Louise, Prof/Dr
@louiselocock.bsky.social
Mostly retired qualitative health services researcher, linguist, europhile, cat lover. Other animals welcome.
Mostly in Oxford, occasionally in Aberdeen
I block if you have no bio or posts
She/her
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8109-1930
Mostly in Oxford, occasionally in Aberdeen
I block if you have no bio or posts
She/her
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8109-1930
Pinned
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
This is what leadership looks like.
February 5, 2026 at 10:49 AM
This is what leadership looks like.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Blue Labour is a small faction in the Party. I have no idea why Starmer is in thrall to them. If the soft left got their act together, they could oust him pretty quickly. The new leader would obviously dump Glassman and McSweeney quickly. In an alternate world, Sue Gray wasn’t ousted.
December 31, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Blue Labour is a small faction in the Party. I have no idea why Starmer is in thrall to them. If the soft left got their act together, they could oust him pretty quickly. The new leader would obviously dump Glassman and McSweeney quickly. In an alternate world, Sue Gray wasn’t ousted.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Best McSweeney description I’ve read recently
He wants power in the way a puppy wants socks
February 5, 2026 at 9:19 AM
Best McSweeney description I’ve read recently
Looks interesting
Hamlet review – Riz Ahmed’s tortured prince drives chilling modern take through London’s streets
Hamlet review – Riz Ahmed’s tortured prince drives chilling modern take through London’s streets
Timothy Spall and Art Malik co-star in Aneil Karia’s intelligent and stark retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy, set in the world of shady family business
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Looks interesting
Kind of sad. And I say that as an occasional pescatarian myself.
The Punter pub in Osney which has been vegetarian for five years, is to introduce fish to its menu, to target a wider clientele, citing the closure of the Botley Road and "financial pressures imposed on pubs by the Labour government". Their new menu will start on 9th February.
The Punter Pub Oxford
The Punter Pub Oxford is a quirky pub & restaurant situated on the banks of the river Isis on Osney island in Oxford UK. We cook using fresh and local ingredients on our regularly changing menu. We al...
www.thepunteroxford.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Kind of sad. And I say that as an occasional pescatarian myself.
😬
The owner of Yew Tree Cottage in Adderbury has been fined £7,200 for chopping down seven (*checks notes*) yew trees. Graham Evans was seeking to create two new dwellings and three car parking spaces. The trees were on council land, in a conservation area, and large enough for legal protection.
February 5, 2026 at 8:40 AM
😬
I see Marlborough is due to appear in Oxford Crown Court again today. www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2581732...
Duke of Marlborough to appear in court charged with strangling estranged wife
The Duke of Marlborough, who is accused of strangling his estranged wife, will appear in court this week.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 8:37 AM
I see Marlborough is due to appear in Oxford Crown Court again today. www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2581732...
Another example of how people's trust in preventive treatment has been eroded, with sad consequences
For decades, hospitals have given babies a vitamin K injection to protect against bleeding. Now, the shot appears to be facing resistance.
One of the babies whose parents refused the shot suffered a type of bleeding in the brain that vitamin K could have prevented.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/w...
One of the babies whose parents refused the shot suffered a type of bleeding in the brain that vitamin K could have prevented.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/w...
More Parents Are Rejecting a Lifesaving Vitamin Shot for Newborns
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Another example of how people's trust in preventive treatment has been eroded, with sad consequences
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Zack Polanski, "Palantir.. £240 million contract last month"
"That was lobbied by Global Counsel which is Peter Mandelson's lobbying group"
"The idea that a defence company from the US has its fingerprints all over our healthcare system, alongside Peter Mandelson"
"That was lobbied by Global Counsel which is Peter Mandelson's lobbying group"
"The idea that a defence company from the US has its fingerprints all over our healthcare system, alongside Peter Mandelson"
February 4, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Zack Polanski, "Palantir.. £240 million contract last month"
"That was lobbied by Global Counsel which is Peter Mandelson's lobbying group"
"The idea that a defence company from the US has its fingerprints all over our healthcare system, alongside Peter Mandelson"
"That was lobbied by Global Counsel which is Peter Mandelson's lobbying group"
"The idea that a defence company from the US has its fingerprints all over our healthcare system, alongside Peter Mandelson"
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Full time AHRC doctoral studentships now available in Arts & Humanities at University of Hertfordshire for October 2026 start - please do share widely!! This includes both History & Heritage Studies among other subjects 🌟😀 www.herts.ac.uk/research/res...
AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award studentships
The AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award is a major new funding scheme from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Its aim is to grow the UK’s capacity for doctoral research in the arts and humanit...
www.herts.ac.uk
February 3, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Full time AHRC doctoral studentships now available in Arts & Humanities at University of Hertfordshire for October 2026 start - please do share widely!! This includes both History & Heritage Studies among other subjects 🌟😀 www.herts.ac.uk/research/res...
A part-time ambassador. Like it's just a lucrative little side-line. www.historytoday.com/archive/some...
Something for Nothing - Georgian Sinecures
www.historytoday.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:44 AM
A part-time ambassador. Like it's just a lucrative little side-line. www.historytoday.com/archive/some...
Woah. Sapienza University in Rome has had to shut down its entire IT system. uk.lapresse.it/news-en/2026...
Rome: hacker attack on La Sapienza IT infrastructure - LaPresse News
Rome, 2 February (LaPresse) - ‘La Sapienza's IT infrastructure has been the target of a cyber attack.’ The university announced this in a
uk.lapresse.it
February 4, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Woah. Sapienza University in Rome has had to shut down its entire IT system. uk.lapresse.it/news-en/2026...
Hypocrite
Farage calls for EU to probe Mandelson’s time in Brussels ft.trib.al/eAGo2wa
Farage calls for EU to probe Mandelson’s time in Brussels
Reform UK leader claims former trade commissioner may have misused his position for personal gain
ft.trib.al
February 4, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Hypocrite
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Streeting is right. By the time the UK political debate catches up with the reality of under-30s, who are facing marginal tax rates of 50%+ and not being able to afford decent housing, it’ll be too late.
"I do think it's a debate worth having..."
Is the student loan system fair?
Wes Streeting tells @shelaghfogarty.bsky.social 'we need to look at this' but admits there is 'no sign of movement.'
Is the student loan system fair?
Wes Streeting tells @shelaghfogarty.bsky.social 'we need to look at this' but admits there is 'no sign of movement.'
February 4, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Streeting is right. By the time the UK political debate catches up with the reality of under-30s, who are facing marginal tax rates of 50%+ and not being able to afford decent housing, it’ll be too late.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Some interesting reporting in the New Statesman. There was a shortlist of four to be UK Ambassador to the US. Starmer favoured George Osborne. It was Morgan McSweeney who pushed for Mandelson.
The Mandelson affair: inside the scandal of a century
Mandelson's fall from grace reveals a very Labour weakness
www.newstatesman.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Some interesting reporting in the New Statesman. There was a shortlist of four to be UK Ambassador to the US. Starmer favoured George Osborne. It was Morgan McSweeney who pushed for Mandelson.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
If Mandelson is being investigated for his Epstein connections, he must also be investigated for his Thiel connections, because they ran a joint fund when Mandelson fixed Starmer's visit to Palantir
bylinetimes.com/2025/04/25/p...
bylinetimes.com/2025/04/25/p...
'Peter Mandelson's Fixing of Keir Starmer’s Visit to Spytech Firm Palantir Raises Serious Questions'
Palantir was represented by a lobbying firm founded by Mandelson, Iain Overton and Max Colbert report
bylinetimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:41 PM
If Mandelson is being investigated for his Epstein connections, he must also be investigated for his Thiel connections, because they ran a joint fund when Mandelson fixed Starmer's visit to Palantir
bylinetimes.com/2025/04/25/p...
bylinetimes.com/2025/04/25/p...
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
And if we are going to talk about the quality of education provided on average, well, yes, Germany or Sweden or Poland might not have Oxbridge. But they offer top notch teaching also in institutions that are not preserves of the chosen few.
