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Russell Haggar

@russfrank.bsky.social
197 followers 357 following 165 posts

I write a website for Advanced Level Sociology and Government and Politics students called Earlham Sociology Pages earlhamsociologypages.uk

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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Inequality News @inequalitynews.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
🤬 When you watch the Budget this year, and are told there is "no money", that we have to face "hard choices", that welfare has to be cut, just remember the below report 🔽 from @equalitytrust.bsky.social and ping it to everyone you know, including your MP...👍 equalitytrust.org.uk/news/ghost-g...
equalitytrust.org.uk
Ghost GDP — Billionaire Britain and the Hollow Economy - Equality Trust
An analysis of how billionaire wealth, rentier capitalism and “ghost GDP” are hollowing out the UK economy, deepening inequality and weakening democracy.
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Ash Sarkar, "Every time we've had these squeezes on welfare recipients, what we've actually seen, rather than dealing with issues like long-term unemployment, is an increase in child poverty, and in-work poverty as well"
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Neoliberals want to end the triple-lock on state pension They inflict low wages, consign millions to poverty. Govt spending on state pension as % of GDP in G7 countries. Italy 12.8 France 12 Germany 9.8 Japan 8.9 USA 6.6 Canada 4.7 UK 4.7 UK has one of the least generous pensions in the G7.
adviserservices.fidelity.co.uk
How does the UK State Pension measure up globally?
A global comparison of State Pension provision highlights the onus on individuals in the UK to build pension savings for their retirement, rather than leaving
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Young people growing up in persistent poverty are more than three times as likely to be not in education, employment or training (NEET) at 17 or 23. Less likely to transition out of NEET status. Childhood poverty handicaps people throughout life. Equitable distribution of income/wealth is the key
phys.org
Growing up in poverty triples young people's likelihood of becoming NEET
Young people who grow up experiencing persistent poverty are more than three times as likely to be not in education, employment or training (NEET) at 17 or 23 (3.3 and 3.4 times, respectively), accord...
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
As former Labour minister Tom Watson joins Palantir, please read this devastating exposé by @petergeoghegan.bsky.social & @lucasamin.bsky.social of how the company, with Peter Mandelson's help, wormed its way into the UK government to sell its dire & dangerous products. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
lrb.co.uk
Peter Geoghegan and Lucas Amin · ‘This looks absolutely rubbish’: Palantir and the NHS
A decade ago Palantir was largely unknown in the UK. It now holds public contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds...
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
This by Helen Miller ( @theifs.bsky.social) makes 2 points: - lower migration (as many of us have long said) will be bad news for public finances - OBR doesn't (directly) assess impact of migration *policy* changes - and it should www.ft.com/content/3efb...
ft.com
The OBR needs to give us more clarity on migration
Minor revisions to immigration figures can complicate the government’s fiscal strategy
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
How do disadvantaged pupils' outcomes differ by ethnicity and gender? 📊 As part of our research into how class, ethnicity, gender and place shape opportunity, we compared the school attainment of different groups of pupils on free school meals (FSM) ⬇️
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
🔗 Read the full report for more breakdowns: www.suttontrust.com/our-research...
suttontrust.com
Crossing Paths - The Sutton Trust
How gender, ethnicity, and place shape opportunity.
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
What neoliberalism did to the UK. 25.3m people, including 14.9m working adults and 7.7m children, live below minimum income standard. Richest 1% has more wealth than the bottom 70% of the population combined. 50 families hold more wealth than 34m people. Can't grow economy on mass poverty.
leftfootforward.org
Here’s how the chancellor can raise the billions needed to improve the quality of life of millions
Prem Sikka is an Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Essex and the University of Sheffield, a Labour member of the House of Lords, and Contributing Editor at Left Foot Forward. Mi...
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
🎧️ Give the episode a listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/how...
ifs.org.uk
How does immigration affect the public finances? | Institute for Fiscal Studies
How does immigration affect the UK economy and public finances? We examine migration trends, fiscal impacts and what they could mean for the Budget.
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
✍️ "Social mobility is complex. It’s influenced by education, social capital, financial and housing security, and social norms." Unpacking the drivers of social mobility beyond just attainment and earnings ⤵️ www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...
suttontrust.com
What drives social mobility? A closer look at Crossing Paths - The Sutton Trust
Exploring the dynamics of social mobility beyond attainment and earnings.
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Reform Party UK Exposed @reformexposed.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Reform UK Conference Ban List Michael Crick Anna Isaac - Guardian Peter Geoghegan - Democracy for Sale Ethan Shone - Open Democracy Isabella Link - Politics UK Ed Campbell - The Nerve Imran Mulla - Middle Eastern Eye Will Hayward - Guardian There’s a reported 50 journalists banned.
