@isobelu.bsky.social
Reposted
The funeral of the “Bethnal Green Martyr” Joseph Williams took place #OnThisDay 16 September 1849 at Victoria Park Cemetery. Williams, a prominent Chartist, died in Tothill Fields gaol after being convicted of making seditious speeches at Clerkenwell Green www.chartistancestors.co.uk/joseph-willi...
Joseph Williams, 1809-1849 - chartist ancestors
Joseph Williams was imprisoned in 1848 after speaking at a series of meetings at Clerkenwell
www.chartistancestors.co.uk
September 16, 2026 at 6:49 AM
The funeral of the “Bethnal Green Martyr” Joseph Williams took place #OnThisDay 16 September 1849 at Victoria Park Cemetery. Williams, a prominent Chartist, died in Tothill Fields gaol after being convicted of making seditious speeches at Clerkenwell Green www.chartistancestors.co.uk/joseph-willi...
Reposted
Please share with Manchester pals... this week's show still has some tickets left - www.tickettailor.com/events/modif...
September 15, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Please share with Manchester pals... this week's show still has some tickets left - www.tickettailor.com/events/modif...
Reposted
Reposted
‘Many recent responses to “What’s the point of literary criticism?” have implicitly accepted that a subject can justify people studying it only if it will make them money or get them a job.’
Colin Burrow on Helen Vendler and the uses of criticism.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Colin Burrow on Helen Vendler and the uses of criticism.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Colin Burrow · Good Weird or Bad Weird: Uses of Criticism
Literary criticism is a supremely occasional skill, where you have to be bold enough to operate where there aren’t any...
www.lrb.co.uk
September 13, 2026 at 6:30 PM
‘Many recent responses to “What’s the point of literary criticism?” have implicitly accepted that a subject can justify people studying it only if it will make them money or get them a job.’
Colin Burrow on Helen Vendler and the uses of criticism.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Colin Burrow on Helen Vendler and the uses of criticism.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted
It’s not just the scale of the money.
It’s also the character of the people making the donations which is extremely worrying - as I argued in this thread over the summer ⬇️
It’s also the character of the people making the donations which is extremely worrying - as I argued in this thread over the summer ⬇️
The Telegraph just gave a convicted criminal a two-page spread to explain why he's pumping £4 million into Reform UK. They tucked his criminal record away in the small print. So as a former financial crime specialist I’ll do their job for them👇
You are seeing this page because our security systems have detected some unusual activity on this connection. To regain access to The Telegraph website please try the following:
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 13, 2026 at 12:46 PM
It’s not just the scale of the money.
It’s also the character of the people making the donations which is extremely worrying - as I argued in this thread over the summer ⬇️
It’s also the character of the people making the donations which is extremely worrying - as I argued in this thread over the summer ⬇️
Reposted
In Flanders, a 25-year study of 54 forests found ground beetle captures nearly halved, while species richness fell from 97 to 83. Cold-adapted species declined by up to 70%, with little increase among warm-adapted species. #Biodiversity
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/oik....
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/oik....
September 11, 2026 at 7:21 AM
In Flanders, a 25-year study of 54 forests found ground beetle captures nearly halved, while species richness fell from 97 to 83. Cold-adapted species declined by up to 70%, with little increase among warm-adapted species. #Biodiversity
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/oik....
🔗 doi.org/10.1002/oik....
Reposted
Guardian: This week, the Trump administration released a new bombshell. In outlining how it will govern the 2030 decennial census, the Census Bureau has indicated that it plans to stop collecting data about race and only count a subset of the population, contrary to what the constitution requires.
September 10, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Guardian: This week, the Trump administration released a new bombshell. In outlining how it will govern the 2030 decennial census, the Census Bureau has indicated that it plans to stop collecting data about race and only count a subset of the population, contrary to what the constitution requires.
Reposted
Less than 1% of England’s population owns nearly half its land. So who holds landowners accountable for what happens to nature? In this talk @guyshrubsole.bsky.social asks whether land “stewardship” is genuine or greenwash & explores land reform, transparency & practical routes to nature recovery.
Ill fares the land? Holding large landowners to account for nature destruction - and restoration
Nature is in crisis in England, where less than 1% of the population owns nearly half the land. In this talk, environmental campaigner and author Guy Shrubsole explores a crucial question for nature…
youtu.be
September 10, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Less than 1% of England’s population owns nearly half its land. So who holds landowners accountable for what happens to nature? In this talk @guyshrubsole.bsky.social asks whether land “stewardship” is genuine or greenwash & explores land reform, transparency & practical routes to nature recovery.
