Very good piece by @leightonandrews.bsky.social which I think complements mine. open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
What to do about Xitter?
Throw the book at Musk and don't waste time legislating
open.substack.com
August 14, 2024 at 2:29 PM
Very good piece by @leightonandrews.bsky.social which I think complements mine. open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
An absolutely blistering piece about cuts at Cardiff Uni. Though I'm in a different School to @leightonandrews.bsky.social, much of this resonates, incl points about lack of preparation: my individual consultation was cancelled at 24hrs notice, without explanation. open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
A critique of Cardiff University's plans.
Redacted, revised and abridged.
open.substack.com
March 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
An absolutely blistering piece about cuts at Cardiff Uni. Though I'm in a different School to @leightonandrews.bsky.social, much of this resonates, incl points about lack of preparation: my individual consultation was cancelled at 24hrs notice, without explanation. open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
This happens all the time in dysfunctional Ukania. This is for the people in charge: England. The devolved nations or “whatever” don’t even enter their heads.
Alex Forsyth, "Which party leader is getting it right, six months on from polling day?"
BBC Newsnight show: Starmer, Badenoch, Farage and Davey
SNP have more MPs than Reform but aren't there
Greens and Plaid Cymru also ignored
BBC Newsnight show: Starmer, Badenoch, Farage and Davey
SNP have more MPs than Reform but aren't there
Greens and Plaid Cymru also ignored
January 16, 2025 at 8:26 AM
This happens all the time in dysfunctional Ukania. This is for the people in charge: England. The devolved nations or “whatever” don’t even enter their heads.
A post about the Senedd election and the forthcoming Plaid Cymru government.
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
Wales - writing history and making history
A post about governing as a minority, losing with dignity, and leaders whose time is up.
open.substack.com
May 10, 2026 at 11:38 AM
A post about the Senedd election and the forthcoming Plaid Cymru government.
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
'Scotland cannot afford for Ukania to make anymore huge mistakes on our behalf. We have to take responsibility for ourselves and to negotiate our own future.'
George Gunn, via Bella Caledonia
bellacaledonia.org.u...
George Gunn, via Bella Caledonia
bellacaledonia.org.u...
April 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM
'Scotland cannot afford for Ukania to make anymore huge mistakes on our behalf. We have to take responsibility for ourselves and to negotiate our own future.'
George Gunn, via Bella Caledonia
bellacaledonia.org.u...
George Gunn, via Bella Caledonia
bellacaledonia.org.u...
Ukania ✅ Original New Left critique of the peculiarities of British capitalism.
Yookay ❌ Boorish far right mantra of surface level gripes, real or imagined.
Tom Nairn had your number.
Yookay ❌ Boorish far right mantra of surface level gripes, real or imagined.
Tom Nairn had your number.
June 20, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Ukania ✅ Original New Left critique of the peculiarities of British capitalism.
Yookay ❌ Boorish far right mantra of surface level gripes, real or imagined.
Tom Nairn had your number.
Yookay ❌ Boorish far right mantra of surface level gripes, real or imagined.
Tom Nairn had your number.
For new followers, as well as my academic work, I write a weekly Substack on politics and sometimes tech regulation.
Ukania.substack.com
Ukania.substack.com
Welcome to Ukania! | Leighton Andrews | Substack
Notes from a country in denial. Click to read "Welcome to Ukania!", by Leighton Andrews, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
Ukania.substack.com
November 11, 2024 at 6:26 PM
For new followers, as well as my academic work, I write a weekly Substack on politics and sometimes tech regulation.
Ukania.substack.com
Ukania.substack.com
Welcome to Ukania.
but the big Q for UK politics in next four years will be: why bother? on climate (without the US goodbye 1.5C) growth (good luck with that in a trade war) Middle East policy (face it we're not the big player) you name it, we'll need reasons to keep doing the right thing for possibly zero reward
November 6, 2024 at 9:14 AM
Welcome to Ukania.
And there is Nairn's "Ukania".
August 23, 2026 at 9:40 PM
And there is Nairn's "Ukania".