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Private equity owns 11 of England’s 20 biggest children’s care providers. Companies loaded with debt. Profiteering, high prices, profit shifting, tax abuse is rife. Paid £205m to shareholders/investors, leaving less for front line services. Public purse robbed. Must end privatisation
theguardian.com
Private equity owns 11 of England’s 20 biggest children’s care providers, research finds
Investigation comes amid growing calls for an end to ‘obscene’ profit-making in care sector
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
New analysis covered by Schools Week shows that educational outcomes vary significantly by place, even among pupils who appear similarly disadvantaged. A stark reminder that where a young person grows up continues to shape their opportunities ⤵️ schoolsweek.co.uk/study-reveal...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Study reveals scale of Burnham's NEET challenge
Tackling crisis 'not just about finding most disadvantaged'
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
NEW: Hidden NEETs are much closer to the labour market than NEETs who are claiming benefits. Our new analysis, out today, looks at young people who are not in education, employment or training and do not claim benefits: ifs.org.uk/publications...
ifs.org.uk
https://ifs.org.uk/publications/radar-who-are-neets-not-claiming-benefits
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Parliament under Andy Burnham: ten things to look out for this autumn Ahead of parliament returning on Tuesday, Tom Fleming outlines what parliament-watchers should keep an eye on, from lighter whipping of MPs, to revitalising modernisation, to the next steps of House of Lords reform. Read it 👇️
blogs.ucl.ac.uk
Parliament under Andy Burnham: ten things to look out for this autumn
As Andy Burnham’s new government prepares to face scrutiny from MPs for the first time, Tom Fleming outlines ten key issues and questions facing parliament in the weeks and months ahead.
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Not so much 'net stupid zero' as net zero stupid.
theguardian.com
Reform’s Tice accused of misinformation after urging people to enjoy heatwaves
Backlash from nurses, medical experts and green campaigners in response to deputy leader dismissing efforts to reach net zero
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
A brief note for Nadhim Zahawi.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 16/08/2026
A positive new report raises the question: was Reeves undermined by dodgy data? | Heather Stewart
theguardian.com
A positive new report raises the question: was Reeves undermined by dodgy data? | Heather Stewart
Assessment that has found a jump in UK productivity emphasises urgent need to appoint a national statistician
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 12/08/2026
The evidence is clear: countries with lower NEET rates than the UK get there almost entirely through higher rates of post-18 education. In these countries, more young people stay in education for longer and often combine it with work.
Comparison of OECD countries’ differences from the UK in 2024 for 18–24‑year‑old participation in education or work
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Child Poverty Action Group @cpaguk.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
cpag.org.uk/news/free-sc...
cpag.org.uk
Free school meals expansion – half of newly eligible parents don't know they can get the meals
As the PM’s cost of living tour gets underway, a new survey from CPAG finds more than half of parents (55%) whose children will be newly eligible for free school meals (FSM) from September don’t know ...
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Want to give a shout-out to one of the BBC's most consistently excellent radio shows, @davidsonofaaron.bsky.social's "The Briefing Room". Today I caught up with a fab two-parter on immigration featuring @msumption.bsky.social, @bbcdomc.bsky.social and @robfordmancs.bsky.social. Do give it a listen.
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - The Briefing Room, Part 1: How's the government doing on immigration?
David Aaronovitch and guests discuss small boats, asylum seekers and illegal migration.
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Private equity backed European education group eyes takeovers of UK universities. Govts created crisis. Froze fees, limits on foreign students. 40% of unis in financial distress. What will PE cut - staff, wages, research, subjects? Takeover will be funded by student loans. archive.ph/lPWC1
ft.com
European education group eyes takeovers of UK universities
Britain ‘an appealing market’ for long-term investment, says Galileo chief
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
FFT Education Datalab @fftedudatalab.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
NEW: Five things to look out for on results day for A-Levels, T-Levels and other Level 3 qualifications Our usual round-up of everything we'll be looking out for on results day 2026. vist.ly/5e7q4
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
Five things to look out for on results day for A-Levels, T-Levels and other Level 3 qualifications - FFT Education Datalab
Our usual round-up of everything we'll be looking out for on results day 2026.
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
I am writing a column about the violence directed at people seeking asylum in Thetford, Norfolk. How should the new government respond - to this kind of flashpoint, and to the broader challenges on the use of violence; & on asylum protest, politics & policy; racism & xenophobia; & cohesion?
