Abi O'Connor
@drabioconnor.bsky.social
Urban Sociologist. Leverhulme ECF @ Sheffield University. Fellow @ Uni of Liverpool. PhD ✍️ political economy of housing/land, spatial inequality, local gov/politics & stigma. Fullback Union rep. Organising w Liverpool Residents Action et al. Views my own
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
On mansion taxes and why they aren't enough ... according to @drabioconnor.bsky.social
"They’ve chosen to circumvent a reform that everyone agrees needs to happen. Councils are on their knees, people are in council tax arrears & regional inequality keeps getting worse. They had the opportunity to change a system that is fundamentally broken &chose not to” My view👇
A new 'mansion tax' on homes worth more than £2 million has been announced. The chancellor hopes it will raise £400m per year from 2028.
November 28, 2025 at 3:28 PM
On mansion taxes and why they aren't enough ... according to @drabioconnor.bsky.social
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
If you've not signed up, check out the Global Corridor newsletter here ... Critical geopolitical reading of forces shaping urban worlds
@theurbaninstitute.bsky.social @invisiblemapper.bsky.social @itsbethperry.bsky.social @drabioconnor.bsky.social @eyeofraf.bsky.social @callumny.bsky.social
@theurbaninstitute.bsky.social @invisiblemapper.bsky.social @itsbethperry.bsky.social @drabioconnor.bsky.social @eyeofraf.bsky.social @callumny.bsky.social
Global Corridor newsletter 6 is out now covering...
BlackRock’s $80bn investment in power/data, Africa's largest mining project, podcast on the global infra race, Dutch semiconductor move, docker struggles in history, special economic zone urbanism...
globalcorridor.substack.com/p/global-cor...
BlackRock’s $80bn investment in power/data, Africa's largest mining project, podcast on the global infra race, Dutch semiconductor move, docker struggles in history, special economic zone urbanism...
globalcorridor.substack.com/p/global-cor...
Global Corridor #6
BlackRock’s $80bn investment in power/data, Africa's largest mining project, podcast on the global infra race, Dutch semiconductor move, docker struggles in history, special economic zone urbanism...
globalcorridor.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:27 PM
If you've not signed up, check out the Global Corridor newsletter here ... Critical geopolitical reading of forces shaping urban worlds
@theurbaninstitute.bsky.social @invisiblemapper.bsky.social @itsbethperry.bsky.social @drabioconnor.bsky.social @eyeofraf.bsky.social @callumny.bsky.social
@theurbaninstitute.bsky.social @invisiblemapper.bsky.social @itsbethperry.bsky.social @drabioconnor.bsky.social @eyeofraf.bsky.social @callumny.bsky.social
"They’ve chosen to circumvent a reform that everyone agrees needs to happen. Councils are on their knees, people are in council tax arrears & regional inequality keeps getting worse. They had the opportunity to change a system that is fundamentally broken &chose not to” My view👇
A new 'mansion tax' on homes worth more than £2 million has been announced. The chancellor hopes it will raise £400m per year from 2028.
Mansion tax: Rachel Reeves stops short of council tax overhaul
www.bigissue.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:52 AM
"They’ve chosen to circumvent a reform that everyone agrees needs to happen. Councils are on their knees, people are in council tax arrears & regional inequality keeps getting worse. They had the opportunity to change a system that is fundamentally broken &chose not to” My view👇
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
“We need a wholesale re-evaluation of how all property is taxed. This will be foundational to rebalancing the housing system and raising public money, therefore today’s announcement is a deflection from the fundamental issue: our inherently regressive council tax system.”
#UKBudget
#UKBudget
'Mansion tax' barely even touches the sides. Wholesale reform of council tax is needed.
Labour again lack the courage to tax the wealthiest adequately & the conviction to properly support the millions struggling to pay their rent & bills
My view: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour again lack the courage to tax the wealthiest adequately & the conviction to properly support the millions struggling to pay their rent & bills
My view: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Has Rachel Reeves made the right calls in this budget? Our panel responds | Polly Toynbee and others
After a tumultuous run-up to a make-or-break moment for the government, has the chancellor struck the right balance?
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:58 PM
“We need a wholesale re-evaluation of how all property is taxed. This will be foundational to rebalancing the housing system and raising public money, therefore today’s announcement is a deflection from the fundamental issue: our inherently regressive council tax system.”
#UKBudget
#UKBudget
'Mansion tax' barely even touches the sides. Wholesale reform of council tax is needed.
Labour again lack the courage to tax the wealthiest adequately & the conviction to properly support the millions struggling to pay their rent & bills
My view: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour again lack the courage to tax the wealthiest adequately & the conviction to properly support the millions struggling to pay their rent & bills
My view: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Has Rachel Reeves made the right calls in this budget? Our panel responds | Polly Toynbee and others
After a tumultuous run-up to a make-or-break moment for the government, has the chancellor struck the right balance?
