Phil Burton-Cartledge

Hot take - it doesn't matter what you study, the process of learning itself will always have value. Even if you chose to study the career of Suella Braverman, for example - you'd still be developing skills in critical thinking, writing, information synthesis, source comprehension & evaluation...

Promotional image for Oli Mould's book 'Postcapitalist cities' published by Manchester University Press. The book sits against the background of an empty gravel path and blue sky. Text reads: What could a city look like after capitalism?

Promotional image for Oli Mould's book 'Postcapitalist cities' published by Manchester University Press. The book sits against the background of an empty gravel path and blue sky. Review quote reads: 'Truly global and deeply humane... Oli Mould proposes a radical urbanism that draws on past, present and future visions that could reshape the world.'

Promotional image for Oli Mould's book 'Postcapitalist cities' published by Manchester University Press. Gravel background with blue sky. Review quote reads: 'A much needed antidote to the daily escalation of urban authoritarianism and the existential threat of planetary destruction.'

Publishing today!🏙️

In a world of environmental degradation, inequality and social strife, a vision for what comes next is vital.

@olimould.bsky.social takes readers from strikes in Santiago to urban commoning and Solarpunk, revealing how communities are making a new kind of city possible.

🚨 Some exciting personal news! 🚨

After an intense bidding war (with several offers in the high pence) I am delighted to announce that I am now Tribune’s chief people pretending to fight in their underwear correspondent and yes I do deserve it

How many staff and teachers contracted COVID, died, or became disabled because universities and schools decided they feared irate students and parents and politicians more than they did the systematic debilitation of their workforce?

NEW: Unemployment has risen to 1,883,000. That's up 94,000 in the last 3 months and up 331,000 in the last year

On a wider measure including underemployment, there are now 5.21 million people underemployed, up by 464,000 on a year ago

There are currently 7.1 people seeking work for every vacancy

The historical, political and cultural significance of Peter Mandelson Jem and Alan get deep into the historical significance of Peter Mandelson, his career and his recent fall. What has the Epstein case revealed about the ideology of our ruling elites? Why did Mandel…

The Meaning of Peter Mandelson. Me & @profafinlayson.bsky.social on the fall of Mandelson and why he ever mattered. Is the Long '90s finally totally over? Would we rather be ruled by the actual Sith than guys who hang around with Steven Pinker? It's all here:
culturepowerpolitics.org/2026/02/17/t...

FCA fines former chief executive of Carillion plc (in liquidation) The FCA has fined Richard Howson £237,700 for his part in misleading statements being issued by Carillion plc.

8 years after the collapse, Carillion CEO is fined £237,700.

The FCA says he was "aware of serious financial troubles ... failed to reflect this in company announcements".

8 years ... imagine if it was a less wealthy person.

Tory/Labour Govts promised corporate governance reform. None delivered.

The Starmer Method:

> Propose Idea
> It's unpopular
> Do it anyway because "it's necessary and we're willing to make hard choices"
> Create disruption and uncertainty while starting to do Idea
> Incur all the political costs of doing Idea
> U-turn on Idea and waste the benefits
> Repeat forever

I’m not normally that person but….

It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago

Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!

Feel like this should have got bigger pick-up last week

The General Secretary of Labour's largest affiliated union and biggest donor over last 10 years writing in the @financialtimes.com they might disaffiliate in 2027.

And if this is happening in Unite, other unions will be considering similar...

Useful framework here for thinking about AI in education within Srnicek's new book. Its promise (of increased productivity) is seductive, but it's working against our interests in education and ultimately in the interests of a hostile state/corporate coalition.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Keir Starmer orders investigation into Labour Together claims The think tank paid a company at least £30,000 to investigate the origins of a story about undeclared donations.

It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Starmer was unaware of the extent of Labour Together's shenanigans. Because he didn't need to know.

Donald Trump has:

•⁠ ⁠Imposed tariffs that risk thousands of UK workers’ jobs
•⁠ ⁠Threatened to invade Greenland
•⁠ ⁠Posted a video portraying the Obamas as apes

Liz Truss says he is 'right about everything'

Revealed: The true toll of female suicides in UK with domestic abuse at their core Exclusive: Research suggests official statistics could track as few as 6.5% of the true number of cases

The number of women driven to suicide by domestic abusers is being under-reported, and their cases overlooked by police described by experts as a “national scandal”

“A woman in an abusive relationship is now more likely to take her own life than be killed by a partner.”

Labour Together’s Donor Network tamills1981.github.io/society-from...

Image text relates to registration for the BSA Annual Conference

Registration for the BSA Annual Conference is now OPEN.

Held on the eve of the Association’s 75th anniversary, this year’s conference offers a moment to think sociologically how our histories shape our present.

Join us from 8-10 April at the University of Manchester.
tinyurl.com/2yzy7u8j

Can cities survive without the anonymity they give people?

Genuine question.

A lot of it depends on what Labour is offering and how strong the alternatives are.

Labour’s radical election boundaries redraw to favour the left A bill opens the door to automatic voter registration, aiming to capture about seven million people missing from the electoral roll

This is a slightly curious way to frame, 'Millions of people are currently not exercising their right to vote, and this is disproportionately an issue in poorer and urban areas.'

This is exactly it. People presented Mandelson a certain way because they saw it in their interests to do so.

David Harvey: The Story of Capital | The Verso Book Club Reading Group On February 22nd at 2pm EST / 7pm GMT the Verso Book Club will be hosting an online reading group with the legendary Marxist scholar David Harvey to discuss his latest work, The Story of Capital:…

On February 22nd the Verso Book Club will be hosting an online reading group with the legendary Marxist scholar @davidharvey.org to discuss his latest work, The Story of Capital: What Everyone Should Know About How Capital Works.

We speak to Alan Sears, author of 'Eros and Alienation: Capitalism and the Making of Gendered Sexualities'. Recorded in February 2025, this episode is now released in video form for the first time.… Queer Marxism and the Erotic

💘Eros and Alienation💘

On Radicals in Conversation, Alan Sears talks to us about the relationship between alienated labour under capitalism and the formation of our gendered sexualities and desires: www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0Of...

Ferry Corsten is still banging them out

20/?

19/?

18/?

17/?

16/?

15/?

Of course, it falls to Findoutnow to produce these dubious figures.