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Inequality News @inequalitynews.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
🚨 Worth a read 🔽. It's about a new book "The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy" 🙂 which seems very timely to say the least... www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
theguardian.com
‘If we don’t fight back, we don’t have a future’: the journalist taking on the ‘tech fascists’ of Silicon Valley
As Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and their peers have grown richer and more influential, Gil Durán argues they have all but abandoned democracy – and found the perfect government to enable them
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Have you checked out our explainers recently? From the UK constitution, to democratic backsliding, to House of Lords reform, to referendums, read all about key constitutional topics in 500 words. Browse our explainers 👉️ www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....
Explainer. What is the UK constitution? The Constitution Unit. The UK constitution is uncodified; much of it is written, but in many documents drafted over time. The UK constitution can be  found in leading statutes, conventions, judicial decisions and treaties. Parliamentary sovereignty – ultimate law-making power vested in the UK parliament to create or abolish any law – is often seen as the defining principle of the UK constitution.Explainer. What is democratic backsliding? The Constitution Unit. Democratic backsliding is the process by which a country becomes less democratic over time. Recent examples of backsliding have often resulted from a gradual process, led by elected leaders. Preventing backsliding can involve designing institutions with guardrails in place, and transparency requirements and consistent high standards of behaviour by politicians.Explainer. What are the options for House of Lords reform? The Constitution Unit. Today’s House of Lords is mainly the result of reforms passed since the early twentieth century.  Options for change concern both the House of Lords’ membership and its powers, and can be incremental or radical.  Attachment to the status  quo and the difficulty of securing agreement on a single new model mean that achieving Lords reform has historically been difficult.Explainer. What is the role of referendums in UK politics? The Constitution Unit. Referendums have repeatedly been used in the UK to resolve important constitutional questions.  There is no general requirement for their use (as in some other countries).  Referendums can allow fundamental constitutional questions to be decided by voters, and give legitimacy to major decisions. But they can also carry the risk of increased polarisation, or fail to inform voters adequately about the options.
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
"The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy". As long as the protest is not about Palestine, climate or any other issue that major lobbyists want to shut down. If you're protesting about asylum seekers, on the other hand, your concerns are legitimate, and we're making policy in response.
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
There is a danger that by arguing the amount, we end up conceding the framing. Britain's welfare is ungenerous, the spend in total is mid-to-low table, and below past peaks. Benefits need reforming because they're unfit for purpose and trap, instead of enabling people. Not to make fantasy savings.
Chart of UK overall benefit spend, showing it lower than post-GFC or pandemic and largely in similar proportions, pensions being the largest chunk by far.Charts showing the UK is mid-table of comparative OECD countris on total social expenditure and bottom third in terms of cash benefits.Charts showing that the UK has the lowest welfare income replacement rate (ie. how far one's income drops if they lose their job) of any comparator OECD country, and third lowest, if you add housing benefit (which is more than the cash benefit element).Graph showing that the generosity of the UK's welfare spending has been declining over decades against trend.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 03/08/2026
What chaos? Farage tries to distract with immigration plans | Politics Weekly UK
theguardian.com
What chaos? Farage tries to distract with immigration plans | Politics Weekly UK
Reform UK is not having a good time. This morning while announcing their latest immigration plans, Nigel Farage somehow reignited his spat with the Restore Britain leader, Rupert Lowe.To make matters worse Farage’s deputy, Richard Tice, is under investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog Are Reform UK’s rehashed immigration plans just a distraction from their internal party problems?
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The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · 03/08/2026
The changing face of demographics, immigration, social attitudes and LGBTQ+ politics.
tcnv.link
Britain’s quarter century: shrinking families, ethnic tensions and queer winners and losers
The changing face of demographics, immigration, social attitudes and LGBTQ+ politics.
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Curse of Private Equity Our nurseries were bought by private equity firms – fees are up, food is frozen. Usual PE practices. Build local monopolies, high debt and prices, profiteering, worst services, high exec pay, shareholder returns. Parents/Children abused. Govts do nothing. archive.ph/Yk4Eh
inews.co.uk
Our nurseries were bought by private equity firms - fees are up and food is frozen
Nurseries are spending millions on their investors – at parents' expense, analysis shows
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Russell Haggar @russfrank.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
BBC News coverage [with link to BBC Panorama] of "strict", "authoritarian" schools. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
How parents and pupils took on 'cruel', 'authoritarian' schools - and won
Discipline at an academy trust went too far - parents, pupils and former teachers tell BBC Panorama.