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
'Mansion tax' barely even touches the sides. Wholesale reform of council tax is needed.
Labour again lack the courage to tax the wealthiest adequately & the conviction to properly support the millions struggling to pay their rent & bills
My view: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour again lack the courage to tax the wealthiest adequately & the conviction to properly support the millions struggling to pay their rent & bills
My view: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Landlords without mortgages pay a *lower tax rate* than their renters whose only income is via work
Why? B/c we don't properly tax income from wealth
If National Insurance was applied to income from investments, £10.2bn/year could be raised
Source @taxjustice.net #Budget2025
Why? B/c we don't properly tax income from wealth
If National Insurance was applied to income from investments, £10.2bn/year could be raised
Source @taxjustice.net #Budget2025
November 26, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Landlords without mortgages pay a *lower tax rate* than their renters whose only income is via work
Why? B/c we don't properly tax income from wealth
If National Insurance was applied to income from investments, £10.2bn/year could be raised
Source @taxjustice.net #Budget2025
Why? B/c we don't properly tax income from wealth
If National Insurance was applied to income from investments, £10.2bn/year could be raised
Source @taxjustice.net #Budget2025
This is tonight! It’s such a powerful documentary.
Highly recommend folk to join us if they can, tickets still available: web.picturehouses.com/order/showti...
Highly recommend folk to join us if they can, tickets still available: web.picturehouses.com/order/showti...
November 20, 2025 at 2:32 PM
This is tonight! It’s such a powerful documentary.
Highly recommend folk to join us if they can, tickets still available: web.picturehouses.com/order/showti...
Highly recommend folk to join us if they can, tickets still available: web.picturehouses.com/order/showti...
We’re on our 3rd day of (v cold) strike today @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
Donate to the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund
What is the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund, and how to contribute.
shorturl.at
November 19, 2025 at 10:24 AM
We’re on our 3rd day of (v cold) strike today @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
another good day at the Arts Tower picket today --- sending lots of solidarity from there!
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
another good day at the Arts Tower picket today --- sending lots of solidarity from there!
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
Saw the sun rise across the Pennines this morning as I was on my way to Sheffield, sadly I’m here because we’re on strike to stand against compulsory redundancies at Sheffield, the continued erosion of our working conditions & students’ learning conditions
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Saw the sun rise across the Pennines this morning as I was on my way to Sheffield, sadly I’m here because we’re on strike to stand against compulsory redundancies at Sheffield, the continued erosion of our working conditions & students’ learning conditions
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
The Labour Government reeling off the same far-right talking points on immigration. And look who is celebrating. The far-right.
There is a political alternative that won’t ever scapegoat those fleeing war, persecution and torture
join.greenparty.org.uk
There is a political alternative that won’t ever scapegoat those fleeing war, persecution and torture
join.greenparty.org.uk
November 16, 2025 at 10:28 AM
The Labour Government reeling off the same far-right talking points on immigration. And look who is celebrating. The far-right.
There is a political alternative that won’t ever scapegoat those fleeing war, persecution and torture
join.greenparty.org.uk
There is a political alternative that won’t ever scapegoat those fleeing war, persecution and torture
join.greenparty.org.uk
I chatted to Matthew Wright on @LBC about this today, the underlying issue for this government’s housing plans remains the same:
They prioritise the corporate developer lobby over communities, nature & those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
They prioritise the corporate developer lobby over communities, nature & those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
November 16, 2025 at 8:33 AM
I chatted to Matthew Wright on @LBC about this today, the underlying issue for this government’s housing plans remains the same:
They prioritise the corporate developer lobby over communities, nature & those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
They prioritise the corporate developer lobby over communities, nature & those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The UK’s largest mortgage lender becoming one of the country’s biggest landlords is a problem, for many reasons
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Lloyds the landlord: how the bank quietly became a big rental property player
Bank has a £2bn rental property portfolio via its Lloyds Living arm, amassing 7,000 properties so far with plans to add 43,000 more by 2030
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The UK’s largest mortgage lender becoming one of the country’s biggest landlords is a problem, for many reasons
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
New York City elect Mayor who supports rent freezes, Conor Bradley sent Real Madrid packing again & the Labour party continues to poll terribly as a result of their own political choices. A brighter Wednesday than usual
November 5, 2025 at 10:14 AM
New York City elect Mayor who supports rent freezes, Conor Bradley sent Real Madrid packing again & the Labour party continues to poll terribly as a result of their own political choices. A brighter Wednesday than usual
Very normal response to an extremely low bar being set in housing law
November 2, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Very normal response to an extremely low bar being set in housing law
