall, Jonathan Hopkin , and 2 more

justinbaragona.bsky.social
Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 2d
Just want to point out that this man was leading the whole Turning Point USA crowd in prayer last week.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Russell Brand charged with further counts of rape and sexual assault
The alleged offences took place in 2009, the Crown Protection Service said
www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

sturdyalex.bsky.social
Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 2d
Trump, January 2024: "Also, I was never on Epstein's plane..."

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

russincheshire.bsky.social
Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 2d
If it was anybody else, the discovery of a letter from one convicted paedophile to another convicted paedophile, saying, "Hey, remember that friend of ours who we watched definitely being a paedophile," would result in an immediate arrest.

Your move, America.
The letter, postmarked 13 August 2019 and sent from “J Epstein” at “Manhattan Correctional” to “Larry Nassar”, reads: “Dear L.N. as you know by now, I have taken the ‘short route’ home. Good Luck! We share one thing … our love & caring for young ladies at the hope they’d reach their full potential. Our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to ‘grab snatch,’ whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system. Life is unfair. Yours, J. Epstein.”

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 2d
Part of my father's collection. Need to do more with it.

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 2d
With the Welsh derbies upon us, the teams from a programme from a Wales trial match in the early 1950s.

Two Llanharan boys, both of whom played for Wales and the went North to Halifax

@gwladrugby.bsky.social @iestyn21.bsky.social

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 2d
Ghostsigns at the Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town, December 2025

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 2d
This made me feel old. Seen on a recent visit to South Africa.

"Send a postcard, just like the olden days"

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 2d
A sign of past times. An indoor pub room especially for smoking, Cowbridge, December 2025.

Shows difficult issues can be tackled.

sparksstirling.bsky.social
Leigh Sparks @sparksstirling.bsky.social · 2d
Ghostsign, Cowbridge, December 2025

@ghostsigns.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy

Reposted by Leigh Sparks

pickardje.bsky.social
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 2d
we ask the question: why are Labour MPs and ministers still using X when its owner has vowed to destroy them?

www.ft.com/content/5b0e...
‘A stream of negativity and abuse’: why are Labour MPs still sticking with X?
Despite concerns, politicians continue to use Elon Musk’s platform in search of a ‘civilised debate’ with constituents
www.ft.com

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster, Patrick Dunleavy, Andrew Scott , and 1 more

zackpolanski.bsky.social
Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 3d
Matthew Bowles works for the IEA.

Funded by the fossil fuel industry, gambling and tobacco.

Times up.

Merry Christmas!

Join.greenparty.org.uk
A green Christmas would be more awful than you can imagine

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Leigh Sparks

ottoenglish.bsky.social
Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 3d
Definitive proof that in Sadiq Khan's London, Christmas has been cancelled altogether

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
London's Christmas lights: A view from the skies
Aerial photographs taken at night show central London dazzling in festive light displays.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Steve Peers, Leigh Sparks

jdportes.bsky.social
Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 3d
This is a very simple coordination problem.

No one Labour MP can solve it. But No. 10/the government could, tomorrow, with one letter from the Cabinet Secretary.

Both in their own self-interest and for the sake of our democracy, they should.

Reposted by Leigh Sparks, Aurélien Mondon

martinmckee.bsky.social
Martin McKee @martinmckee.bsky.social · 3d
An English local council innovates, evaluates what it did, finds it works (replicating an earlier study in Scotland) … and all councils are told by the Labour government not to try it. What message does this convey? Another victory for ideology & cowardice

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Councils warned against adopting four-day week
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has told council leaders to not introduce four-day working weeks.
www.bbc.co.uk