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Anthony Painter @anthonypainter.bsky.social · 1d

I hadn't read this by @sachahilhorst.bsky.social in @renewaljournal.bsky.social when I wrote this piece but wish I had. It's brilliant and pinpoints the centre-left's sociological/political challenge with precision. How Reform is tapping into pride in place and loss.

renewal.org.uk/articles/ref...

Reform’s aesthetics of industry

Renewal 33.2_HilhorstRenewal 33.2_Hilhorst.pdf110 KBdownload-circle In North Nottinghamshire, Reform UK present themselves as the party of workers, community and coalmining heritage. But this image...

renewal.org.uk

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David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 1d

In piece for @renewaljournal.bsky.social, I suggest Labour conference saw the emergence of two distinct approaches to practicing politics in a broken public sphere:
- YIMBYs and Growth Groupers pursue disruption
- "progressive communitarians" seek re-connection

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Nick Garland @npjgarland.bsky.social · 1d

Some thought-provoking reflections here

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 1d

What did we learn at Labour conference? Four members of the Renewal editorial team offer their reflections:

- @morganj0nes.bsky.social on Starmer vs Burnham
- @dmk1793.bsky.social on the Mair-ian void
- @parth0.bsky.social on Labour's nationalism
- @ben-glover.bsky.social on 'Big tent Starmerism'

What did we learn at Labour Party conference?

Ten days on from the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, four members of the Renewal editorial team who attended offer their reflections on the events of the week. A stay of execution Th...

renewal.org.uk

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 1d

"It’s good to see the energy around the desire to ‘disrupt’ the state’s status quo, championed by ministers like Josh Simons and the influential Labour Growth Group. But this needs to go beyond rebuilding executive power, however important that is." - @ben-glover.bsky.social

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 1d

"Labour is going to attempt to supersede rather than cast aside the revival of national and community politics on the right" - @parth0.bsky.social

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 1d

"If the Secure Zone was testament to the 'hollowing' of Labour as a mass membership organisation, the baying mob of anti-digital ID protestors outside was a glimpse at the other end of Peter Mair’s void" - @dmk1793.bsky.social

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 1d

"The mood music going in to conference could not have been worse for the leadership, but by the time The Red Flag had been sung on Wednesday morning, the atmosphere was positively chipper" - @morganj0nes.bsky.social

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 1d

What did we learn at Labour conference? Four members of the Renewal editorial team offer their reflections:

- @morganj0nes.bsky.social on Starmer vs Burnham
- @dmk1793.bsky.social on the Mair-ian void
- @parth0.bsky.social on Labour's nationalism
- @ben-glover.bsky.social on 'Big tent Starmerism'

What did we learn at Labour Party conference?

Ten days on from the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, four members of the Renewal editorial team who attended offer their reflections on the events of the week. A stay of execution Th...

renewal.org.uk

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William Cullerne Bown @williamcb.bsky.social · 4d

The Cabinet reshuffle has clarified Britain’s ambiguous relationship with American Big Tech, I argue here in Renewal.

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 5d

"It is hard now to think of a touch point for Big Tech with the UK state that does not fall under the auspices of the Blairites"

@williamcb.bsky.social analyses the government's relationship with Big Tech in light of the recent Cabinet reshuffle

Britain's Big Tech problem

The essence of a banana republic is that the state has the legal form of a republic but substantive power resides elsewhere, in the hands of American corporations backed by a US state that considers t...

renewal.org.uk

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 5d

"It is hard now to think of a touch point for Big Tech with the UK state that does not fall under the auspices of the Blairites"

@williamcb.bsky.social analyses the government's relationship with Big Tech in light of the recent Cabinet reshuffle

Britain's Big Tech problem

The essence of a banana republic is that the state has the legal form of a republic but substantive power resides elsewhere, in the hands of American corporations backed by a US state that considers t...

renewal.org.uk

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David Pearce @medavep.bsky.social · 6d

I'm down with this

Prime Minister Kier Starmer in a suit and glasses is speaking at a podium against a solid red background. Three text captions appear across three panels: "Nicking a pint glass from a pub, calling a kebab shop owner 'boss man'.", "Or simply shouting 'you can't park there mate' when someone crashes their car.", and "That is real Britain." The overall style mimics a humorous internet meme about British culture.

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Alistair Strathern MP @alistrathern.bsky.social · 6d

At a time when patriotism can feel as as contested as ever, this is a bloody lovely ode to so much of what we love about Britain from @sofiejenkinson.bsky.social in @renewaljournal.bsky.social.

Well worth a read 👉 renewal.org.uk/blog/mr-blob...

Mr Blobby patriotism

Over recent weeks I have found myself thinking about the country we live in, what it feels like and what I like, and love, about it. I guess I found myself thinking about this because of the summer w...

renewal.org.uk

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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 6d

Blobby blobby blobby blobby. Blobby blobby blooby @sofiejenkinson.bsky.social blobby, blobby blobby blobby.

Blobby blobby blobby!

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 6d

"Most of us basically love our country, even if begrudgingly – not the version we’re told to, or even presented with, but the one we really see and live in every day. Silly Sausage Britain is the Britain most of us reside in, and love."

@sofiejenkinson.bsky.social on "Mr Blobby patriotism"

Mr Blobby patriotism

Over recent weeks I have found myself thinking about the country we live in, what it feels like and what I like, and love, about it. I guess I found myself thinking about this because of the summer w...

renewal.org.uk

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Dr. Jeevun Sandher MP @jeevunsandher.bsky.social · 6d

Sof is one of the best comms people I've met.

