David Lawton
@davidlawton.bsky.social
PhD @qmul.ac.uk / Writing a new history of Euroscepticism in Britain, 1975-1997 @ghilondon.bsky.social / One member of Preen the Band
Reposted by David Lawton
Yesterday Nigel Farage argued that the UK has failed to grasp Brexit opportunities to deregulate, which his 'pro-business' government would deliver.
I've got a piece in the Independent arguing why that is a misreading both of Brexit history and economics.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexi...
I've got a piece in the Independent arguing why that is a misreading both of Brexit history and economics.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexi...
November 4, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Yesterday Nigel Farage argued that the UK has failed to grasp Brexit opportunities to deregulate, which his 'pro-business' government would deliver.
I've got a piece in the Independent arguing why that is a misreading both of Brexit history and economics.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexi...
I've got a piece in the Independent arguing why that is a misreading both of Brexit history and economics.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexi...
After teaching today one of my students said they'd found a meme which summarised our lesson. I don't know if this is the point I was trying to make about epistemology but it made me laugh
November 6, 2025 at 1:27 PM
After teaching today one of my students said they'd found a meme which summarised our lesson. I don't know if this is the point I was trying to make about epistemology but it made me laugh
Reposted by David Lawton
if you’ve ever watched the apprentice, that’s the world without arts or humanities degrees
October 8, 2025 at 1:12 PM
if you’ve ever watched the apprentice, that’s the world without arts or humanities degrees
Had a wonderful time in Albania but rather disappointed they no longer offer a free haircut and shave at the border - I would certainly have been eligible
September 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Had a wonderful time in Albania but rather disappointed they no longer offer a free haircut and shave at the border - I would certainly have been eligible
From the archive: a letter from Farage to an elderly Enoch Powell asking him to come and give the electorate 'another jog' in 1994
August 27, 2025 at 9:08 PM
From the archive: a letter from Farage to an elderly Enoch Powell asking him to come and give the electorate 'another jog' in 1994
After finishing the latest Adam Curtis, I'm convinced it would be improved with all captions and narration removed, leaving the viewer with a pure stream of clips between which we are left to free-associate the historical meaning
August 26, 2025 at 9:17 PM
After finishing the latest Adam Curtis, I'm convinced it would be improved with all captions and narration removed, leaving the viewer with a pure stream of clips between which we are left to free-associate the historical meaning
Exactly. Brexit may have been sold as anti-elitist, but it was always the result of a very particular elite project. An ‘elite populism’ runs through the history of Euroscepticism in which manifestly elite figures mobilise ‘the people’ against a malign and illegitimate pro-European establishment.
Brexit was supposed to draw the sting of discontent with technocracy, globalisation and distant 'elites'. At this remove we can see it didn't, it made things worse. Same with every populist outburst. They thrive on the chaos.
August 25, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Exactly. Brexit may have been sold as anti-elitist, but it was always the result of a very particular elite project. An ‘elite populism’ runs through the history of Euroscepticism in which manifestly elite figures mobilise ‘the people’ against a malign and illegitimate pro-European establishment.
Reposted by David Lawton
You can get 25% off my book UP IN THE AIR: A HISTORY OF HIGH-RISE BRITAIN at Waterstones, with the code SUMMER25 until Thursday 31 #WPreorder
July 28, 2025 at 3:41 PM
You can get 25% off my book UP IN THE AIR: A HISTORY OF HIGH-RISE BRITAIN at Waterstones, with the code SUMMER25 until Thursday 31 #WPreorder
Last week, I passed my PhD viva with no corrections. I’m so grateful to everyone who supported me during this research. If you are interested in reading my take on the transformation of conservative attitudes to European integration after 1975 please feel free to DM me. Now for some rest! 😮💨
July 25, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Last week, I passed my PhD viva with no corrections. I’m so grateful to everyone who supported me during this research. If you are interested in reading my take on the transformation of conservative attitudes to European integration after 1975 please feel free to DM me. Now for some rest! 😮💨
Stevens knocking it out of the park
June 25, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Stevens knocking it out of the park
Reposted by David Lawton
OMG, the @ihr.bsky.social has uploaded a bunch of old interviews with historians on their youtube channel and I'm now deeply invested. Summer treat for #SkyStorians!
Look at this interview with E.P. Thompson by an embryonic Penelope Corfield!
Look at this interview with E.P. Thompson by an embryonic Penelope Corfield!
