Abi O'Connor

It's nearly a year since the far-riots of last summer. At the time we recorded an episode of the New Economics podcast with @drabioconnor.bsky.social & @minnierahman.bsky.social to explore how we combat the rise of the far-right. It's still a highly relevant listen: neweconomics.org/2024/08/new-...

BLOG: 5 reasons why the UK should implement rent controls Build three million social homes so that everyone has a safe, comfortable place to live.

@neweconomics.bsky.social
homesforus.org.uk/latest-news/...

Is Reeves’ mortgage gamble her last throw of the dice? Plans to get more people on the housing ladder should be applauded, writes David Maddox, but the chancellor must take heed of lessons from the past

Saddling lower income first-time buyers with mortgage debt won't solve the housing crisis. Council housing & rent controls will.

The problem for this government? The actual solutions aren't profitable for private developers & landlords.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Zoe Gardner: "70% of the asylum seekers who've come to the UK in the last 20 years came from countries that we had previously colonised. That means they speak the language, they have ties to this country, we have communities here"

Yep. #GMB

Will do a NEF roundup in due course but if anyone needs anything NEF related from me before I move on please get in touch over coming months!

Personal news: made up to say I’ve been awarded a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship at @sheffielduni.bsky.social starting in Oct to undertake my new research project in the UK & US:

‘Following urban assetisation: a comparative theory of local state restructuring’

Graphic reads: as little as 2% tax on wealth over £10 million would raise £22 billion every year. On a black background, a neon yellow sign reflect the statistic.

I’m supporting the nationwide day of action calling on the richest to PAY UP.

In 2024, UK billionaires added £35 million per day to their wealth. Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Council has an estimated funding gap of £17.2 million.

The money is there - time to tax it fairly.

Hmm, I wonder if Rod Liddle will be investigated by the police for literally calling for the murder of civilians

I hope folk put as much effort into organising with their neighbours as they do sharing their hot takes on a new left party

Was always an honour to sit on the Kop and sing his song. Our number 20 ❤️

We're looking for new trustees @praxisprojects.bsky.social! Get in touch if you have any questions but you don't need to have a particular skill set. We're interested in people with values that match ours and those with direct experience of migration and/or homelessness.

Trying to take some time out after a heavy few months & ahead of a few more but I’m beside myself watching reality be re-written again.

Criticising a military that documents joyfully committing genocide isn’t antisemitic. Claiming all Jewish people support it might be

You can spend years of your life dedicated to your craft, but Steve the freelance property consultant will still declare with the utmost confidence that you, a sociologist, simply cannot understand the concept of “the market” 😮‍💨

Me again talking about rent controls. They’re really not a wildly radical idea, they make economic / social sense & cost govt nothing. Wins all round!

Pleasure to be on Pod Save the UK talking about the need for rent controls & the mass transfer of public money into the pockets of private landlords. Clip here 👇

Huge kudos to the New Yorkers who worked tirelessly for this. Another city is possible ❤️‍🔥

graph showing figures each year for delivering accessible and adaptable homes - the target for adaptable is 90% and highest delivery is 4.7% in 24-25. and for the accessible 10% target the best deliver is 3.5% in 22-23

Look how far off target we are in London for delivering accessible homes. Terrible.

M4(2) = accessible & adaptable
M4(3) = wheelchair user homes

I'm chairing Housing Committee today - we will hear from disabled people's organisations then put questions to GLA about what can be done to improve.

Talking at this on Thursday about the proactive role researchers can play in supporting grassroots movements, join us! 👇

CEO pay at UK’s top companies is 52 times that of typical worker, report finds High Pay Centre thinktank says median pay of FTSE 350 chief executive was £2.4m in 2023-24 financial year

NEW: Our latest research shows that pay gaps at the largest UK companies between CEOs and their employees are as wide now as they were 5 years ago, with a FTSE 100 CEO paid 78 times more than their median employee.

Has the time come for a maximum wage?
www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Details on where you can see the exhibition over coming months👇

Been a pleasure & privilege to work with residents in Custom House & colleagues from @royalcollegeofart.bsky.social who created these beautiful outputs.

No change to a community done without them, is for them ✊❤️‍🔥

For those asking how people can come together despite the odds, how we can put resources, time and love into bridging gaps btw the reality of people's lives, research, policy & politics through respect, inspiration and a commitment to transformative change. My brilliant colleague Molly-May Smith 👇

An always welcome reminder that if we taxed billionaires we’d raised a lot of much needed money for crumbling public services

📍Aigburth, Liverpool

Dire stats. We have some research coming out in August that shows the government can *transform* enforcement in private rentals if they take seriously the opportunity presented by fee revenue via the PRS Landlord database. Small landlords fees could change tenants' lives

Love this! My friend is v much on this wavelength!

Sadly this one isn’t mine! I’m a frequent visitor, wrote much of my PhD there! It’s my friends, Greenbank allotments. Tranquility 💜

City allotments have to be some of the best spots ever 🌞

Emergency protest in Liverpool today:

Call script from Sisters Uncut for the FCDO to demand the UK government uphold their duty to protect the #Madleen, a ship sailing under a British flag being unlawfully detained by Israeli forces.

Spot on as usual from Zoë 👇