Samir Jeraj
@sajeraj.bsky.social
Reporter and author. Writing on policy for The New Statesman. Commissioning editor for Hyphen. Senior Fellow John Schofield Trust. Swimmer with locs
I loved talking to Anissa Helou about Lebanese cuisine, and the importance of documenting an preserving food culture amid conflict and upheaval, for @hyphenonline.com hyphenonline.com/2026/07/31/a...
Anissa Helou's new book celebrates the cuisine of Lebanon - Hyphen
The renowned author and food historian captures the diversity and deep roots of Lebanese dishes against a backdrop of war and displacement
hyphenonline.com
Just heard a reggae version of Heart Shaped Box and it‘s….. unnerving
One my first proper jobs was working with businesses in a rural part of England. They really wanted to give young people the careers they deserved... but they did not know what they needed from schools. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Burnham to tell schools in England to adapt teaching to local business needs
PM wants curriculums for students aged 14 and above to be more responsive to local jobs market
theguardian.com
Wrote an obituary for Guy Scott, the first and thus far only white man to run a democratic government in postcolonial Africa:
Guy Scott, former president of Zambia, 1944-2026
The academic and farmer was the first and only white man to lead an African democracy
ft.com
Given how much of what Shabana's allies say she wants to do and thinks on the economy you read and go 'this is word salad', I think hard at this stage to really predict what it will actually be like, beyond: it will be crackers.
Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social · 3w agoThe Times reporting that Andy Burnham succeeded in persuading Shabana Mahmood to become Chancellor because it would give her more control over cutting immigration
Alfred Dreyfus statue to finally receive permanent home in central Paris
Alfred Dreyfus statue to finally receive permanent home in central Paris
Sculpture of Jewish army officer wrongly accused of treason has been moved around the city for decades For 40 years, the statue of Capt Alfred Dreyfus has been moved around Paris, never finding a permanent home. The French army twice refused to allow it to stand at l’École Militaire, where Dreyfus, a Jewish officer it had wrongly accused of treason in 1894, was stripped of his rank in one of the most notorious acts of antisemitism in France’s history. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Binface would be wise to study the campaign of Stuart Drummond (aka H'Angus the Monkey) who was elected mayor of Hartlepool *three times*
This is terrible. Aslam's daughter has had to organise a GoFundMe to raise funds for therapy. @anitamureithi.bsky.social with the story. hyphenonline.com/2026/07/09/h...
Huntingdon train attack hero still waiting for trauma therapy - Hyphen
Raza Mustafa Aslam was stabbed as he stood between the knifeman and fellow passengers on board an LNER train last year
hyphenonline.com
Is any publication comparing Burnham and Rhaenyra Targaryen on their front pages or cartoons?
Re-upping this controversial view that you can't devolve your way out of austerity: www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
Devolution? In this economy?
The government’s plans are doomed
newstatesman.com
Most people know that richer people tend to be thinner. Less appreciated is that this divide is largely driven by women. My column: The economics of women's weight 300 free clicks: as.ft.com/r/feaaaacf-8...
Big "Tell me about the rabbits" vibe to Helaena and Alicent's conversation about keeping chickens...
⚠️ Mosques across the UK have told @hyphenonline.com that they are spending huge chunks of their budgets on security while the government’s £40m annual 'protective security for mosques' scheme fails to meet their needs. Important piece by Saman Javed 👇 hyphenonline.com/2026/06/30/p...
Revealed: mosques forced to spend thousands on security - Hyphen
The £40m Home Office fund for security at mosques has been called ‘not fit for purpose’ with places of worship waiting months without contact
hyphenonline.com
Mosques are spending large chunks of their budget on security while the government’s protective security for mosques scheme fails to meet their demands, Muslim leaders have told us. Saman Javed has more. hyphenonline.com/2026/06/30/p...
Revealed: mosques forced to spend thousands on security - Hyphen
The £40m Home Office fund for security at mosques has been called ‘not fit for purpose’ with places of worship waiting months without contact
hyphenonline.com
A quarter of terror attacks in Britain over the past decade have targeted Muslims, but some have gone largely unnoticed because of delays formally declaring them terrorism Most jihadist attacks, by contrast, have been declared within hours of taking place inews.co.uk/news/uk-terr...
The UK terror attacks you don't hear about - and how they go under the radar
Some incidents are not being confirmed as terrorism for up to nine months, leaving the public unaware about the threat on British streets
inews.co.uk
Good news, but there is more to do. There are still lots of tools, such as PSPOs (Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014), that can be and are used to criminalise homelessness.
Josiah Mortimer@josiahmortimer.bsky.social · last mo."The government will repeal the Vagrancy Act on Monday 29 June 2026, ending nearly two centuries of legislation that has criminalised rough sleeping and begging" www.gov.uk/government/n...
Great case study. @bwalker.uk and I looked at this a few years off the back of the Towns Fund and pretty much came to the same conclusion, even when the spending has been gamed towards your supporters or marginals.
Sam Freedman@samfr.bsky.social · last mo.This is v good from @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social and Chris Smyth on something I've written about before - regeneration funding doesn't seem to work politically. www.ft.com/content/a108...
Horrific systemic failure exposed yet again, essentially, by the very people who suffered these unimaginable wrongs. All in the face of a cover up, neglect, incompetence, racism, discrimination, contempt and harassment (not my words, but those in the inquiry report). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Nottingham families in largest NHS maternity review tell stories
Families explain how they became part of the biggest maternity scandal in NHS history.
bbc.co.uk
Fifteen years since the "dinner-table test", everyday racism is becoming a British political norm - my column in this week's @newstatesman1913.bsky.social, drawing on @britishfuture.bsky.social @sundersays.bsky.social research:
Everyday racism is becoming a political norm
Online rhetoric is drifting into real intolerance
newstatesman.com
Want to know why footballers at the World Cup are prostrating themselves in prayer (sujood) after goals and wins, well I've written about it: hyphenonline.com/2026/06/24/s...
How Muslim footballers are bringing sujood to the World Cup stage
From Egypt to football's biggest stars, sujood is emerging as a powerful expression of Muslim faith and celebration at the World Cup
hyphenonline.com
No, you're crying after reading this interview with Anthony Norman from Company Retreat: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
'Jury Duty': 'Company Retreat' star Anthony Norman reveals his post-stardom plans
Norman's unscripted reaction to the show's climactic setup surprised even the series' creator, Lee Eisenberg: 'It took my breath away,' he says.
latimes.com
Massive storms at night and mid 30s temp in the day. London is basically Mombasa at the moment - without the beaches and mishkaki
Along our street there’s a stretch without trees and during heatwaves it feels like the Sun’s anvil for that 20 metres.
Labour (founded in 1906) have never had a woman leader. By contrast, Tories have had four since 1979 and the Greens, who have only had leaders since 2008, have managed three (Caroline Lucas, Natalie Bennett and Carla Denyer).
If you're a fan of C5's The Hardacres or of great theatre, I've interviewed Sarah Agha, who plays Betsy Temple, in the period drama: www.newstatesman.com/culture/2026...
“I'm Palestinian, it's impossible to look away”
Hardacres actor Sarah Agha on her one-woman show about a child in Gaza, and finding humour in dark moments
newstatesman.com
But that is exactly how the suffragettes operated. With a nationwide organisation of sleeper cells of arsonists and bombers. I’m gratefully people have reached out and referenced my work today. I remain (I believe) the only academic expert on the terrorism of the suffragettes. Links below:
Roland Smith@rolandmcs.bsky.social · 2mo agoStrong statement from the Court of Appeal re Palestine Action. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