If you think about how Mandelson was appointed it occurs to me Starmer is like one of the last Chancellors of Austria-Hungary. It's known that process is followed, memoranda written, but if anyone asks how a decision was taken, "it just sort of happened".
The real Starmer: Prime Minister of Ukania.
The real Starmer: Prime Minister of Ukania.
March 14, 2026 at 12:58 PM
If you think about how Mandelson was appointed it occurs to me Starmer is like one of the last Chancellors of Austria-Hungary. It's known that process is followed, memoranda written, but if anyone asks how a decision was taken, "it just sort of happened".
The real Starmer: Prime Minister of Ukania.
The real Starmer: Prime Minister of Ukania.
Insightful & necessarily sharp from @leightonandrews.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
Will there still be a Senedd in 25 years?
A provocation, not a prediction.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Insightful & necessarily sharp from @leightonandrews.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
An interesting ‘cat among the devolved pigeons’ read from @leightonandrews.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p... #devolution #senedd
Will there still be a Senedd in 25 years?
A provocation, not a prediction.
open.substack.com
November 29, 2024 at 2:12 PM
An interesting ‘cat among the devolved pigeons’ read from @leightonandrews.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p... #devolution #senedd
Today I am calling for a review of higher education funding and governance in Wales. This needs to consider whether current HE and student support policies serve the interests of Wales, its economy, society and culture. It should report after the next Senedd elections. More here: ukania.substack.com
Welcome to Ukania! | Leighton Andrews | Substack
Notes from a country in denial. Click to read "Welcome to Ukania!", by Leighton Andrews, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
ukania.substack.com
April 8, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Today I am calling for a review of higher education funding and governance in Wales. This needs to consider whether current HE and student support policies serve the interests of Wales, its economy, society and culture. It should report after the next Senedd elections. More here: ukania.substack.com
Will there still be a Senedd in 25 years?
A provocation, not a prediction.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2024 at 5:55 PM
There is in fact a mostly left wing academic practice of referring to the UK as Ukania. Started by Tom Nairn.
Here’s one example:
amp.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Here’s one example:
amp.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Back to the same old Ukania, with a muddle in place of a constitution | Constitutional reform | The Guardian
<strong>Timothy Garton Ash:</strong> The idea that the whole political system needs fixing has got lost, and no party is proposing the reforms Britain deserves
amp.theguardian.com
May 9, 2024 at 10:37 AM
There is in fact a mostly left wing academic practice of referring to the UK as Ukania. Started by Tom Nairn.
Here’s one example:
amp.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Here’s one example:
amp.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“There are deep historic reasons why England’s ability to forge a path to independence will be limited, despite the battle cries of emancipatory Englishness from a far right that can’t decide whether it’s pro-British or pro-English.”
Election eve Ukania.
www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2026/0...
Election eve Ukania.
www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2026/0...
Britain is still breaking up
May 2026 will be defined by nationalism
www.newstatesman.com
May 6, 2026 at 11:16 AM
“There are deep historic reasons why England’s ability to forge a path to independence will be limited, despite the battle cries of emancipatory Englishness from a far right that can’t decide whether it’s pro-British or pro-English.”
Election eve Ukania.
www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2026/0...
Election eve Ukania.
www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2026/0...
Today in Ukania: His Ukanian Majesty's government will open a soup kitchen to feed the people made destitute by the same government's misgovernment.
UK Government to open Dundee restaurant in bid to tackle poverty
UK Government to open Dundee restaurant in bid to tackle poverty
The eatery, subsidised by Westminster, will offer "universal access".
dlvr.it
July 8, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Today in Ukania: His Ukanian Majesty's government will open a soup kitchen to feed the people made destitute by the same government's misgovernment.
Good old Melvyn.
He has done much to educate the people of Ukania.
He has done much to educate the people of Ukania.
May 12, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Good old Melvyn.
He has done much to educate the people of Ukania.
He has done much to educate the people of Ukania.
One thing to add - the impact the election defeat will have on Welsh Labour’s infrastructure. Before the election, there were around 100 Welsh Labour staffers in the Senedd, plus Labour SpAds in the Government. That will be down to about 30 post-election.