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 01/08/2026
The tangled financial web at the heart of Reform UK
theguardian.com
The tangled financial web at the heart of Reform UK
Nigel Farage’s £5m gift, the Cottrell family’s links and donations, and Richard Tice’s business dealings form part of an increasingly clear nexus of relationships
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Oliver @oliver48.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
The thin line between US President policy making satire and reality ... via Arthur Barnes
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Tim Newburn @timnewburn.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
This lovely looking thing has just arrived. Written entirely in the last 18 months, while in the midst of treatment, I’m particularly proud of it. Available via Polity Press politybooks.com/bookdetail?boo… and other usual outlets
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Care workers should be 'best paid' as Burnham seeks to overhaul social care crisis. Problems multiplied by privatisation of social care. Low wages/investment, profits, poor care. Billions taken out of public purse to profits. Can't address crisis without ending privatisation.
politicshome.com
Social Care In England As Unfair As US Healthcare, Says Burnham
The Prime Minister has said that social care in England is “as unfair as American health care” as he pledged to do what successive governments have...
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Russell Haggar @russfrank.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
@thesociologyguy.bsky.social @browneken.bsky.social , Teaching notes on Labour and Education Policy 2024-2026 earlhamsociologypages.uk/labour-and-e...
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Tom Roberts @tpgroberts.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
This is roughly the size of a 2% NI cut Or all of Stamp Duty. Or the entire increase in NHS spending last year.
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Bluesky Fanatic @blueskyfanatic.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 15/07/2026
I investigated Palantir’s foothold in the British state – and what I found should worry us all | Peter Geoghegan
theguardian.com
I investigated Palantir’s foothold in the British state – and what I found should worry us all | Peter Geoghegan
Paid-for political access and threadbare regulations have helped to embed the US tech firm in the NHS – and beyond. But there is a way to free ourselves, says Peter Geoghegan of Democracy for Sale
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Secretive $500bn El Salvador based crypto firm backed by Farage's biggest donor. Its biggest Thailand based shareholder gave £9m in cash to Farage's Reform party. Farage lobbied Bank of England over crypto regulation. Foreign money shaping UK politics.
bbc.co.uk
Nigel Farage: The secretive crypto firm backed by Reform's biggest donor
Tether is a giant in crytocurrency, an industry that Nigel Farage believes the UK should be embracing.
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Russia is inflaming the debate on immigration in Britain as part of “increasing ambitions to disrupt our way of life”, counter-terror police and experts say It has directly and indirectly paid right-wing influencers to spread messages that align with its political goals inews.co.uk/news/putin-i...
inews.co.uk
How Putin is inflaming immigration tensions to spark disorder in Britain
Counter-terror leaders reveal the tactics Russia is using to sow division in the UK
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Russell Haggar @russfrank.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Immigration numbers are down: so why is the rage still rising? yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/home-af...
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Immigration numbers are down: so why is the rage still rising?
If the latest immigration and asylum figures tell us anything, it’s that the far-right will never be appeased
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Reposted by Russell Haggar
Robert Reiner @waylon18.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
jacobin.com/2026/07/neol... The essence of neoliberalism remains alive and kicking. It is the insulation of capital from democratic control in the name of an abstract ‘efficiency’ that subordinates the interests of most people to the few holders of large wealth
jacobin.com
Right-Wing Populism Did Not Kill Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism’s defining feature was always the insulation of capital from democratic control. Trumpism’s break with free trade has changed the rhetoric. But the underlying economic order remains inta...
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 08/07/2026
The battle over the Bell hotel: how a year of asylum protests tore apart a pretty, prosperous Essex town
theguardian.com
The battle over the Bell hotel: how a year of asylum protests tore apart a pretty, prosperous Essex town
Last summer, a 14-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by an asylum seeker in Epping and this small community was engulfed in protest. Can it recover?
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Education Policy Institute @edupolicyinst.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Teacher recruitment and retention have improved. But EPI's James Zuccollo finds the recovery isn't down to policy - it's borrowed from a shrinking pupil population and a weak graduate job market, both of which could reverse. epi.org.uk/publications...
epi.org.uk
A borrowed recovery: the 2025 school workforce data - Education Policy Institute
Last month, the Department for Education released its annual snapshot of the teaching workforce in England, and the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) recently followed with its 36th report on teache...
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Russell Haggar @russfrank.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Save New Internationalist: More than a Magazine www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-new-i...
crowdfunder.co.uk
Save New Internationalist: More than a Magazine
We need to raise £150,000 by 7 July to save New Internationalist from closure and continue to publish our unique global justice journalism.
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The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · 07/07/2026
Nigel Farage is triggering a by-election, appearing to be pitting people against ‘the establishment’.
tcnv.link
Why Nigel Farage is resigning as an MP, only to stand again – expert analysis
Nigel Farage is triggering a by-election, appearing to be pitting people against ‘the establishment’.
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Becky Francis @beckyfrancis.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
#EduSky My op ed for @schoolsweek.bsky.social, challenging myths around inclusive teaching schoolsweek.co.uk/inclusive-te... @theeef.bsky.social
schoolsweek.co.uk
Inclusive Teaching: busting the top five myths
EEF's guide offers practical recommendations for embedding inclusive practice
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