INTERVIEWS WITH HISTORIANS - E. P. THOMPSON
YouTube video by Institute of Historical Research
www.youtube.com
June 24, 2025 at 7:43 PM
OMG, the @ihr.bsky.social has uploaded a bunch of old interviews with historians on their youtube channel and I'm now deeply invested. Summer treat for #SkyStorians!
Look at this interview with E.P. Thompson by an embryonic Penelope Corfield!
Look at this interview with E.P. Thompson by an embryonic Penelope Corfield!
Reposted by David Lawton
I'm thrilled to have been published in Past & Present.
Diving into the fractious politics of rich-country macroeconomics after 1973, I use the neglected case of protectionist Keynesians to rethink what happened, and why. I highlight statecraft, geopolitics, and Maier's 'territoriality'. (1/2)
Diving into the fractious politics of rich-country macroeconomics after 1973, I use the neglected case of protectionist Keynesians to rethink what happened, and why. I highlight statecraft, geopolitics, and Maier's 'territoriality'. (1/2)
May 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I'm thrilled to have been published in Past & Present.
Diving into the fractious politics of rich-country macroeconomics after 1973, I use the neglected case of protectionist Keynesians to rethink what happened, and why. I highlight statecraft, geopolitics, and Maier's 'territoriality'. (1/2)
Diving into the fractious politics of rich-country macroeconomics after 1973, I use the neglected case of protectionist Keynesians to rethink what happened, and why. I highlight statecraft, geopolitics, and Maier's 'territoriality'. (1/2)
Reposted by David Lawton
Historians of bsky!! the lineup for this conference looks fantastic with 24 brilliant panels of experts running over two days. Register here 📌
Places for British History Today are filling up. Please do register - especially if you are on the programme! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/british-hi...
British History Today (1-2 May)
This is a two day ticket for the British History Today conference (1-2 May) organised by the Queen Mary Centre for British Studies.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 5, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Historians of bsky!! the lineup for this conference looks fantastic with 24 brilliant panels of experts running over two days. Register here 📌
Reposted by David Lawton
There is an excellent article by @davidlawton.bsky.social on William Rees-Mogg's attempt to judicially review the Maastricht Treaty, challenging the right of the executive to do this without Parliament. (Quite a contrast to his son in 2016-19...)
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
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journals.sagepub.com
April 5, 2025 at 8:02 AM
There is an excellent article by @davidlawton.bsky.social on William Rees-Mogg's attempt to judicially review the Maastricht Treaty, challenging the right of the executive to do this without Parliament. (Quite a contrast to his son in 2016-19...)
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by David Lawton
From the creation of lectureships to the closure of programmes, the last five years represent a tumultuous period within the study of #BlackBritishHistory
Join us for a roundtable: Black British History in 2025
🗓️ 6th March
⏰ 17:30
📍 IHR Wolfson Room NB01
www.history.ac.uk/events/black...
Join us for a roundtable: Black British History in 2025
🗓️ 6th March
⏰ 17:30
📍 IHR Wolfson Room NB01
www.history.ac.uk/events/black...
March 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
From the creation of lectureships to the closure of programmes, the last five years represent a tumultuous period within the study of #BlackBritishHistory
Join us for a roundtable: Black British History in 2025
🗓️ 6th March
⏰ 17:30
📍 IHR Wolfson Room NB01
www.history.ac.uk/events/black...
Join us for a roundtable: Black British History in 2025
🗓️ 6th March
⏰ 17:30
📍 IHR Wolfson Room NB01
www.history.ac.uk/events/black...
Reposted by David Lawton
Just putting finishing touches to British History Today programme at Queen Mary, 1-2 May. Thanks to all who submitted. And apologies to all those we couldn’t fit in. Details should appear soon at: projects.history.qmul.ac.uk/qmcbs/
Queen Mary Centre for British Studies
projects.history.qmul.ac.uk
February 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Just putting finishing touches to British History Today programme at Queen Mary, 1-2 May. Thanks to all who submitted. And apologies to all those we couldn’t fit in. Details should appear soon at: projects.history.qmul.ac.uk/qmcbs/
Reposted by David Lawton
Thanks to all who submitted proposals for British History Today: projects.history.qmul.ac.uk/qmcbs/. We have been overwhelmed with panel and paper suggestions. You should hear back from us in the next day or two
Queen Mary Centre for British Studies
projects.history.qmul.ac.uk
February 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Thanks to all who submitted proposals for British History Today: projects.history.qmul.ac.uk/qmcbs/. We have been overwhelmed with panel and paper suggestions. You should hear back from us in the next day or two
Reposted by David Lawton
A quick reminder that the deadline for panel and paper proposals for our conference, British History Today, is in 10 days time! Please send to qmcbs@qmul.ac.uk.