Read her insightful piece on British patriotism here: renewal.org.uk/blog/mr-blob...

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Sofie Jenkinson @sofiejenkinson.bsky.social · 6d

As I was speaking on panels at Labour conference last week I began to describe the Britain I know exists and love. In the end I gave it a name: Mr Blobby Patriotism

And I’ve written about it for @renewaljournal.bsky.social here bsky.app/profile/rene...

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 6d

"Most of us basically love our country, even if begrudgingly – not the version we’re told to, or even presented with, but the one we really see and live in every day. Silly Sausage Britain is the Britain most of us reside in, and love."

@sofiejenkinson.bsky.social on "Mr Blobby patriotism"

Mr Blobby patriotism

Over recent weeks I have found myself thinking about the country we live in, what it feels like and what I like, and love, about it. I guess I found myself thinking about this because of the summer w...

renewal.org.uk

3 12 34

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 6d

"Most of us basically love our country, even if begrudgingly – not the version we’re told to, or even presented with, but the one we really see and live in every day. Silly Sausage Britain is the Britain most of us reside in, and love."

@sofiejenkinson.bsky.social on "Mr Blobby patriotism"

Mr Blobby patriotism

Over recent weeks I have found myself thinking about the country we live in, what it feels like and what I like, and love, about it. I guess I found myself thinking about this because of the summer w...

renewal.org.uk

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 6d

Congratulations to our contributing editor Sacha!

LSE Sociology @lsesociology.bsky.social · 6d

We're pleased to announce that our Inaugural Craig J. Calhoun Prize for an Outstanding Thesis in Sociology has been awarded to @sachahilhorst.bsky.social. Her thesis investigated the shifting politics of ex-mining and manufacturing towns in the Midlands.

Read more about the prize 👇

News

Read the latest news from the LSE Department of Sociology

buff.ly

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Phil Swatton @philswatton.bsky.social · 7d

Just caught up on this fantastic essay by @sundersays.bsky.social in @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Brilliant, punchy, to the point on Labour's lack of serious engagement with multiculturalism, and a much-welcome rebuttal to those who advocate for Labour to accommodate Reform's radical right populism.

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 13d

"In the twenty-first century, the success of social democracy depends on narrowing differences between groups"

@sundersays.bsky.social responds to the anonymous essay that @patrickmaguire.bsky.social has reported is being shared around by Labour MPs

False prophecies

What did you manage to read on your summer holidays? I found myself in the early phases of the 14 volume CP Snow Strangers and Brothers series – covering 20th century Britain from the first world war ...

renewal.org.uk

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Lise Butler @lisebutler.bsky.social · 11d

Everybody wants growth, but how can we get it? Jimena Valdez makes the case for a growth strategy that embraces international students and immigration, now online for @renewaljournal.bsky.social

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 11d

New on Renewal Online: Jimena Valdez considers what Spain's socialist government can teach Keir Starmer about how to deliver economic growth & higher living standards

Lessons for economic growth from Pedro Sánchez’s Spain

In a recent issue of Renewal David Cesar Heymann wrote about one of the most successful social democratic governments in Europe: that of Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez (2...

renewal.org.uk

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Sacha Hilhorst @sachahilhorst.bsky.social · 11d

This @renewaljournal.bsky.social essay is so brilliant - the history of the British far right narrated entirely through its activities in Croydon. Every sentence makes it clear it was written by a scholar with a genuine love for history and for Croydon.

renewal.org.uk/articles/sub...

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 11d

New on Renewal Online: Jimena Valdez considers what Spain's socialist government can teach Keir Starmer about how to deliver economic growth & higher living standards

Lessons for economic growth from Pedro Sánchez’s Spain

In a recent issue of Renewal David Cesar Heymann wrote about one of the most successful social democratic governments in Europe: that of Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez (2...

renewal.org.uk

1 2

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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 13d

This is a brilliant easy on empire loyalism, multicultural drift and dispossessed whiteness in outer south London.

Cc @academicdiary.bsky.social @transpontine.bsky.social @ashdisorient.bsky.social @liamliburd.bsky.social

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 26d

FREE TO READ: historian Daniel Frost traces the history of far-right activism in Croydon, from the "National Fascisti" of the 1920s to the Farageist TikTok reels of today

renewal.org.uk/articles/sub...

Suburban fascism: the far right in twentieth-century Croydon

Renewal 33.2_FrostRenewal 33.2_Frost.pdf159 KBdownload-circle Croydon is frequently used as a touchstone for farright narratives of decline and demographic change. Daniel Frost traces the suburb’s ...

renewal.org.uk

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David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 13d

Punchy but necessary intervention from @sundersays.bsky.social in @renewaljournal.bsky.social, responding the anonymous memo circulating amongst Labour MPs:

renewal.org.uk/blog/false-p...

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Bob From Brockley @bobfrombrockley.bsky.social · 13d

This interview with @profafinlayson.bsky.social, on why the left still doesn’t get the Internet and why that stops us from combatting the far right effectively, really sharp:

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 26d

FREE TO READ: Renewal co-editor Jack Jeffrey talks to @profafinlayson.bsky.social about the subcultures of the online right and how they are transforming political communication

renewal.org.uk/articles/the...

The left (still) doesn't understand the internet

Renewal 33.2_Finlayson & JeffreyRenewal 33.2_Finlayson & Jeffrey.pdf161 KBdownload-circle In June 2025, Nigel Farage boasted on Facebook and X that he had more TikTok subscribers than all other 649...

renewal.org.uk

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