Chris Shannahan

Gore Lecture with Dr Chris Shannahan Our fifth annual Gore Lecture in Public Theology will be presented by Dr Chris Shannahan from Coventry University on Child Poverty. Everyone is welcome to join this FREE event.

Lookng forward to giving the Gore Public Theology lecture on child poverty at Birmingham Cathedral on 25 September. I will be drawing on my forthcoming Life on the Breadline book in my reflections [SCM, December 2025]. Click below to book free ticket.
birminghamcathedral.com/event/gore-l...

Coventry University researchers to investigate the impact of AI on religion and how faiths are responding Coventry University researchers are exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) is influencing religious beliefs, practices and responsibilities - and whether it is being embraced or resisted by faith ...

I just started a project on AI + religion. This piece from the Coventry University website gives a flavour...One of my main questions relates to power, inclusion and social justice: Is AI a tool for oppression or liberation? Let's see what UK faith leaders think. www.coventry.ac.uk/research/abo...

Children in England ‘living in almost Dickensian levels of poverty’ Children’s commissioner says any Labour strategy to tackle deprivation must scrap the two-child benefit cap

In 2025! Labour letting down the most vulnerable!
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

The Children's Commissioner has joined calls for the government to scrap two-child benefit cap saying some children in England are living in an "almost-Dickensian level of poverty”

In new report some young people describe living with rat infestations, without reliable running water & mouldy food

Cultural Resilience, Religious Faith, and the intersection of Generative and Agentic Artificial Intelligence - Coventry University
🙏🤖This project explores how generative AI is reshaping religious beliefs, practices, and cultural resilience.
@chrisshannahan.bsky.social

Excited to start a new SALIENT: Building a Secure & Resilient World funded project with my Centre for Peace & Security colleague Adam Fenton exploring the impact that AI has on the role of faith groups in public sphere & in particular in fostering cultural resilience within marginalised communities.

No 10 delays child poverty strategy with tens of thousands more facing hardship Exclusive: Flagship policy put back until at least autumn amid fears cost of removing two-child benefit cap will outweigh political benefit

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Senior faith leaders urge Starmer to tone down migration rhetoric

Off to Birmingham Cathedral this morning to speak at an important conference on how the Church can respond to the crisis of child poverty in the UK.

Americans, including Republicans, losing faith in Trump, new polls reveal

Hundred-year wait for family-size social housing in parts of England, study finds Charities condemn ‘national scandal’ and call for pledge to build 90,000 social homes a year to meet demand

How to entrench multi generational poverty.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

I'm excited about our Life on the Breadline collaboration with Canon Andy Delmege and Birmingham Cathedral - Join us on 8th May for a tragically timely conference on the child poverty crisis in Birmingham. Email Birmingham Catedral for more details and to register.

Record 4.5m children living in poverty, UK data shows Government urged to scrap two-child benefit cap after chancellor announces welfare cuts in spring statement

Shame on you @RachelReevesMP - A betrayal of that Labour should stand for. Punish the poor so you don't have to tak the rich. Pepole will not forget.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Repeatedly taking the easy choice on welfare – Joint Public Issues Team JPIT’s Paul Morrison responds to potential disability benefit cuts. In the November 2024 budget the Chancellor decided to keep the last government’s £3bn of disability benefit cuts which were pencille...

Challenging reflections from Joint Public Issues Team's Paul Morrison as Labour kickstarts its own austerity journey.
jpit.uk/repeatedly-t...

Benefits cuts now? What’s the point of a Labour MP who votes for something so cruel, tin-eared and short-sighted? | John McDonnell Treating disabled and sick people callously flies in the face of all the party stands for – the government must rethink its plans, writes the MP John McDonnell

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Tesco to trial giving expiring food away to shoppers Giving away food will be trialled in some Express stores in an effort to cut waste.

Good idea? Bad idea? A way to address food insecurity or to embed dependency? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Benefit system unfair and indefensible, says PM Some Labour MPs urge ministers to tackle the

Deeply worrying - Echoes of 2010 Cameron and Osborne - Keir Starmer paving the way for a Labour created Age of Austerity even though he will dress it up in his 'tough choices' all the fault of the Tories excuses - Shameful abandonment of people and principles.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

UK populists mix faith and politics with parroting of ‘Judeo-Christian values’ Rightwingers in Britain are beguiled by the potential of religious rhetoric after its use by Trump and Vance in the US

Danger!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

In the new Trump empire it seems perfectly logical for the riches man on earth to dismantle the organisation that feeds the poorest people on earth. When did wrong become right?

Families concerned as Grenfell Tower to be dismantled A campaign group asks how many bereaved people and survivors were consulted over the decision.

Moving forward or sweeping the trauma of Grenfell Tower and housing injustice under the rug?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Let’s be very clear Trump is now calling for the ethnic cleansing of 2 million Palestinian people. This is not only a war crime, it is deeply immoral and must be called out. Any UK politician who fails to oppose this is bowing down to an authoritarian bully.

Sign the petition: Britain is not for sale: don't let the likes of Elon Musk meddle in our democracy 🚨 WORLD’S RICHEST MAN BUYING OUR DEMOCRACY 🚨 Elon Musk is set to pump £78m into Nigel Farage’s party—a sum that would allow Reform to flood our politics with targeted ads. Maybe other countries allow ...

act.38degrees.org.uk/act/britain-...

Cardiff: University confirms plans to cut 400 jobs - BBC News Vice-chancellor Wendy Larner says "it is no longer an option for us to continue as we are".

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Google Maps will change the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America | CNN Business Google is complying with President Donald Trump’s executive action that renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Soon, the name change will appear on Google Maps.

Google bows down to the new dictator in town.
www.cnn.com/2025/01/28/t...

Evangelicals Made a Bad Trade Hitching the evangelical wagon to Donald Trump has meant unhitching it from the life and teachings of Jesus.

www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Trump dismisses bishop’s call for mercy; Democratic states sue over birthright citizenship – live President responds to bishop urging him to show mercy to immigrants and LGBTQ people by saying ‘I didn’t think it was a good service’; states argue president’s order is violation of US constitution

www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...

The world braces for Trump, hoping for the best, unprepared for the worst His pick for secretary of state may have given measured assessment of world affairs, but ‘crazy’ Trump will call the shots

We know even thoough Trump is an autocratic bullying, masogynistic white supremacist he is about to become US President...And yet this is not the end because whilst long "the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice." Believe!
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

YouTube video by LBC Ian Hislop’s unfiltered take on Elon Musk | LBC

The unvarnished truth about far-right amoral gaslighter Elon Musk.

youtu.be/diHcpZvBjT0?...

Elon Musk is a clear and present danger to social cohesion in the UK. Let's mot be fooled by his claim to be defending 'free speech'. It's far right free speech he's promoting.

Judge denies Trump immunity bid over hush money conviction Mr Trump's lawyers have raised other grounds for dismissal, such as claims of juror misconduct, so the conviction could yet be quashed. If it stands, sentencing might not happen until Trump's second t...

Donald Trump's attempt to throw out his conviction in the Stormy Daniels hush money case has been denied.

He will be the first convicted criminal to enter the White House when he takes power again on 20 January.

news.sky.com/story/judge-...