Cllr Dr Alex Powell
@apowelllaw.bsky.social
Oxford City Councillor and Associate Professor in Law at the University of Warwick. Research: gender, sexuality, law; migration; legal theory; and law and popular culture. Views my own, obviously.
Pinned
Promoted by and on behalf of Alex Powell (Oxfordshire Green Party), 12A Merlin Road, Oxford OX4 6EP.
Reposted by Cllr Dr Alex Powell
Important announcement for my fellow itinerant academics: thetrainline has a massive sale on and my eye-watering January train expenditure has been made slightly less eye-watering. Run don’t walk to book before the prices go back up to ‘I need another mortgage’ from merely ‘taking the piss’
January 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Important announcement for my fellow itinerant academics: thetrainline has a massive sale on and my eye-watering January train expenditure has been made slightly less eye-watering. Run don’t walk to book before the prices go back up to ‘I need another mortgage’ from merely ‘taking the piss’
This argument is absurd. Why is the UK government conflating presence on X with free speech? By this logic, the government is affronting free speech by not being active on any number of other websites. Can we read into the lack of government Reddit activity that they don't support free speech?
Cabinet Office Minister Baroness Anderson tells the Lords the Government will keep on using X.
"I still believe that X is an appropriate platform to use because I believe in freedom of speech..."
"It is incredibly important that there is a counter narrative on those platforms," she says.
"I still believe that X is an appropriate platform to use because I believe in freedom of speech..."
"It is incredibly important that there is a counter narrative on those platforms," she says.
January 5, 2026 at 5:49 PM
This argument is absurd. Why is the UK government conflating presence on X with free speech? By this logic, the government is affronting free speech by not being active on any number of other websites. Can we read into the lack of government Reddit activity that they don't support free speech?
On Saturday Starmer equivocated on Trump's US kidnapping Maduro, today he is forced to respond to Trump threatening to annex Greenland. The two are not separate, Trump was testing the strength of the rules based order with Maduro and leaders like Starmer entirely failed to rise to the moment.
January 5, 2026 at 12:17 PM
On Saturday Starmer equivocated on Trump's US kidnapping Maduro, today he is forced to respond to Trump threatening to annex Greenland. The two are not separate, Trump was testing the strength of the rules based order with Maduro and leaders like Starmer entirely failed to rise to the moment.
Maduro was a horrendous dictator and the US undertook an illegal act of imperial aggression and is threatening the right of the Venezuelan people to self-determination. These are both true and acrobatics are not needed. The US has made the world a less safe place through their actions. Period.
January 4, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Maduro was a horrendous dictator and the US undertook an illegal act of imperial aggression and is threatening the right of the Venezuelan people to self-determination. These are both true and acrobatics are not needed. The US has made the world a less safe place through their actions. Period.
Well, the last sunset of the year decided to be pretty stunning.
December 31, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Well, the last sunset of the year decided to be pretty stunning.
Reposted by Cllr Dr Alex Powell
2025 has been a tumultuous year but I wanted to end it by remembering some of the highlights:
📢 speaking up for trans rights in Oxford
📚 launching my book at the University of Oxford
💚 introducing the 1st and 1000th members of Oxford City Green Party
📸 twerking hard for the residents of East Oxford
📢 speaking up for trans rights in Oxford
📚 launching my book at the University of Oxford
💚 introducing the 1st and 1000th members of Oxford City Green Party
📸 twerking hard for the residents of East Oxford
December 31, 2025 at 12:31 PM
2025 has been a tumultuous year but I wanted to end it by remembering some of the highlights:
📢 speaking up for trans rights in Oxford
📚 launching my book at the University of Oxford
💚 introducing the 1st and 1000th members of Oxford City Green Party
📸 twerking hard for the residents of East Oxford
📢 speaking up for trans rights in Oxford
📚 launching my book at the University of Oxford
💚 introducing the 1st and 1000th members of Oxford City Green Party
📸 twerking hard for the residents of East Oxford
It speaks to the janus faced nature of contemporary right-wing politics that the same people who decry cancel culture and summon the phantoms of a left attack on free speech see no contradiction in calling for someone to be deprived of citizenship over tweets.
