John Rees

The Cromwell Museum Trust is looking for new trustees who are between the ages of 18-30! If you're interested, we are holding a free info session on Thurs 2 Oct at the Cromwell Museum - drop in between 4-6pm to meet us and find out more. www.cromwellmuseum.org/about-us/bec...

All to London for Palestine. 10 days to go. Saturday 11 October. End the genocide. Stop arming Israel. Stop starving Gaza. 12 noon Central London

📢 10 days to go!

Labour Party Conference has called for an arms embargo on Israel - join us on the streets to demand that Keir Starmer's government finally ends its support for Israel's genocide in Gaza.

⏲️Assemble 12 noon
📍Central London, route TBA!

Cover of new Royal Historical Society monograph published on 30 October 2025: 'Atlantic Isles: Travel and Identity in the British and Irish West, 1880–1940' by Gareth Roddy

Published this month: 'Atlantic Isles: Travel and Identity in the British and Irish West, 1880–1940', by Gareth Roddy bit.ly/48Hkjfu

The next in the Society's 'New Historical Perspectives' book series, available from 30 October: Open Access and paperback print @uolpress.bsky.social #Skystorians

Many thanks to the University of Essex for granting me a Visiting Fellowship for the next three years. Especially grateful to Michael Bailey for promoting my candidate. Looking forward to speaking about The Fiery Spirits next month & to working on the sequel at the university…

Well @johnmerrick.bsky.social number 9 is not the case…just saying…

Surprise, surprise – Labour is reaping what it has sown Instead of addressing child poverty, homelessness, poor working conditions or any of the real issues impacting this country, Labour has chosen to deflect the blame and pour billions into arms, says Je...

Labour is reaping what it has sown.

My piece for @the-independent.com on the need for a real alternative.

www.independent.co.uk/voices/jerem...

When the Palestine coalition allegedly stepped 10 yards outside the police proscribed route the leaders of PSC, Stwc, and CND were arrested and charged. They still await trial. And I await the arrest of Tommy Robinson…but without holding my breath ….

Over 1,600 people have been arrested since Labour banned Palestine Action — the first time a non-violent direct action group has ever been proscribed in Britain.

The UN has condemned it as “disproportionate” and “unnecessary”.

Opposing genocide isn’t a crime, it’s a moral duty.

In the past few days, Israel has bombed Doha, struck Tunis over the humanitarian flotilla headed to Gaza and assassinated Yemen’s Prime Minister.

These are clear violations of international law.

Which other state is allowed to commit such crimes without any consequences?

Details and registration here: www.stopwar.org.uk/events/inter...

As I prepare a conference paper on Thomas Hollis's donations to the Library at Bern, this month's blogpost offers a vignette on Hollis's hand of friendship to Rousseau - and its consequences. www.rachelhammersley.com/new-blog/2025/8/28/thomas-hollis-and-jean-jacques-rousseau

Jeremy Corbyn, Lindsey German and Michael Lavalette, Almas Razakazi campaigning for Your Party at a meeting of over 500 in Preston today…

We're open this Bank Holiday weekend 10am - 4pm, with the chance to see our latest exhibit, which tells the story of the battle that changed British history! Discover more at: www.cromwellmuseum.org/events/cromw...

Terrance Stamp has gone. The quintessential east end mod, with a string of classic acting credits including Ken Loach’s Poor Cow. But also some later career greats like The Hit and The Limey.

As it's #WorldCalligraphyDay, our #ObjectOfTheWeek is this lovely letter from Cromwell's mother Elizabeth, written in July 1643. It's probably the only example of her handwriting and signature - which is lovely and clear (unlike the notation below it!)

The Palestine movement at the crossroads John Rees on the new phase of resistance As the Israeli government prepares even more extensive and brutal ethnic cleansing in Gaza, a new phase of the Palestinian solidarity struggle has opened in...

The Palestine movement has more support than ever…which is why the state wants to criminalise it… www.counterfire.org/article/the-...

What strange times, when the commander of RAF Greenham Common is coming out as a liberal supporter of the right to protest

The government is an ass…

Very grateful to Ted Vallance for his generous review of The Fiery Spirits in the new Literary Review…

Thank you @stuartbj.bsky.social. What a lovely post to see - and on my birthday too! 🙂

🚨 Route announcement 🚨

🇵🇸 National demonstration for Palestine
🗓️ Saturday 9 August
📍 Russell Square to Downing St
⏰ Noon

#StopStarvingGaza #StopArmingIsrael

My latest Middle East Column on the new left party and the international policy challleges it faces …https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-left-party-back-mass-movements-bow-establishment

Woman’s memoirs give fascinating insight into life in 17th-century northern England Newly reunited manuscripts by Alice Thornton show how she navigated personal crises during tumultuous events such as the civil war

Alice! Top work @hagenilda.bsky.social @cordeliabeattie.bsky.social @sharonhoward.bsky.social et al!

www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

My first substack! Holy Spirits: pubs, churches and the soul of the British village. Includes shots of all kinds.

🍻 PLUS my top 5 dissenting pub recommendations 🍻

Free to read. Thanks so much for the support. 👉 open.substack.com/pub/dissente...

This year the town in which I live is 800! In celebration this month’s blog reflects on the role of the North East - and particularly the river Tyne - during the mid-seventeenth century Revolution. @englishheritage.bsky.social www.rachelhammersley.com/new-blog/2025/7/30/north-shields-800

With our upcoming expansion project, we're looking for a talented architect and imaginitive museum designer to work with us. Could this be you? Find out more information on how to tender for either of these roles at: www.cromwellmuseum.org/about-us/cro...

This Labour government has failed. People want real transformative politics – we will give it to them | Jeremy Corbyn More than 500,000 people have signed up to our new party to help build a genuine alternative to poverty, inequality and war, says former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

For too long, people have been denied a real political choice.

Not anymore.

My piece for the Guardian on the extraordinary response to www.yourparty.uk

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Party like its 1900? The new party is a step forward must not become a Labour Party mark 2, argues John Rees The announcement of the intention to form a new left party by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana has been met wi...

My thoughts on the opportunities and challenges of the new left party… www.counterfire.org/article/part...