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sarahcrook.bsky.social
Sarah Crook
@sarahcrook.bsky.social
1.4K followers 860 following 500 posts
Senior lecturer & historian of modern Britain. Activism & experience. Books: mothering & feeling; student mental health. Director of GENCAS & Co-Ed Modern British History. Mother x 3. Book: https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526140128/
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Reposted by Sarah Crook
jameswilsdon.bsky.social
So farewell ‘People, Culture & Environment’…

And hello ‘Strategy, People & Research Environment’, or SPRE to her friends.

25% more words; 5% less weight… #REF2029
December 10, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
francesjones.bsky.social
‘No one seems to care’: scholars decry plight of British Library

Historian Peter Mandler said it was “a sorry state when a major piece of public infrastructure like this is hit so badly and no one in authority even seems to notice, much less care”.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
‘No one seems to care’: scholars decry plight of British Library - Research Professional News
Humanities researchers suffer amid “agonisingly slow” recovery from 2023 cyberattack, as strikes cause further delays
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
viviankonghk.bsky.social
We have now announced TWO full PhD studentships at Bristol's Hong Kong History Centre @uobrishistory.bsky.social @uobartsmatter.bsky.social! Please spread the word to anyone you know who are working towards/have a Master's degree, and are interested in pursuing further research in HK history.
hongkonghistory.bsky.social Hong Kong History Centre @hongkonghistory.bsky.social · 22d
Hong Kong History Centre Studentship

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Dept of Hist, University of Bristol
𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: UK and International (including EU)
𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠: Tuition Fees and stipend
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: Sep 26 – Sep 30 (full-time)

Details:
www.hkhistory.net/2025/11/17/h...
December 8, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
If you teach histories of British slavery, don't miss this Thursday's book launch and talk: Teaching Slavery: New Approaches to Britain's Colonial Past, IHR, London 11 December & on Zoom. 5:30pm. Registration details are below and a link to the open access book in post 2/2. This post is 1/2.
Book talk: Teaching Slavery: New Approaches to Britain’s Colonial Past
www.history.ac.uk
December 9, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
chanret.bsky.social
London (population 9 million) has had fewer murders year-to-date[1] than Birmingham, Alabama (population 200k)[2]

[1]: www.london.gov.uk/london-recor...

[2]: www.bhamwiki.com/w/2025_Birmi...
December 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
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krassenstein.bsky.social
December 9, 2025 at 11:49 AM
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sarahoconnorft.ft.com
Welcome to Britain, a country so short of dentists that an MP's 87-year-old mum pulled her teeth out with pliers. Also a country with thousands of foreign-qualified dentists who can’t work until they pass an exam so oversubscribed it’s like trying to book Glasto tickets. www.ft.com/content/f4e5...
December 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
sarahcrook.bsky.social
Delighted to have just been elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Can't wait to contribute to its worthy aims, and to insist everyone appends FRHistS to my name for a wee bit, even in the most casual of contexts
December 9, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
hetanshah.bsky.social
I’ve written the @resprofnews.bsky.social Sunday Read this week. I’ve looked at the value and importance of the arts, humanities and social sciences and what policymakers might do to support them at a time we are seeing major cutbacks in universities www.researchprofessional.com/news-article...
Human values By Hetan Shah 7th December 2025 * SUNDAY READING Hetan Shah suggests solutions to counter the current pressures on arts and humanities Pressures on UK higher education finances are affecting all disciplines, but cutbacks are particularly pronounced in the arts, humanities and some parts of the social sciences.
December 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
politicalquarterly.bsky.social
Britain has lost over 75% of its informal meeting spaces since 1980, pushing people into isolation, more time spent online, and towards the far right.

Can new policy 'Pride In Place' turn it around?

politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/what-is...

By Sam Taylor Hill
What is Labour’s Pride In Place Programme, and will it be Enough to Build a Good Society?
Why Labour must also connect local efforts under the Pride In Place programme to a national story of renewal.
politicalquarterly.org.uk
December 4, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
benansell.bsky.social
DEADLINE APPROACHING

The first position with the Centre for Advanced Social Science Methods at the University of Oxford has a deadline this Friday at noon UK time. Come be the first member of the team who are going to revolutionise methods training at Oxford!

www.politics.ox.ac.uk/opportunity/...
December 3, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
dorianlynskey.bsky.social
This is the point where the anti-Reeves stories tip into madness. Criticise her performance all you like but what the hell is this?
December 2, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
harrywallop.co.uk
Great culture can save lives. Literally.

Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
sarahcrook.bsky.social
Ok, so we’ve come to the end of the first season of The Diplomat and it’s… variable. But I’ve heard it gets great! When does that happen?
December 2, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
jamesrball.com
This is somewhat nerdy/technical but reveals utterly woeful practices at the OBR – where they relied on free Wordpress plugins to protect some of the most sensitive economic data the UK publishes.

Absolutely dismal stuff, and not just one junior staffer screwing up.
December 1, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Any author with a first degree is eligible (exceptions below); submitted essay must be unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere.

Not open to current employees or Fellows of the British Academy, employees of CUP, or current editors/staff staff of the British Journal of Political Science
britishacademy.bsky.social The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 9d
Entries are now open for the 2026 Brian Barry Prize ✍️

The prize is awarded annually for excellence in political science. The winner receives £1,500 and will be published in @bjpols.bsky.social.