February 4, 2026 at 7:07 PM
And if we are going to talk about the quality of education provided on average, well, yes, Germany or Sweden or Poland might not have Oxbridge. But they offer top notch teaching also in institutions that are not preserves of the chosen few.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
In 15 years when Peter Mandelson is next sacked from the government, having been caught red-handed robbing a bank, commentators will confidently predict that his career is definitely over this time.
February 4, 2026 at 7:05 PM
In 15 years when Peter Mandelson is next sacked from the government, having been caught red-handed robbing a bank, commentators will confidently predict that his career is definitely over this time.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
It's just blatant lies
There's no other word for this.
There's no other word for this.
it's not great when the consultation landing page continues the labour habit of just making things up where immigration rules are concerned. SETTLEMENT IS NOT GRANTED AUTOMATICALLY. absolute joke of a government
February 4, 2026 at 5:43 PM
It's just blatant lies
There's no other word for this.
There's no other word for this.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
"By the end of the two-year period, 94% of participants reported they were housed."
A million pilot programs show the same thing: when people are given enough money to afford housing, homelessness ends.
Other supports matter, but housing comes first. Not policing. Not moralizing. Homes.
A million pilot programs show the same thing: when people are given enough money to afford housing, homelessness ends.
Other supports matter, but housing comes first. Not policing. Not moralizing. Homes.
Homeless Oregon youth got $1,000 a month for two years. Most found housing after • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Oregon is the second of its kind in the nation to implement the direct cash transfer program after New York City.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:12 PM
"By the end of the two-year period, 94% of participants reported they were housed."
A million pilot programs show the same thing: when people are given enough money to afford housing, homelessness ends.
Other supports matter, but housing comes first. Not policing. Not moralizing. Homes.
A million pilot programs show the same thing: when people are given enough money to afford housing, homelessness ends.
Other supports matter, but housing comes first. Not policing. Not moralizing. Homes.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
For every additional £100 a Plan 2 graduate earns they repay an extra £9 - but their debt also accrues an additional £7.20 in interest, due to the rising interest rate.
www.edrith.co.uk/p/rage-rage-...
www.edrith.co.uk/p/rage-rage-...
Rage, rage against the growing of the debt
It's past time to abolish real interest rates for Plan 2 Student Loans
www.edrith.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 8:00 AM
For every additional £100 a Plan 2 graduate earns they repay an extra £9 - but their debt also accrues an additional £7.20 in interest, due to the rising interest rate.
www.edrith.co.uk/p/rage-rage-...
www.edrith.co.uk/p/rage-rage-...
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
In this week's column I seek to explain Keir Starmer's flat refusal to change our electoral system, even though its gross unfairness could put Reform UK in power on <30% of the vote. The reasons, I believe, are deeply cynical and disturbing. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
If Reform ever wins power in Westminster, it will be because of Labour’s cowardice | George Monbiot
Starmer could improve our unfair electoral system to stop the hard right, but he won’t. All the party has left are threats about ‘splitting the vote’, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:26 AM
In this week's column I seek to explain Keir Starmer's flat refusal to change our electoral system, even though its gross unfairness could put Reform UK in power on <30% of the vote. The reasons, I believe, are deeply cynical and disturbing. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Feel somewhat heartbroken tbh
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Greenwich and Kent announce merger to become UK’s first ‘super-university’
Formal approval given for new university group to operate from August, with both institutions keeping their names
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Feel somewhat heartbroken tbh
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Incandescent. One of the best pieces I've read about what university means to people and their communities - and what will happen to a city and people after one closes. The *Labour* government and Jaqui Smith in particular should be ashamed of themselves and shamed into doing something. Deplorable.
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university?
When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope for a ‘left behind’ UK seaside town. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degr...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Incandescent. One of the best pieces I've read about what university means to people and their communities - and what will happen to a city and people after one closes. The *Labour* government and Jaqui Smith in particular should be ashamed of themselves and shamed into doing something. Deplorable.
I must check if she's signed up to @togetheralliance.bsky.social rally against the far right on 28th March
February 3, 2026 at 10:04 PM
I must check if she's signed up to @togetheralliance.bsky.social rally against the far right on 28th March