January 14, 2025 at 5:19 PM
A quick reminder that the deadline for panel and paper proposals for our conference, British History Today, is in 10 days time! Please send to qmcbs@qmul.ac.uk.
Reposted by David Lawton
'I can't make money without breaking the law and therefore you should let me break the law' is one helluva flex. futurism.com/the-byte/ope...
OpenAI Pleads That It Can’t Make Money Without Using Copyrighted Materials for Free
OpenAI is begging Parliament to allow it to use copyrighted works because it's "impossible" for the company to make money without them.
futurism.com
December 19, 2024 at 1:14 PM
'I can't make money without breaking the law and therefore you should let me break the law' is one helluva flex. futurism.com/the-byte/ope...
Reposted by David Lawton
Today, the UK government announced a proposal to change copyright law - for the benefit of AI companies - that would cause huge, irreversible harm to creators.
More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):
1. Email your MP. Template letter in 🧵 👇
1/10
More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):
1. Email your MP. Template letter in 🧵 👇
1/10
December 17, 2024 at 6:19 PM
Today, the UK government announced a proposal to change copyright law - for the benefit of AI companies - that would cause huge, irreversible harm to creators.
More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):
1. Email your MP. Template letter in 🧵 👇
1/10
More info below, but most importantly here's what you can do (wherever you live):
1. Email your MP. Template letter in 🧵 👇
1/10
Reposted by David Lawton
More detail will appear at projects.history.qmul.ac.uk/qmcbs/. Opening plenary is on ‘Writing the history of Britain today’. Thrilled to have Alana Harris, Sarah Crook, Miles Taylor and Mike Braddick participating. @dralanagharris.bsky.social @sarahcrook.bsky.social
Queen Mary Centre for British Studies
projects.history.qmul.ac.uk
December 17, 2024 at 3:46 PM
More detail will appear at projects.history.qmul.ac.uk/qmcbs/. Opening plenary is on ‘Writing the history of Britain today’. Thrilled to have Alana Harris, Sarah Crook, Miles Taylor and Mike Braddick participating. @dralanagharris.bsky.social @sarahcrook.bsky.social
Reposted by David Lawton
Plenary on the evening of 1 May is Julia Laite, ‘British History from the Middle of Nowhere’ and hosted jointly with Raphael Samuel History Centre @julialaite.bsky.social @rshc.bsky.social
December 17, 2024 at 3:47 PM
Plenary on the evening of 1 May is Julia Laite, ‘British History from the Middle of Nowhere’ and hosted jointly with Raphael Samuel History Centre @julialaite.bsky.social @rshc.bsky.social
Reposted by David Lawton
Closing plenary on 2 May on the future of British History is sponsored by Mile End Institute. Line up includes: Charlotte Riley; Rob Saunders; Ria Kapoor; Kennetta Hammond Perry @lottelydia.bsky.social @robertsaunders.bsky.social @riakapoor.bsky.social @kennettaperry.bsky.social
December 17, 2024 at 3:49 PM
Closing plenary on 2 May on the future of British History is sponsored by Mile End Institute. Line up includes: Charlotte Riley; Rob Saunders; Ria Kapoor; Kennetta Hammond Perry @lottelydia.bsky.social @robertsaunders.bsky.social @riakapoor.bsky.social @kennettaperry.bsky.social
Hmm I think this polling suggests a continued lack of public understanding on what the single market actually is, rather than a reduction of 'Euroscepticism'. When polled, most want single market access, but do not accept the supremacy of the ECJ, an absolute prerequisite to membership
Majority of Brexit voters ‘would accept free movement’ to access single market
Majority of Brexit voters ‘would accept free movement’ to access single market
Europe-wide polling finds UK and EU leaders now out of step with public opinion and pursue ‘ambitious reset’
A majority of Britons who voted to leave the EU would now accept a return to free movement in exchange for access to the single market, according…
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2024 at 7:44 PM
Hmm I think this polling suggests a continued lack of public understanding on what the single market actually is, rather than a reduction of 'Euroscepticism'. When polled, most want single market access, but do not accept the supremacy of the ECJ, an absolute prerequisite to membership