Follow the link for more information and to find out how to apply: https://bit.ly/3XUKdG1
Decorative image about the Brian Barry Prize communicating it's a deadline of 28 February 2026
December 1, 2025 at 12:31 PM
sarahcrook.bsky.social
In the year of 2025 I really should not be joining meetings on Zoom only to realise that my laptop is fully muted and turn myself up without clocking that everyone in the meeting will be blasted with 10 seconds of late-2000s indie rock as I've merrily left Spotify blasting in the background
December 1, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
lewisgoodall.com
🚨 JOB ALERT 🚨

We’re looking for a brilliant producer to lead my @LBC Sunday show

Come and help make news, provide the best insight, digital content and prove Sunday political shows aren’t boring

Link below. Any Qs get in touch 👇

careers.global.com/jobs/R0009023
Producer
Find your next move. Join our talented and passionate Globallers doing the best work of their career.
careers.global.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
paulnightingale.bsky.social
This is very clear on the UK's growth strategy. Explaining how it fits together and what they are doing and why.

All seems very sensible to me.
torstenbell.bsky.social Torsten Bell @torstenbell.bsky.social · 9d
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
November 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
sarahcrook.bsky.social
In a museum and my oldest has found a documentary about women in politics and my youngest is watching a video about the history of unions and friendly societies. I’ve peaked!
November 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
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infinata.bsky.social
“I was just following otters.”
chrismohney.bsky.social Chris Mohney @chrismohney.bsky.social · 11d
really went dark for the sequel
A movie marquee advertises for the films Nuremberg in Zootopia 2
November 28, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
The late 1950s through children's imagination - pop culture, aspirations, tea and sudden death

The 'Lollard Children's Magazine', linked with the Lollard Street adventure playground, gave Lambeth kids a space to express themselves on the page #HistChild

mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/LAH/...
Page from 'Lollard Adventure Magazine', written by Lambeth children in the 1950s. It includes a drawing of a 'Teddy Boy' with accompanying text: "This is a real Teddy boy. There are lots of Teddy boys in Lambeth. I think they look smart. They have all sorts of styles in their hair. They are all stuck up, but quite stupid in their ways. I am never going to be a Teddy boy. David Jones." "Once a Teddy boy and a Teddy girl were walking along the road when they met each other and they said to each other, "Where are you going?" and they said, "I'm not going anywhere". Then the Teddy boy said, "Come to a dance at the Royal Log hotel". When they were there, they said, "Will you marry me?" So the next week they got married and they weren't a Teddy boy and Teddy girl any more because they liked to live ordanairy." "THE TEDDY BOY. Once there was a Teddy boy and he was a little shrimp but he could fight very good. He used to go and show off. One day he broke into a bank and took a thousand pounds. He was chased and caught and on the way he killed a man and he was caught and got hung. Leslie Presley." Page from 'Lollard Adventure Magazine', written by Lambeth children in the 1950s. It includes a drawing of five children doing the 'Six five hand jive' and text: "Rock 'n Roll. I'm crazy about Pat Boone, He just sends me like a balloon. Maureen Sullivan." "When I grow up I want to be a typist and type fast at the typewriter. I go to Walnut Tree Walk School. I want to get ten guineas from work and work over London somewhere. When I've got all that money I will spend it on clothes then take a holiday. Then I will spend the other that I have left. I will spend it for food and things. Carole Brookman." Page from 'Lollard Adventure Magazine', written by Lambeth children in the 1950s. It includes a drawing of the head of a 'Teddy Boy' with accompanying text: "The Teddy Boy. I saw a 'Teddy Boy' last night. His great big razor gave me a nasty fright. His turned-up velvet collar And his jutting out cigar Made him look like a villain His drain-pipe trousers And his awkward looking shoes Made me hurry away - Hurry, before he did chase me If he did choose. A. Pritchard." "My Birthday. My birthday was on Sunday And I am ten years old I have got six birthday cards And four birthday presents. A bucket bag, A tin of toffees, Seven and six, And a box of handerchiefs. But I did not have a party I could not have a party For my baby sister's illl. Anne Sweeny." "Rain Rain! Rain! Rain! Fall upon the house tops Fall upon the green grass Hang like beads On the flat leaves But don't rain on me please! Maureen Sullivan" Page from 'Lollard Adventure Magazine', written by Lambeth children in the 1950s. It includes a drawing of a country cottage in a field, with smoke coming out of the chimney, and accompanying text: "Trip to the country I went to Sevenoaks on Sunday to see some lady and I came home at 7 o'clock and I went at 3 o'clock and it was a nice day down there and I had tea with Mrs. Rook. Billy Long." "The Red Spotted Car One fine Spring day, a car drew into our village of Townsend. It was a bright yellow car with red spots on - quite an unusual car. It stopped outside our house and out stepped a queer looking little man. He got up onto the top of his car and started ringing a bell. Everyone came running out of their houses to see what was happening. When everyone was quiet, the little man began to speak. He said, "I wish to marry our Queen Caroline. If she refuses to marry me I will bring disaster to your town and everyone will be killed." Then he got down and back into his car and drove away."
November 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by Sarah Crook
samfr.bsky.social
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
robertsaunders.bsky.social Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 12d
Headline on The World at One just now:

"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".

Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
sarahcrook.bsky.social
Honestly, the press framing of tax is just so gross. These headlines could be: thousands of kids lifted out of poverty; £2m houses taxed more fairly; taxes raised to support hospitals and schools and other good things
lbc.co.uk LBC @lbc.co.uk · 13d
What does the Budget mean for you?
November 26, 2025 at 2:46 PM
sarahcrook.bsky.social
Me, a journal editor: these things take TIME, we are just PEOPLE, doing our BEST, everyone understands

me, an author, waiting for editors: these things should be FASTER, what IS THIS, I don’t UNDERSTAND
November 26, 2025 at 2:39 PM