www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

James Butler · Short Cuts: Labour’s Failure

Despite a few halting steps towards devolving power in Britain, England itself remains a profoundly centralised country...

lrb.co.uk

What is YOUR soul's worth? This one's only worth £215,000 apparently.

Oliver@oliver48.bsky.social · 6mo ago

"Last year, Yvette Cooper received £215,000 from the Israel lobby Then, she proscribed Palestine Action as a 'terrorist organisation' Here she is with Israel's UK Ambassador Evil Tzipi Hotovely One thing that always shocks me is how cheaply our politicians are bought." via The People's Britain

Without intending to diminish in any way the scholarship that goes into making this so clear and cogent, it's astonishing that something so "obvious" to a lay audience can be so wilfully ignored by a political and media ecosystem (presumably as it doesn't suit a narrative they wish to frame, sure).

Jane Green@profjanegreen.bsky.social · 7mo ago

@martamiori.bsky.social and I have been writing, since 2024, about why Labour's 'Reform' challenge and emphasis was based on a misunderstanding of Labour's vote. Here for anyone interested: politicscentre.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

we don't talk enough about how this paranoid freak released virtual insanity in 1996. years before the average person in the uk had even sent a text message, he was dancing like a maniac in his big moving gaff, enraged to the point of song by faxes, teletext and encarta 95.

We urgently need a parliamentary debate on Palantir. Please sign this & share with your network. Via @the-citizens.bsky.social & @change.org. www.change.org/p/hold-a-par...

Just cancelled Disney+ and have set up a monthly to these guys instead. Take a look and think about doing the same ⬇️

Dr. Divya (🔔 offline)@divyampersaud.com · 8mo ago

In eight months, your individual ounces, spare change, bold fives have turned into reliable support for twenty-one families' needs, every single week. Well, almost there. Last check, we're at 70%...! Bet on life. Support Palestinian families to survive: chuffed.org/project/hope...

As a skint single parent to two teens with additional needs, online is the only type of writing retreat within my reach. Comments like this prove that the attitude that writing isn't for the likes of me is still depressingly prevalent within literary circles. Ableist bullshit, & classist too.

Louise Kenward@louisekenward.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Really disappointed to see this response to my forthcoming Arvon course running in the spring. This has been a really popular course that has gained a great deal of positive feedback and nurtured some brilliant writing and writers. Can I politely suggest this is ableist bullshit.

If you see this please share (i.e. repost, not just like)! The Barbellion Prize is a unique award for writers with disabilities. We need to raise £20k to secure its future, so please make a donation, no matter how large, no matter how small, here: barbellionprize.org/donate/ Thank you!

I'm not the only author I know who has a huge surfeit of ideas for books that we would love to write and send out into the world if only we had the time to write them.

"I long to read more in the book of you." Beloved Moomins creator Tove Jansson's almost unbearably beautiful love letters to the love of her life (who inspired her wisest Moomin character) www.themarginalian.org/2020/06/12/t...

I Long to Read More in the Book of You: Moomins Creator Tove Jansson’s Tender and Passionate Letters to the Love of Her Life

“I’m so unused to being happy that I haven’t really come to terms with what it involves… I feel like a garden that’s finally been watered, so my flowers can bloom.”

themarginalian.org

My thoughts exactly.

Present & Correct@presentcorrect.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Thank God Robyn is back to save us before the year is through. Seasonal crancing.

Hello! I'm a writer! I'm awful at using social media for writer stuff. I even went on a short course once, but it failed miserably in helping me build an online writers' persona. Instead, I prefer lurking, pressing 'like' on whatever I like, & commenting once a month on a random post. But... 🧵

Why the fuck are governments not speaking up and trying to get their citizens out? One member of the flotilla has DISAPPEARED - Yvonne Ridley from Scotland. Unless there’s been an update about that?!

Resist 🕎🍉@antizionistjew.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Four Members of European Parliament have been abducted in International waters and the President of France has not made one public statement demanding their return.

