Abi O'Connor

Daily reminder that opposition to controlling the cost of rents is manufactured by the very actors who benefit from high rents.

It's been well cited for years that public support for rent controls is high, because why wouldn't it be!

People 'on the left' are showing their internalised misogyny quite blatantly in context of upcoming Gorton & Denton by-election. A local w/c woman w/ socialist principles is up against an extreme elitist grifter yet 'the left' is obsessed with tearing the former to shreds

In England, approximately 1 in 153 people are currently homeless.

Globally, the average sits at 1 in 25 & in other comparable OECD countries it's 1 in 400.

That's a genuine marker of 'broken Britain'

If people choose to be property guardians/live in tiny homes b/c it suits them, fine, their prerogative. But there’s been a concerted push in last few years to frame this as a) desirable for all & b) the “solution to the housing crisis”

Pure propaganda to retain existing system

Another example of the lengths that the mainstream media will go to obscure the real cause of the housing crisis: extortionate rent.

If it’s not romanticising “tiny homes” then it’s living in abandoned buildings…bleak from @skynewsrss.bsky.social yet again

Never gets old ❄️

In rainy Birmingham today for a workshop with activists from across the city exploring how we connect struggles connectingstruggles.wordpress.com

Day 11 of our current strike at @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk …

The story goes that we can’t afford to keep staff in their jobs but we can afford this 👇

On mansion taxes and why they aren't enough ... according to @drabioconnor.bsky.social

If you've not signed up, check out the Global Corridor newsletter here ... Critical geopolitical reading of forces shaping urban worlds

@theurbaninstitute.bsky.social @invisiblemapper.bsky.social @itsbethperry.bsky.social @drabioconnor.bsky.social @eyeofraf.bsky.social @callumny.bsky.social

"They’ve chosen to circumvent a reform that everyone agrees needs to happen. Councils are on their knees, people are in council tax arrears & regional inequality keeps getting worse. They had the opportunity to change a system that is fundamentally broken &chose not to” My view👇

“We need a wholesale re-evaluation of how all property is taxed. This will be foundational to rebalancing the housing system and raising public money, therefore today’s announcement is a deflection from the fundamental issue: our inherently regressive council tax system.”
#UKBudget

Has Rachel Reeves made the right calls in this budget? Our panel responds | Polly Toynbee and others After a tumultuous run-up to a make-or-break moment for the government, has the chancellor struck the right balance?

'Mansion tax' barely even touches the sides. Wholesale reform of council tax is needed.

Labour again lack the courage to tax the wealthiest adequately & the conviction to properly support the millions struggling to pay their rent & bills

My view: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Landlords without mortgages pay a *lower tax rate* than their renters whose only income is via work

Why? B/c we don't properly tax income from wealth

If National Insurance was applied to income from investments, £10.2bn/year could be raised

Source @taxjustice.net #Budget2025

This is tonight! It’s such a powerful documentary.

Highly recommend folk to join us if they can, tickets still available: web.picturehouses.com/order/showti...

Donate to the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund What is the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund, and how to contribute.

We’re on our 3rd day of (v cold) strike today @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk

HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out

Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe

another good day at the Arts Tower picket today --- sending lots of solidarity from there!

@sheffielducu.bsky.social

Saw the sun rise across the Pennines this morning as I was on my way to Sheffield, sadly I’m here because we’re on strike to stand against compulsory redundancies at Sheffield, the continued erosion of our working conditions & students’ learning conditions

@sheffielducu.bsky.social

Mahmood furious over asylum seeker taxi bills.

Overton window has been obliterated

The Labour Government reeling off the same far-right talking points on immigration. And look who is celebrating. The far-right.

There is a political alternative that won’t ever scapegoat those fleeing war, persecution and torture

join.greenparty.org.uk

I chatted to Matthew Wright on @LBC about this today, the underlying issue for this government’s housing plans remains the same:

They prioritise the corporate developer lobby over communities, nature & those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Lloyds the landlord: how the bank quietly became a big rental property player Bank has a £2bn rental property portfolio via its Lloyds Living arm, amassing 7,000 properties so far with plans to add 43,000 more by 2030

The UK’s largest mortgage lender becoming one of the country’s biggest landlords is a problem, for many reasons

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

New York City elect Mayor who supports rent freezes, Conor Bradley sent Real Madrid packing again & the Labour party continues to poll terribly as a result of their own political choices. A brighter Wednesday than usual

Very normal response to an extremely low bar being set in housing law

On my way to London for 2 important events today. First up the Homes for Us annual summit, power building with housing activists from across the UK 🫡 then onto Stratford Library for the Custom House Our House closing exhibition - a real privilege to be part of such amazing projects ❤️

Check out this excellent interview given by @drabioconnor.bsky.social to #PoliticsLive on mass displacement and rent rises in Manchester

Spare a thought for all the journalists and pundits who will be disappointed that Reform did not win in Caerphilly

That will not stop the hype though and the mainstreaming circus will move on to the next scandal, opinion poll or by-election that suits the narrative with a focus on immigration etc

Thanks so much! Appreciate it

Yes, I agree, excellent work from @invisiblemapper.bsky.social !!

*** safe & secure housing ofc!

More from me on #PoliticsLive:

🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?

👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement