Francesca Gains

@francescagains.bsky.social

230 followers 190 following 30 posts

Emerita Prof of Public Policy @uompol.bsky.social - still curious about the politics of policy making but happily distracted digging my allotment, being a Horsforth Town Councillor, campaigning to reopen Otley Lido and champions 🏆#LUFC 💙💛 .. more

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Political science 80%

Law 6%

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Reposted by Francesca Gains

Friends of Otley Lido @otleylido.bsky.social · 5d

🎄✨ The Otley Xmas Tree Festival starts tomorrow at noon! Come and find our Friends of Otley Lido tree — Number 13, on the left side as you face the altar. We’ve decorated with heritage photos of the Lido in its heyday 💙 Free entry, music, and plenty of festive cheer — come support your local groups!

Reposted by Francesca Gains

Friends of Otley Lido @otleylido.bsky.social · 7d

We had a fabulous day at the Otley Victorian Fayre today, despite the weather because of course a little water doesn't bother us or dampen our spirits! Thanks to everyone who came to support us & hear our updates on our project to restore our beloved outdoor pool #Otley #Otley #otleyvictorianfayre

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · 7d

If you’re in Otley for the Victorian Fair - come for a warming drink and hear about our campaign to re-open Otley Lido www.otleylido.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Charles West, Simon Wren‐Lewis , and 3 more Jonathan Portes, Charles West, Simon Wren‐Lewis, Francesca Gains, Pauline Stafford, Jill Rutter

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · Jul 27

Spot-on from @nixonsimon.bsky.social

Reposted by Francesca Gains

James Hickson @jmchickson.bsky.social · Jul 21

NEW: @jacknewman.bsky.social and I have just published our new article 'Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution' open access in @politicalquarterly.bsky.social. Read the article here: doi.org/10.1111/1467...

Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution

There is an increasingly powerful argument for the decentralisation of policy making in England's highly centralised political context. In recent years, this issue has represented one of the clearest...

doi.org

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · Jul 5

Agreed - pleasingly on both counts!

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · Jun 24

Fantastic to see Kirkstall Abbey House Museum on the shortlist for best small museum of the year here ⬇️ - a testament to all the hard work campaigning to keep it open
kidsinmuseums.org.uk/2025/06/disc...

Discover the UK’s best museums for families this summer - Kids in Museums

18 museums are in the running to be named the UK’s Best Family Friendly Museum.

kidsinmuseums.org.uk

Reposted by Francesca Gains

Katie Kins @teamkins.bsky.social · Jun 3

On 9 June @thesquareball.net & friends will walk from St James' Park back to Elland Road, taking 5 days & over a huge 120 miles! Raising money for #andysmanclub

If you are able to donate, or even repost what we're doing, it would be very much appreciated 💙💛🤍 #LUFC #NUFC

www.garyspeedwalk.com

Gary Speed Charity Walk | The Square Ball

www.garyspeedwalk.com

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · May 17

Good to talk to supporters at the #OtleyShow today including @katiewhitemp.bsky.social - so heartening to have huge community support for our plans to re-open www.otleylido.com - and to hear all the happy memories & great suggestions for future development of a lido in Otley

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · May 14

This looks a fab (free) event for a sunny #Leeds bank holiday weekend🌞💙

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · May 9

Two brilliant things about #Leeds - champions #lufc and @operanorth.co.uk - marching on together #mot - oh I wish I could have this week all over again
www.facebook.com/share/v/16Pu...

Redirecting...

www.facebook.com

Reposted by Francesca Gains

Hutchyy @hutchyy.bsky.social · Apr 30

Raphinha goal in the champions league semi final tonight #LUFC

Reposted by Francesca Gains

Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · Apr 27

Trump's approval ratings have fallen across demographic groups (they have also fallen across specific issues).

A classic case of 'parallel publics' (Page and Shapiro, 1992).