December 29, 2025 at 1:25 PM
It speaks to the janus faced nature of contemporary right-wing politics that the same people who decry cancel culture and summon the phantoms of a left attack on free speech see no contradiction in calling for someone to be deprived of citizenship over tweets.
It shouldn't shock me to see a political leader speaking with moral clarity and from an evidential foundation in migration. Yet, with such an ahistorical and evidence free consensus persisting on migration, it does. Excellent as always from @zackpolanski.bsky.social and so needed.
December 25, 2025 at 5:45 PM
It shouldn't shock me to see a political leader speaking with moral clarity and from an evidential foundation in migration. Yet, with such an ahistorical and evidence free consensus persisting on migration, it does. Excellent as always from @zackpolanski.bsky.social and so needed.
Reposted by Cllr Dr Alex Powell
Happy Xmas! 👑🎄🎁🎉🥂 @apowelllaw.bsky.social
December 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Happy Xmas! 👑🎄🎁🎉🥂 @apowelllaw.bsky.social
Reposted by Cllr Dr Alex Powell
December 25, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by Cllr Dr Alex Powell
The message this ended on is an important one to remember:
"Christmas is a story about migration."
"Christmas is a story about migration."
December 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The message this ended on is an important one to remember:
"Christmas is a story about migration."
"Christmas is a story about migration."
Warwick Law School is looking for a new Assistant Professor in Law the post is permanent and starting from 1st September 2026. I have only been in the school for a few months, but can already say that it is a supportive and welcoming space, particularly for early career colleagues.
Assistant Professor (111013-1625) - University of Warwick
Title: Assistant Professor (111013-1625). Application Deadline: . Position Type: Permanent
warwick-careers.tal.net
December 17, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Warwick Law School is looking for a new Assistant Professor in Law the post is permanent and starting from 1st September 2026. I have only been in the school for a few months, but can already say that it is a supportive and welcoming space, particularly for early career colleagues.
It is amazing to see the UK rejoin Erasmus plus. Once again, students will be able to benefit from extensive European exchange opportunities. However, one wonders whether advocates of Brexit and its ideological fantasies will apologize to the generation of students that were robbed of this chance.
December 17, 2025 at 12:36 PM
It is amazing to see the UK rejoin Erasmus plus. Once again, students will be able to benefit from extensive European exchange opportunities. However, one wonders whether advocates of Brexit and its ideological fantasies will apologize to the generation of students that were robbed of this chance.
Reposted by Cllr Dr Alex Powell
It was an absolute pleasure to present my book, Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration, at the University of Exeter last night. Thanks so much to Ben Hudson and The Routes Network for hosting and to Raawiyah Rifath for acting as discussant.
December 16, 2025 at 9:24 AM
It was an absolute pleasure to present my book, Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration, at the University of Exeter last night. Thanks so much to Ben Hudson and The Routes Network for hosting and to Raawiyah Rifath for acting as discussant.
It was an absolute pleasure to present my book, Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration, at the University of Exeter last night. Thanks so much to Ben Hudson and The Routes Network for hosting and to Raawiyah Rifath for acting as discussant.
December 16, 2025 at 9:24 AM
It was an absolute pleasure to present my book, Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration, at the University of Exeter last night. Thanks so much to Ben Hudson and The Routes Network for hosting and to Raawiyah Rifath for acting as discussant.
Reposted by Cllr Dr Alex Powell
Fantastic book launch by @apowelllaw.bsky.social in the Law School at the University of Exeter this evening. 🎉📖🥂
Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration was published by Bristol University Press.
Further details available here: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/queering-uk-...
Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration was published by Bristol University Press.
Further details available here: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/queering-uk-...
December 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Fantastic book launch by @apowelllaw.bsky.social in the Law School at the University of Exeter this evening. 🎉📖🥂
Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration was published by Bristol University Press.
Further details available here: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/queering-uk-...
Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration was published by Bristol University Press.
Further details available here: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/queering-uk-...
