Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 12mJohn Pink looking slightly older but happier in this pic. lostcambridge.wordpress.com/2018/01/09/m... “Mr John Pink: Founding Father of Cambridge’s Public Libraries, 1833-1906” 010
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 15mYou found it!!! #LostCambridge hero John Pink spent *half a century* building up the Cambridge Central Library from 1854 till his death in the early 1900s. He got the first purpose-built free library built in 1884 round the back of the Guildhall and also the first branch library on Mill Rd in 1897 > 130
Reposted by Antony CarpenMark Pack @markpackuk.bsky.social · 1hAnd another one goes: buff.ly/ih25xfb Reform has now already lost 50 of its councillors elected in May (well, 51 but 1 returned) as well as a further 44 in the same period who were elected earlier than that: buff.ly/Nap4Uotbuff.lyEast Sussex Reform UK county councillor becomes independentAn East Sussex councillor has become an independent after resigning from Reform UK. 0105
Reposted by Antony CarpenUCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 31mWho gets access to government and has the most influence? Next Thursday, hear Stuart Sterling, Baroness (Dianne) Hayter, @duncanhames.bsky.social, @suehawley.bsky.social and @jrgerlis.bsky.social, with David Coen, discuss lobbying. Sign up for this in-person event 👉️ www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo.... 001
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 1hAnyone else strangely fascinated by the electoral performance of very small parties? Esp those polling fewer than the Monster Raving Loony Party? The 99p coin policy vanquishing candidates from the Xian People’s Alliance, & the CommunistLeague 🫠 000
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 1hOn that Blue vs Green frontline: split vote in the former lets in the latter. @greenparty.org.uk 000
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 1hReminds me of the Clegg vs Chris Huhne contest where the media were brutal towards the LibDems - & that was pre-Coalition in the mid-2000s. Satirists drawing Huhne without any identifying facial features - just a blank face where eyes/nose/mouth etc should have been! Ouch! 😶 010
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 1hVia @katrinanavickas.bsky.social Still waiting for the Land Registry data to be made free & open access to see who owns what. 020
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 1hGiven the very large number of activists that mobilised for The Greens in a Lib-Dem-Style ‘flood the constituency’ operation, they’ll have collected *lots* of data on potential & newly active supporters. Will this change the dynamic in the constituency? (Or will high population turnover hit this?) 000
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 1hHas Sir Ed Davey taken the LibDems as far as he can? - Is Charlie Maynard a stalking horse candidate or leadership material? - What would he (or Davey’s successor) do differently? 020
Reposted by Antony CarpenLiz Carolan @lizcarolan.com · 2hIrish Gov is hosting its "International AI Summit" next week Even I was surprised by how industry heavy is it 83% of speakers are corporates, 0 independent experts, 1 union rep I'm not explicit about this in the piece -but- surely this is, at best, tone deaf? www.techpolicy.press/at-irelands-...techpolicy.pressAt Ireland’s AI Summit, Tech Industry Dominates as Civil Society Sits OutThe invitation-only summit comes as Ireland leads Digital Omnibus negotiations, raising questions about whose interests are represented, writes Liz Carolan. 75535
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 2hThere’s a movie or book deal in this - ‘The Cycling Plumber’ now in #Cambridge. National stereotypes & more in @camcycle.bsky.social www.camcycle.org.uk/images/blog/... (including lists of upcoming #localgov meetings to submit public questions to! 😁 #BecauseDemocracy ) 000
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 2hAnd this will have a disproportionately greater impact in other towns & cities esp outside the SE. England. Esp where they are a major employer & where those institutions don’t have a large alumni income stream or an asset base to fall back on. So short-sighted 😢 010
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 2hWith all the vans & equipment it must have been a resource-intensive operation. But if it’s automated using fixed equipment then presumably they’ll say the running costs are minimal, right? 100
Reposted by Antony CarpenJohn Elworthy @johnelworthy.bsky.social · 4hMarshall Aerospace acquired by AURELIUS: What does it mean for Cambridge jobs? AURELIUS has completed its acquisition of the historic Cambridge-based aerospace and defence company, opening a new chapter for the business. #Cambridge #MarshallAerospace www.cambsnews.co.uk/cambridge-ba... 011
Reposted by Antony CarpenDepartment of Politics and International Relations @uoypolitics.bsky.social · 3hUsing social network analysis and interviews, we examine the organisations and practitioners shaping local climate mini-publics. We find a professionalising field with distinct clusters and growing expertise, but no simple story of elite capture. Read the article here tinyurl.com/3v6v7xw8tinyurl.comProfessionalizing deliberation: a Social Network Analysis of UK climate mini-publics | European Political Science Review | Cambridge CoreProfessionalizing deliberation: a Social Network Analysis of UK climate mini-publics 012