As I just considered reaching for my brand new bluetooth speaker & dashing it against the kitchen wall it hit me how fucking insufferable Radiohead are/have become/actually, have always been.

Matt the Dad Dude@undefeatedmatt.wifeguy.online · last yr.

Throwing my Radiohead albums in the trash and buying a DJ Provai balaclava

I'm writing fuck all - I'm lying in bed painting my nails and listening to reggaeton.

Taco Bell Quarterly@tacobellquarterly.org · last yr.

If you're not writing your long book what are you even doing. It's the summer of writing your long book, not the summer of experiencing happiness

And the Universal Credit bill has passed. Some of the sickest people in the country will suffer needlessly more now. There is no justification, no excuse. Just ugly, cruel choices by ministers too cowardly to tax the wealthy rather than cut the poor. A shameful day for Starmer’s Labour.

#SHARE 👇 Today, the Muhammad Relief Fundraiser distributed comprehensive meals to displaced families in the Gaza Strip. The meals included hummus, falafel, bread, and a nutritional supplement for children You can donate here - gofund.me/da82ccde or directly - shorturl.at/PhwWo

I stand against genocide, the true terrorism.

Zarah Sultana MP@zarahsultana.bsky.social · last yr.

At midnight, Palestine Action will be proscribed under the Terrorism Act. Their real “crime”? Exposing the UK’s role in arming Israel’s genocide. This is a dark day for our democracy. Criminalising non-violent resistance won’t silence the truth. We are all Palestine Action 🇵🇸

At midnight, Palestine Action will be proscribed under the Terrorism Act. Their real “crime”? Exposing the UK’s role in arming Israel’s genocide. This is a dark day for our democracy. Criminalising non-violent resistance won’t silence the truth. We are all Palestine Action 🇵🇸

I raised good kids - here's my birthday present from them - and I love it 🤍 Thank you @yourlocalspaceman.bsky.social #MakeTroubleQuestionEverything #KatherineHamnett

Awkward grins are my bag in photos, but I was genuinely chuffed as hell to celebrate being in the @bristolshortstory.bsky.social 17th anthology last night.

Local to Bristol? Don't miss the 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology Launch and Winners' Reception tomorrow, June 28th, at Waterstones, Bristol - Galleries. Get your free ticket here: bit.ly/3TIoQFU #writingprize #shortstoryprize

Yes, I'm still pinching myself

Bristol Short Story Prize@bristolshortstory.bsky.social · last yr.

In this multi-POV story, we follow a mother and her daughter as they are forced to confront what it means to belong. 📚 @kerrymead.bsky.social‬’s heart-breaking story will feature in our new anthology. Learn more and meet all our shortlisted writers: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

What George doesn't understand is that in the UK, we decided in 2020 that 'governing' was actually a tedious distraction from 'speculating about, and positioning for, the next general election'. It's core to our culture and it is *very* disrespectful to criticise it.

George Pearkes@peark.es · last yr.

this is a very strange message from Starmer. First, you're boosting the far right which is, uh, risky. Second, your government was elected LAST YEAR why are you talking like the election campaign is under way?!?!! *STARMER: TORIES SLIDING INTO ABYSS, CHOICE IS LABOUR OR REFORM

This is my good friend's Arabic teacher, please donate / share chuffed.org/project/1281...

Our baby deserves to live.

Please Help Us Escape — Our Baby Deserves to Live

chuffed.org

This is the best news ever! My story Redding Rd Vs Alderaan has been shortlisted for the Bristol Short Story Prize! I've been looking for a home for this baby for over 2 years & now at last it's got one (but not just any old roof over its head, this is a dream home in the city it was born in.) 🏙️🔥

Bristol Short Story Prize@bristolshortstory.bsky.social · last yr.

The 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize shortlist is now live: bit.ly/4k7rSio A huge thank you to our incredible judging panel: @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social, Kate Johnson and @peacemedie.bsky.social for their time, commitment and enthusiasm. Congratulations to this year’s shortlisted authors!