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
Wales - writing history and making history
A post about governing as a minority, losing with dignity, and leaders whose time is up.
open.substack.com
May 11, 2026 at 12:38 AM
One thing to add - the impact the election defeat will have on Welsh Labour’s infrastructure. Before the election, there were around 100 Welsh Labour staffers in the Senedd, plus Labour SpAds in the Government. That will be down to about 30 post-election.
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
‘What really gets me, however, is the blasé amateurism and casual incompetence of the process.’
Well worth reading Leighton Andrews latest Substack. As an alumnus former chaplain of Cardiff University I remain deeply concerned about the current proposals.
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
Well worth reading Leighton Andrews latest Substack. As an alumnus former chaplain of Cardiff University I remain deeply concerned about the current proposals.
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
How to trash a University's reputation
And demoralise the people you need to help you succeed.
open.substack.com
March 10, 2025 at 11:13 AM
‘What really gets me, however, is the blasé amateurism and casual incompetence of the process.’
Well worth reading Leighton Andrews latest Substack. As an alumnus former chaplain of Cardiff University I remain deeply concerned about the current proposals.
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
Well worth reading Leighton Andrews latest Substack. As an alumnus former chaplain of Cardiff University I remain deeply concerned about the current proposals.
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
As mentioned (again!) by @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social on The Rest is Politics. I am sure you know how to pronounce Xitter by now….
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
What to do about Xitter?
Throw the book at Musk and don't waste time legislating
open.substack.com
August 28, 2024 at 6:40 PM
As mentioned (again!) by @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social on The Rest is Politics. I am sure you know how to pronounce Xitter by now….
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
'The world is in a drastic place and Ukania, under Starmer, is heading into the mire. In Scotland, at the very least, we can avert that disaster and create an alternative. We have the ability and we certainly have the necessity.'
George Gunn, via @bellacaledonia.bsky.social
bellacaledonia.org.u...
George Gunn, via @bellacaledonia.bsky.social
bellacaledonia.org.u...
Surrender or Adventure
SURRENDER OR ADVENTURE: From The Province Of The Cat by George Gunn. The future of Scotland, in relation to the Union, is either surrender or adventure. Why is this? Well, on current evidence the m…
bellacaledonia.org.uk
July 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
'The world is in a drastic place and Ukania, under Starmer, is heading into the mire. In Scotland, at the very least, we can avert that disaster and create an alternative. We have the ability and we certainly have the necessity.'
George Gunn, via @bellacaledonia.bsky.social
bellacaledonia.org.u...
George Gunn, via @bellacaledonia.bsky.social
bellacaledonia.org.u...
‘Do not assume that the Senedd is here for ever. Take nothing for granted. We need a new cross-party movement campaigning for the principle of devolution’
✍️Leighton Andrews
A reminder that our gains and achievements in 🏴 are fragile and need defending…
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
✍️Leighton Andrews
A reminder that our gains and achievements in 🏴 are fragile and need defending…
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
Will there still be a Senedd in 25 years?
A provocation, not a prediction.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2024 at 9:33 AM
‘Do not assume that the Senedd is here for ever. Take nothing for granted. We need a new cross-party movement campaigning for the principle of devolution’
✍️Leighton Andrews
A reminder that our gains and achievements in 🏴 are fragile and need defending…
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
✍️Leighton Andrews
A reminder that our gains and achievements in 🏴 are fragile and need defending…
open.substack.com/pub/ukania/p...
Welcome to Ukania: Where the populace spending more money on mostly imported, mostly worthless bricabrac is presented as *good* news.
Good weather and Women's Euros helps UK net surprise boost to retail sales
Good weather and Women's Euros helps UK net surprise boost to retail sales
Retail sales rose a surprising amount in July, as good weather and the Women's Euros led people to part with their cash, official figures show.
news.sky.com
September 5, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Welcome to Ukania: Where the populace spending more money on mostly imported, mostly worthless bricabrac is presented as *good* news.