Reposted by Antony CarpenCambridgeshire @cambridgeshireuk.bsky.social · 3hShock as Cambridge City Foodbank van stolen and engine ripped out by thieves #Cambridgecambridgeindependent.co.ukShock as Cambridge City Foodbank van stolen and engine ripped out by thieves‘Beyond belief’ that thieves would do this to charity delivering food to people in need. 011
Reposted by Antony CarpenCatherine Mayer @mayeroflondon.bsky.social · 3hMy friend Sandi Toksvig has a question she’d like to discuss with you: can we reclaim childhood from Big Tech? The thing is, she’s done a great job of reclaiming her own life from tech so I’m sharing this message for her 🧵 274
Reposted by Antony CarpenHousing LIN @housinglin.bsky.social · 3hNow out - our #HLINReport with HCR Law: the first AI State of the Nation survey of specialist and supported housing finds experimentation racing ahead of evaluation and resident involvement. Read in full at: www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/... #HLINReport #AIinHousing #DigitalSwitchover 001
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 2h“ [Caroline Lucas] later appeared to mollify her criticism slightly, posting on X that Polanski's leadership had "transformed the party" and she hoped he would now "help resolve huge issues we face and transform our internal structures". www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukZack Polanski vows to stay on as Green leader as crticism mountsJewish Greens' leader has said Polanski should resign in the wake of a Zionism row and by-election defeat. 000
Reposted by Antony CarpenUK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 5hA rather sad announcement from @anandmenon.bsky.social on the future of UK in a Changing Europe. ukandeu.ac.uk/announcement... 1312545
Reposted by Antony CarpenLaura McInerney @missmc.bsky.social · 3hWhen I started teaching in 2006 I bought a DAB radio with a SIM card purely so I could record it each day and listen back when I got home. Can’t tell you how many scams me and family have avoided over the years because of it. 😔 Is nothing sacred, BBC? 151
Reposted by Antony CarpenProspect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 3h“My comedy comes from a place of frustration, but also [from] a genuinely optimistic belief that if enough people learn about these injustices, we will be able to stop them,” says Cody Dahlerprospectmagazine.co.ukComedian Cody Dahler: We need to take social media seriouslyThe civil servant-turned-comic on how shortform content can improve political literacy 153
Reposted by Antony CarpenDr Florence H R Scott @florencehrscott.bsky.social · 3hThe way tech is developing is inherently anti-intellectual and fascist because it’s specifically geared towards never having to engage with ideas beyond your own, current, limited conception 1273
Reposted by Antony CarpenAnthony Painter @anthonypainter.bsky.social · 3hSimply read this summary on what is driving the increased prevalence of mental health distress from the long awaiting final independent report into teenage mental health. Now compare it to the public discussion on mental health which basically comes down to social media and over-diagnosis. 55526
Reposted by Antony CarpenAnthony Painter @anthonypainter.bsky.social · 3hThank you David. Yes, I agree. A bit left on the cutting room floor: I went back through the archived RSA website from a decade or so ago looking for a report I wrote this week. I was shocked at the range of ideas including on the state we were publishing just there. Now? It's quiet outside... 121
Reposted by Antony CarpenBrynley Heaven @brynleyheaven.bsky.social · 31/05/2026Latest: Youtube obsession with short format making front page less functional Facebook algorithm showing signs of life at last after a long period in the weeds Google Search even more rubbish with every passing day; where to defect to? News websites looking thinner Otherwise, everything is great 283
Reposted by Antony CarpenDr Hannah Pethen @hannahpethen.bsky.social · 16/06/2026 Apropos of this, I have observed that the inbuilt search AI in Google ONLY produces even vaguely useful results when the questions relate to 'doing tech stuff'. It is surprisingly useful at determining 'how to do x in y program' it's rubbish at everything else. 001
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 6hWorth listening to her acceptance speech too m.youtube.com/watch?v=pzfC...m.youtube.comSagal Abdi Wali wins by-election and retains Holborn & St Pancras seat for Labour | Full speechYouTube video by The London Standard 032
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 6hVia @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social Was Holborn a stepping stone or a peak for The Greens? (Having flooded the constituency with activists & collected huge volumes of data on the constituency including identifying new supporters & activists, will it convert in future elections?) 000
Reposted by Antony CarpenRobert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 7hGood piece. The line that really caught my eye here was this one: "Lobby journalists, while being supportive in print, are typically unimpressed with Badenoch in person". It speaks volumes about how the Tory press sees its role, and its attitude towards the truth of what it prints. 45714