Reposted by Cllr Dr Alex Powell
Tomorrow's the day! I will be doing the first public launch event for my book at the University of Exeter. If you are free, please come along or join online! 📚
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
Book Launch: Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration
www.exeter.ac.uk
December 14, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Tomorrow's the day! I will be doing the first public launch event for my book at the University of Exeter. If you are free, please come along or join online! 📚
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
Tomorrow's the day! I will be doing the first public launch event for my book at the University of Exeter. If you are free, please come along or join online! 📚
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
Book Launch: Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration
www.exeter.ac.uk
December 14, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Tomorrow's the day! I will be doing the first public launch event for my book at the University of Exeter. If you are free, please come along or join online! 📚
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
Reposted by Cllr Dr Alex Powell
On Wednesday 17th December, I will be speaking at this event for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, alongside other fantastic feminist researchers! Come along to show your solidarity in Soho. 🌈☂️
December 13, 2025 at 12:57 PM
On Wednesday 17th December, I will be speaking at this event for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, alongside other fantastic feminist researchers! Come along to show your solidarity in Soho. 🌈☂️
This is the mind of optimism I need for the last teaching day of the year!
If, like me, you’re finding the winter darkness oppressive, and you’re a night owl, and you can’t wait until the shortest day of the year to start feeling a sense of optimism again:
Today is the day of the earliest sunset. The evenings get longer from today. You’re welcome.
Today is the day of the earliest sunset. The evenings get longer from today. You’re welcome.
December 12, 2025 at 7:43 PM
This is the mind of optimism I need for the last teaching day of the year!
Qualifying, limiting, or amending human rights-- or even pretending to contemplate doing so-- will both embolden and legitimise the far-right. Once again, Labour are useful idiots doing the bidding of literal fascists and then being narcissistic enough to claim they are fighting them.
December 11, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Qualifying, limiting, or amending human rights-- or even pretending to contemplate doing so-- will both embolden and legitimise the far-right. Once again, Labour are useful idiots doing the bidding of literal fascists and then being narcissistic enough to claim they are fighting them.
The central inherence of the Second World War and the Holocaust was the idea of universality as a fundamental pillar in philosophical systems and legal frameworks. There are reasons to be critical of universality conceptually and philosophically. But all evidence says this approach won't work 1/2
Starmer and hardline governments risk creating ‘hierarchy of people’ by constraining human rights
Starmer and hardline governments risk creating ‘hierarchy of people’ by constraining human rights
Human rights official says politicians are playing into the hands of the populist right as they seek to tackle migration
Keir Starmer and Europe’s hardline governments risk creating a “hierarchy of people” as they seek to address migration by curbing fundamental rights, Europe’s most senior human rights official has said.
Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, said that “middle-of the road politicians” are playing into the hands of the populist right. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The central inherence of the Second World War and the Holocaust was the idea of universality as a fundamental pillar in philosophical systems and legal frameworks. There are reasons to be critical of universality conceptually and philosophically. But all evidence says this approach won't work 1/2
Really interesting release of new sexual orientation data today: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Particularly starling how significant age is in identification as LGB - 8% of 16-24; 6.4% 25-34; but just 1.2% of 65 and over.
Particularly starling how significant age is in identification as LGB - 8% of 16-24; 6.4% 25-34; but just 1.2% of 65 and over.
Sexual orientation, UK - Office for National Statistics
Sexual orientation in the UK in 2024 by age, sex, marital status, and country, using data from the Annual Population Survey (APS). These are official statistics in development.
www.ons.gov.uk
December 9, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Really interesting release of new sexual orientation data today: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Particularly starling how significant age is in identification as LGB - 8% of 16-24; 6.4% 25-34; but just 1.2% of 65 and over.
Particularly starling how significant age is in identification as LGB - 8% of 16-24; 6.4% 25-34; but just 1.2% of 65 and over.
Reposted by Cllr Dr Alex Powell
I’ve become convinced that the most tedious psuedo-clever argument is that something is kind of like religion
December 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I’ve become convinced that the most tedious psuedo-clever argument is that something is kind of like religion
Next Monday, I will be doing the first launch event for my new Book, Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration. This event will be taking place at the University of Exeter and there is also a link for anyone wanting to join online.
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
December 8, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Next Monday, I will be doing the first launch event for my new Book, Queering UK Refugee Law: Sexual Diversity and Asylum Administration. This event will be taking place at the University of Exeter and there is also a link for anyone wanting to join online.
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...