Reposted
New PISA data out
England is now top ten in all three areas (reading, maths, science) and the second highest performing country outside of east Asia (after Estonia).
This is a huge public policy success.
England is now top ten in all three areas (reading, maths, science) and the second highest performing country outside of east Asia (after Estonia).
This is a huge public policy success.
September 8, 2026 at 7:44 AM
New PISA data out
England is now top ten in all three areas (reading, maths, science) and the second highest performing country outside of east Asia (after Estonia).
This is a huge public policy success.
England is now top ten in all three areas (reading, maths, science) and the second highest performing country outside of east Asia (after Estonia).
This is a huge public policy success.
Reposted
📝 New article on Our World in Data: Beef production in Brazil has been the largest driver of global deforestation in recent decades.
The largest driver of deforestation globally is the expansion of agricultural land.
The largest driver of deforestation globally is the expansion of agricultural land.
August 31, 2026 at 3:01 PM
📝 New article on Our World in Data: Beef production in Brazil has been the largest driver of global deforestation in recent decades.
The largest driver of deforestation globally is the expansion of agricultural land.
The largest driver of deforestation globally is the expansion of agricultural land.
Reposted
‘While councils across Britain face similar housing emergencies, there’s something extreme about what’s happening in Southwark.’
@jamesmeek.bsky.social on social housing in Southwark, published online early from the next issue:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@jamesmeek.bsky.social on social housing in Southwark, published online early from the next issue:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
James Meek · ‘What kind of people do they think we are?’: Where will we build?
Now that Southwark has become desirable, the patches of neglect are placeholders for the chains and high-end outlets the...
www.lrb.co.uk
September 1, 2026 at 1:16 PM
‘While councils across Britain face similar housing emergencies, there’s something extreme about what’s happening in Southwark.’
@jamesmeek.bsky.social on social housing in Southwark, published online early from the next issue:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@jamesmeek.bsky.social on social housing in Southwark, published online early from the next issue:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted
BREAKING: Liam Tadeo was just deported by ICE.
August 27, 2026 at 3:29 PM
BREAKING: Liam Tadeo was just deported by ICE.
Reposted
New immigration stats show that the numbers of asylum seekers in hotels is down to 16k - falling 50% in a year.
Small boat crossings down 23% in the year to June.
Numbers waiting for initial decision down from almost 180k to 40k.
Small boat crossings down 23% in the year to June.
Numbers waiting for initial decision down from almost 180k to 40k.
August 27, 2026 at 9:29 AM
New immigration stats show that the numbers of asylum seekers in hotels is down to 16k - falling 50% in a year.
Small boat crossings down 23% in the year to June.
Numbers waiting for initial decision down from almost 180k to 40k.
Small boat crossings down 23% in the year to June.
Numbers waiting for initial decision down from almost 180k to 40k.
Reposted
In early 20thc 80% of the African Herero tribe (Namibia) were wiped out by German colonialists.The rest were taken into slavery. In revenge they adopted a caricature of the dress of their oppressors, neutralising their power (via J. Naughten 'Conflict & Costume' ) #WomensArt
August 27, 2026 at 4:38 AM
In early 20thc 80% of the African Herero tribe (Namibia) were wiped out by German colonialists.The rest were taken into slavery. In revenge they adopted a caricature of the dress of their oppressors, neutralising their power (via J. Naughten 'Conflict & Costume' ) #WomensArt
Reposted
To underline an issue not only does the US Ambassador to Belgium think Nathan Kofnas is a Professor (he isn't) there are two open letters signed by hundred of academics supporting Kofnas's 'race realism'. Anti-racists need to keep organising wp.me/p15p2Q-hu9
US Ambassador to Belgium demands racist who started Jason Arday witch hunt keeps University job
The Times (21st August) which played a key role in the media pile on in the tragic case of the late Professor Jason Arday has reported that the US Ambassador to Belgium, the appropriately named Bil…
wp.me
August 22, 2026 at 11:44 PM
To underline an issue not only does the US Ambassador to Belgium think Nathan Kofnas is a Professor (he isn't) there are two open letters signed by hundred of academics supporting Kofnas's 'race realism'. Anti-racists need to keep organising wp.me/p15p2Q-hu9
Reposted
Zero new NSF grants in sociology, anthropology, political science and economics. The agenda of this US govt is to stop documenting the society in which we live while they are destroying it. We will find other ways to track and explain our times and fight to restore our research funding.