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 7hFrom IG, a case in the US where their #localgov council gave away their personal data to a big corporation. www.instagram.com/reel/DeP3W_-... Huge issues raised on big data & consent. 000
Reposted by Antony CarpenHeather Stewart @guardianheather.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Sorry at what point do the government feel the need to do something about BBC funding, or are they just going to watch it be salami-sliced to extinction? 4031994
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 7h“Presence Without Belonging: A Conceptual Analysis of Loneliness in Autism” May 2026 journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.... Hari Srinivasan - open accessjournals.sagepub.comSage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher. 010
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 7hNEW BLOGPOST: “South East Cambridge – can we have what North Cambridge has?” cambridgetownowl.com/2026/10/09/s... a very busy events poster board at the recently built Meadows Community Centre in Arbury, which has one of the larger council housing estates in the city. 010
Reposted by Antony CarpenAntony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 22h“The Government wants to deliver growth, but Planning Committees are not the problem. We have over 37,000 homes with planning permission granted in Greater Cambridge, but waiting to be built.” 121
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 7hOne for #localgov officers as well as councillors. Also one for anyone who has lived in council housing or social housing - how do these inspection regimes from the interwar era compare with your experiences? 010
Reposted by Antony CarpenJonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 8hThis prompted me to go back and check the claim that "On current DWP forecasts, from the 2024 election until 2030, Labour will have increased working-age benefit spending by a further £51.6 bn/year." It appears to be equally fictional/spreadsheet error. Correct figure is maybe £36bn.. 17242125
Reposted by Antony CarpenThe Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 8hNo, competitive tendering and transparency in the award of public contracts would do. 19611138
Reposted by Antony CarpenAntony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 21h"Without major reform of the regressive nature of Council Tax and substantial improvements in central state financial transfers to local government, these are ‘passive revolution’ measures designed to offer minor structural changes." One for #Localgov people. @inlogov.bsky.social @localgov.digital 011
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 13hAnd finally, the acceptance speech by the new MP for Holborn & St Pancras, Sagal Abdi-Wali MP was really powerful and worth listening to. 000
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 13hThe coverage and Qs put to the political party representatives by the broadcast media would make for a great case study for politics/media students out there, comparing sound journalistic principles vs what was actually asked and broadcast. 010
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 13hIt was like: "So @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social it doesn't look like this controversy is going to go away!" Well if they are going to keep asking the same question over-and-over again day-after-day "Why aren't you talking about only environmental issues" Um...because you ignored them when they did? 120
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 13hSome ***really bizarre*** questioning from the Nooze channels this evening that felt like they were trying to get some 'gotcha!' moments rather than attempting to engage in meaningful analysis - esp of the local issues that came up in the campaign. #HolbornStPancras. 100
Reposted by Antony CarpenBritain Elects @britainelects.com · 14h‼️ Labour HOLD Holborn and St Pancras Labour: 45.0% (-3.9) Green: 32.7% (+22.3) Conservative: 7.0% (-0.2) Reform: 5.9% (-0.2) Liberal Democrats: 3.4% (-2.4) Restore: 2.5% (+2.5) Workers: 1.1% (+1.1) 2216945
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 15h" [Mr Polanski] would also like to pay tribute to Sagal, for a respectful campaign and for rising above the appalling racism she has had to endure. Despite our political differences, we stand in solidarity with you." greenparty.org.uk/2026/10/08/g... Re #HolbornStPancras by-electiongreenparty.org.ukGreen Party close of polls statement - Green Party"Whatever the result later, we've run a positive campaign full of energy in what is one of Labour's safest seats. To be the main challenger shows how far the Greens have come. We know that many want t... 010
Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 15h"CITY-HUBs Sustainable and Efficient Urban Transport Interchanges" www.routledge.com/CITY-HUBs-Su... cc #Cambridge (UK) people only our ones need improving!routledge.comCITY-HUBs: Sustainable and Efficient Urban Transport InterchangesExplore the Design and Operation of Urban Transport Interchanges Transport planners throughout the world can implement a range of policies to influence travelers’ behavior, and encourage a move to pub... 000
Reposted by Antony CarpenAdam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 08/10/2026When people say the Conservatives play politics on easy mode this is what it means 40534150