Reposted by Francesca Gains

Michael Wood @michaeldwood74.bsky.social · Apr 25

If you're looking to visit Hathersage, or any of the other iconic Outdoor Pools that we are currently blessed with, check out the @future-lidos.bsky.social map, which is the go-to destination for architecting a road trip which involves a swim!

www.futurelidos.org/lido-map

Lido Map | Future Lidos

A map of public outdoor pools across the UK and Ireland, and the projects underway to create more.

www.futurelidos.org

Reposted by Francesca Gains, Speranţa Dumitru

Dr Anna Clark @drannaclark.bsky.social · Apr 23

Death by Shakespeare
Causes of 74 deaths in Shakespeare's plays
#ShakespeareDay

Reposted by Francesca Gains

Bill Janeway @050343.bsky.social · Apr 23

This is what you need to know about the US research ecosystem…and the Trump/Musk effort to destroy it:

www.billjaneway.com/crippling-am...

Reposted by Francesca Gains

Phillip Ayoub @payoub.bsky.social · Apr 22

🚨 New article in Comparative Political Studies (@cpsjournal.bsky.social)!
After many years of rewarding work, Sam, Vera, and I can finally share findings from Mosul, Iraq on how shared suffering under ISIS shaped support for LGBT+ rights.
🔗 doi.org/10.1177/0010... 1/4

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

doi.org

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · Apr 21

Oh boy - what a day!! No Piroe no party - full time @ Burnley v Sheff U - Leeds are going up 💙 💛 @punjabiwhites.bsky.social #MOT #LUFC

Reposted by Francesca Gains

Jane Green @profjanegreen.bsky.social · Apr 21

Here are a few things its good to be mindful of, come the locals...

1. Benchmarks. 2021 was a good year for the Tories, poor for Labour, non-existent for UKIP (for which read Reform). Losses and gains could mainly just be these locals catching up with July 2024 GE. Will we learn anything *new*?

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · Apr 13

Cheers for these suggestions - I’ll look into those (let’s not even think about the play offs!) 🤞

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · Apr 13

Not sure yet where we’ll be but will travel to the right pub to catch that game!🤞🤞🤞

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · Apr 13

A question for #lufc fans here - where is a good place in London to watch the Plymouth game on the 3rd? Daring to hope this will be a day to celebrate but will be away from home - suggestions welcomed.

Reposted by Francesca Gains

LUFC The One - Leeds United @lufctheone.bsky.social · Apr 12

A Massive Happy Birthday to Chris Fairclough who turns 61 today. 🎉🥳🎂

Signed amongst some big names in 89. An unsung hero but was crucial in gaining promotion in 89/90.

Remember the match v Barnsley where he went off for 7 stitches in a head wound. Comes back on & scores a header. 💪💪💪

#LUFC 💙💛🤍

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · Mar 30

Totally - 100%

westleedsdispatch.com/katie-white-...

Katie White MP: Horsforth is one of the best places to live. Here’s why I’m not surprised - West Leeds Dispatch

By Katie White, Leeds North West MP It’s always nice when your home patch gets the recognition it deserves. Last week, The Sunday Times named Horsforth one of the best places to live […]

westleedsdispatch.com

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · Mar 23

The cherry blossom is beautiful at Abbey House today & the Museum is full of children looking enthralled - so good the future looks positive and go visit!

museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/pQaofO/abbey...

Reposted by Natalie C. Ban, Francesca Gains

Mark Carney Supporter @markcarneyforpm.bsky.social · Mar 22

Elbows up, Canada!

Reposted by Francesca Gains

Mark Sewards MP @markjsewards.bsky.social · Mar 19

The future of TV Harrison Sports Ground has been secured.

I’m so pleased to announce that Leeds United’s initial proposal to take over and invest in Wortley’s Wembley has been accepted.

Full details here: www.facebook.com/share/p/12KC...

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · Mar 19

This sounds like really good news - www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Leeds factory bought by workspace company

Aire Street Workshops has been a home for small businesses since 1981 when it was given to the council.

www.bbc.co.uk

Francesca Gains @francescagains.bsky.social · Mar 13

At kick off the moon was over Elland Road - but truthfully by the final whistle - ER was over the moon #totl #mot #lufc

Reposted by Francesca Gains, Michael L. Ross, Ben Rosamond

Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · Mar 10

New from me - is it possible we are actually at peak populism? This post is an exercise in working through a scenario - I may very well be wrong. But also, outside of America, I think something is shifting. Because of America. 1/n

benansell.substack.com/p/twilight-o...

Twilight of the Populists?

Perhaps it's possible that, despite it all, we have reached peak populism

benansell.substack.com

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