Finally, this has gone a bit under the radar, so I want to highlight it: The social, behavioral and economic sciences directorate (SBE) has simply ceased to deliver grants to many of its subareas. Any topic not specifically OK'd by the Trump administration is receiving zero new awards.
August 20, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Zero new NSF grants in sociology, anthropology, political science and economics. The agenda of this US govt is to stop documenting the society in which we live while they are destroying it. We will find other ways to track and explain our times and fight to restore our research funding.
Reposted
The fine folk at the awesome #Aberdeen Science Centre invited me to become their Patron, with a focus on promoting science and public engagement.
I said "when do I start!" 🤗
It's a fantastic day out - do come visit some time! 🏴 #scicomm 🎢🔭
aberdeenbusinessnews.co.uk/astronomer-r...
I said "when do I start!" 🤗
It's a fantastic day out - do come visit some time! 🏴 #scicomm 🎢🔭
aberdeenbusinessnews.co.uk/astronomer-r...
Astronomer Royal for Scotland appointed as first patron of Aberdeen Science Centre - Aberdeen Business News
Aberdeen Science Centre has appointed The Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Professor Catherine Heymans, as its first Patron of Science and Engagement.
aberdeenbusinessnews.co.uk
August 19, 2026 at 5:02 PM
The fine folk at the awesome #Aberdeen Science Centre invited me to become their Patron, with a focus on promoting science and public engagement.
I said "when do I start!" 🤗
It's a fantastic day out - do come visit some time! 🏴 #scicomm 🎢🔭
aberdeenbusinessnews.co.uk/astronomer-r...
I said "when do I start!" 🤗
It's a fantastic day out - do come visit some time! 🏴 #scicomm 🎢🔭
aberdeenbusinessnews.co.uk/astronomer-r...
Reposted
After Arday resigned from Cambridge and said he could take no more, the press wrote another 188 articles about him
newscord.org/editorials/j...
newscord.org/editorials/j...
Jason Arday told the press he was at his limit. It answered with 188 more articles. He is dead at 41.
A full census of the 249 articles fifteen national outlets published about Jason Arday in 22 days, with the last day reconstructed hour by hour. Every article listed and linked.
newscord.org
August 15, 2026 at 10:24 PM
After Arday resigned from Cambridge and said he could take no more, the press wrote another 188 articles about him
newscord.org/editorials/j...
newscord.org/editorials/j...
Reposted
I wish media outlets would describe Nathan Cofnas as a racist rather than a "self-defined race realist" which doesn't mean anything to most people.
His writing meets any definition of racism however narrowly and cautiously drawn.
His writing meets any definition of racism however narrowly and cautiously drawn.
August 15, 2026 at 9:53 AM
I wish media outlets would describe Nathan Cofnas as a racist rather than a "self-defined race realist" which doesn't mean anything to most people.
His writing meets any definition of racism however narrowly and cautiously drawn.
His writing meets any definition of racism however narrowly and cautiously drawn.
Reposted
Corrado Gini (developer of the Gini coefficient of income inequality), was a racist, fascist, eugenicist, and statistician who was a proponent of organicism and applied it to nations.
"The core of the far right's worldview was organicism, that is, the idea that society functions as a living being.
"The core of the far right's worldview was organicism, that is, the idea that society functions as a living being.
August 15, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Corrado Gini (developer of the Gini coefficient of income inequality), was a racist, fascist, eugenicist, and statistician who was a proponent of organicism and applied it to nations.
"The core of the far right's worldview was organicism, that is, the idea that society functions as a living being.
"The core of the far right's worldview was organicism, that is, the idea that society functions as a living being.
Reposted
This is why I love doing the substack... write a post on why Thatcher wasn't a Thatcherite and Nigel Lawson's private secretary pops up in the comments to confirm one of my arguments...
August 15, 2026 at 5:10 PM
This is why I love doing the substack... write a post on why Thatcher wasn't a Thatcherite and Nigel Lawson's private secretary pops up in the comments to confirm one of my arguments...
Reposted
Brilliant use of FOI request here
Revealed: just 20 out of of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation, as UK burns in fifth heatwave of this summer - FOI request by me
@andyburnham.bsky.social needs to level with the country about the climate crisis & set out radical plan to tackle it 🧵
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@andyburnham.bsky.social needs to level with the country about the climate crisis & set out radical plan to tackle it 🧵
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires
Exclusive: England ‘desperately unprepared’ for effects of crisis including water shortages and heatwaves
www.theguardian.com
August 12, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Brilliant use of FOI request here