On my way to London for 2 important events today. First up the Homes for Us annual summit, power building with housing activists from across the UK 🫡 then onto Stratford Library for the Custom House Our House closing exhibition - a real privilege to be part of such amazing projects ❤️
October 25, 2025 at 7:23 AM
On my way to London for 2 important events today. First up the Homes for Us annual summit, power building with housing activists from across the UK 🫡 then onto Stratford Library for the Custom House Our House closing exhibition - a real privilege to be part of such amazing projects ❤️
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
Check out this excellent interview given by @drabioconnor.bsky.social to #PoliticsLive on mass displacement and rent rises in Manchester
More from me on #PoliticsLive:
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
October 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Check out this excellent interview given by @drabioconnor.bsky.social to #PoliticsLive on mass displacement and rent rises in Manchester
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
Spare a thought for all the journalists and pundits who will be disappointed that Reform did not win in Caerphilly
That will not stop the hype though and the mainstreaming circus will move on to the next scandal, opinion poll or by-election that suits the narrative with a focus on immigration etc
That will not stop the hype though and the mainstreaming circus will move on to the next scandal, opinion poll or by-election that suits the narrative with a focus on immigration etc
October 24, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Spare a thought for all the journalists and pundits who will be disappointed that Reform did not win in Caerphilly
That will not stop the hype though and the mainstreaming circus will move on to the next scandal, opinion poll or by-election that suits the narrative with a focus on immigration etc
That will not stop the hype though and the mainstreaming circus will move on to the next scandal, opinion poll or by-election that suits the narrative with a focus on immigration etc
More from me on #PoliticsLive:
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
October 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
More from me on #PoliticsLive:
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
-> @drabioconnor.bsky.social calls out the Government and private building industry for failing to build the number of homes needed, and for the inherent shortcomings of relying on a profit-driven private sector model/system to build homes for those in housing need. #BBCPanorama
“That’s the biggest misunderstanding in this country of the housing crisis. That it’s a crisis reserved for the poorest people in insecure jobs…”
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Panorama - The Race to Build 1.5 Million Homes
The government’s made a very big promise: to build 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029. Anita Rani and Justin Rowlatt travel the length of the country to find out if it can be done.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 7:47 PM
-> @drabioconnor.bsky.social calls out the Government and private building industry for failing to build the number of homes needed, and for the inherent shortcomings of relying on a profit-driven private sector model/system to build homes for those in housing need. #BBCPanorama
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
“That’s the biggest misunderstanding in this country of the housing crisis. That it’s a crisis reserved for the poorest people in insecure jobs…”
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Panorama - The Race to Build 1.5 Million Homes
The government’s made a very big promise: to build 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029. Anita Rani and Justin Rowlatt travel the length of the country to find out if it can be done.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
“That’s the biggest misunderstanding in this country of the housing crisis. That it’s a crisis reserved for the poorest people in insecure jobs…”
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Ahead of my appearance on Panorama tonight, I was on #PoliticsLive talking about how the government aren’t fixing the housing crisis. They’re ignoring 172k children in temporary accommodation, refusing to address *astronomical rents* & siding with developers (but denying it!)
October 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Ahead of my appearance on Panorama tonight, I was on #PoliticsLive talking about how the government aren’t fixing the housing crisis. They’re ignoring 172k children in temporary accommodation, refusing to address *astronomical rents* & siding with developers (but denying it!)
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
Here's a link to Abi's project: sheffield.ac.uk/crafic/news/...
Dr Abi O’Connor joins CRAFiC through the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme
Abi O’Connor will join Sheffield University Management School’s Centre for Research into Accounting and Finance in Context to research a project titled ‘Following urban assetisation: a comparative the...
sheffield.ac.uk
October 20, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Here's a link to Abi's project: sheffield.ac.uk/crafic/news/...
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
A big welcome to @drabioconnor.bsky.social who has joined CRAFiC as a @leverhulme.ac.uk Early Career Fellow. Her project is titled: ‘Following urban assetisation: a comparative theory of local state restructuring’ - I'm really looking forward to the findings... sheffield.ac.uk/management/p...
O'Connor, Abi , Dr
sheffield.ac.uk
October 20, 2025 at 12:55 PM
A big welcome to @drabioconnor.bsky.social who has joined CRAFiC as a @leverhulme.ac.uk Early Career Fellow. Her project is titled: ‘Following urban assetisation: a comparative theory of local state restructuring’ - I'm really looking forward to the findings... sheffield.ac.uk/management/p...
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty.
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Transition Security Project
transitionsecurity.org
October 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty.
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org