sianushka.bsky.social
@sianushka.bsky.social
Writer | Senior Investigative Reporter at openDemocracy | Bylines in i; Observer; Guardian; The Times | BWLF | Book: Bodies Under Siege, Verso | Got a story? Email sian.norris(at)opendemocracy.net
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Bodies Under Siege
Think today's anti-abortion ideas are rooted in religious prohibitions or arguments about where life begins? Wrong: today's anti-abortion movements is largely financed and planned by far-right extremi...
www.versobooks.com
My book Bodies Under Siege tracks the far right attack on abortion rights in UK, Europe & US, via conspiracy theories, Christian nationalist networks & dark money from US, Russia & Europe… I’ve been on this story for 8 years so buy it now!!
www.versobooks.com/en-gb/produc...
www.versobooks.com/en-gb/produc...
Lifting children out of poverty is deemed “unpopular” with voters, but it is the right thing to do. Children shouldn’t be going hungry because of a cruel welfare policy. Government should do the right thing even if it is unpopular.
November 26, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Lifting children out of poverty is deemed “unpopular” with voters, but it is the right thing to do. Children shouldn’t be going hungry because of a cruel welfare policy. Government should do the right thing even if it is unpopular.
How in this year 2025 are news presenters still confusing the benefit cap, child benefit, and the two child cap.
November 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
How in this year 2025 are news presenters still confusing the benefit cap, child benefit, and the two child cap.
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
The Chancellor’s announcement to fully remove the two-child limit policy is a landmark step towards tackling child poverty in the UK. Our analysis shows that ending the two-child limit will lift over half a million children out of poverty by the end of the decade.
November 26, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The Chancellor’s announcement to fully remove the two-child limit policy is a landmark step towards tackling child poverty in the UK. Our analysis shows that ending the two-child limit will lift over half a million children out of poverty by the end of the decade.
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
🚨 New analysis alert!
Our latest modelling shows that living standards are still set to fall across this Parliament up to November 2029.
However, actions taken at the Budget have made this decline less pronounced *by more than half* for low-income households.
Our latest modelling shows that living standards are still set to fall across this Parliament up to November 2029.
However, actions taken at the Budget have made this decline less pronounced *by more than half* for low-income households.
November 26, 2025 at 6:13 PM
🚨 New analysis alert!
Our latest modelling shows that living standards are still set to fall across this Parliament up to November 2029.
However, actions taken at the Budget have made this decline less pronounced *by more than half* for low-income households.
Our latest modelling shows that living standards are still set to fall across this Parliament up to November 2029.
However, actions taken at the Budget have made this decline less pronounced *by more than half* for low-income households.
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
This is quite a victory - universities (particularly research intensives) have been lobbying for real terms protection of QR for ages
It's a classic government give with one hand (QR) and take with the other (international student levy)
It's a classic government give with one hand (QR) and take with the other (international student levy)
Block grants for university R&I to rise by £425m over four years.
Treasury confirms real-terms protection of quality-related grants and Higher Education Innovation Funding in autumn budget.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Treasury confirms real-terms protection of quality-related grants and Higher Education Innovation Funding in autumn budget.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
November 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
This is quite a victory - universities (particularly research intensives) have been lobbying for real terms protection of QR for ages
It's a classic government give with one hand (QR) and take with the other (international student levy)
It's a classic government give with one hand (QR) and take with the other (international student levy)
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
This is a massive problem with Labour’s immigration proposals. All migrant families affected will be made considerably poorer (because of extra immigration fees over several years plus dampened job prospects) and many (most?) of those families have children.
Great to hear Rachel Reeves acknowledge that "there are many reasons why people choose to have children then find themselves in difficult times. The death of a partner. Separation. Ill health. A lost job. I don’t believe that children should bear the brunt of that."
So why should migrant children?
So why should migrant children?
November 26, 2025 at 5:22 PM
This is a massive problem with Labour’s immigration proposals. All migrant families affected will be made considerably poorer (because of extra immigration fees over several years plus dampened job prospects) and many (most?) of those families have children.
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
Plus sides to today: Two-child benefit scrapped. Largely progressive tax implications. Good market reaction. No big spending cuts. Nightmare prospect of cutting funding to net zero etc avoided. It's a left-wing budget. Those who say there's no difference between Labour and Tories are bananas.
November 26, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Plus sides to today: Two-child benefit scrapped. Largely progressive tax implications. Good market reaction. No big spending cuts. Nightmare prospect of cutting funding to net zero etc avoided. It's a left-wing budget. Those who say there's no difference between Labour and Tories are bananas.
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
⚡️ Russia tightens grip on occupied Ukraine with illegal mobilization and child militarization, experts warn
Russia tightens grip on occupied Ukraine with illegal mobilization and child militarization, experts warn
While leaked reports of a U.S.-proposed peace plan have sparked international debates about the future of Ukraine`s occupied territories and the people who live there, Russia is forging ahead, entrenc...
kyivindependent.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
⚡️ Russia tightens grip on occupied Ukraine with illegal mobilization and child militarization, experts warn
Another good thing about ending the two child limit in the benefits system is that it ends the "rape clause", which demanded that women prove they had been raped and had left the rapist in order to claim child tax credits for a child conceived via abuse.
No more rape clause! Finally!
No more rape clause! Finally!
November 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Another good thing about ending the two child limit in the benefits system is that it ends the "rape clause", which demanded that women prove they had been raped and had left the rapist in order to claim child tax credits for a child conceived via abuse.
No more rape clause! Finally!
No more rape clause! Finally!
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
No mention of Local Housing Allowance that I can find in Budget documents (so assume freeze in rates will continue) or of benefit cap (assume will continue at current rate). Both would blunt some of the impact on child poverty of scrapping two-child limit
November 26, 2025 at 2:38 PM
No mention of Local Housing Allowance that I can find in Budget documents (so assume freeze in rates will continue) or of benefit cap (assume will continue at current rate). Both would blunt some of the impact on child poverty of scrapping two-child limit
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
With the government expected to scrap the two-child benefit cap in today's budget, here's a reminder of the disproportionate impact of the policy on Muslim families 👇
hyphenonline.com/2025/06/02/t...
hyphenonline.com/2025/06/02/t...
Two-child benefit cap: data reveals impact on Muslim children
Labour MPs and party’s Muslim network add to pressure on ministers to axe two-child benefit cap in light of Hyphen’s findings
hyphenonline.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:21 AM
With the government expected to scrap the two-child benefit cap in today's budget, here's a reminder of the disproportionate impact of the policy on Muslim families 👇
hyphenonline.com/2025/06/02/t...
hyphenonline.com/2025/06/02/t...
The Mail gave the co-founder of Enough a massive spread to talk about the campaign, and to tell his daughter's story. No where does it mention the concerns, the criticisms, the issues with self swab kits, how it shares disinfo about rape crisis, and - always to me the most shocking bit - how its
November 26, 2025 at 9:38 AM
The Mail gave the co-founder of Enough a massive spread to talk about the campaign, and to tell his daughter's story. No where does it mention the concerns, the criticisms, the issues with self swab kits, how it shares disinfo about rape crisis, and - always to me the most shocking bit - how its
Yep - the government is consistently failing to make the case as to why it is investing more in defence and how the changing geopolitical system plus that whole war going on means it is increasingly needed
Utterly surreal that a key part of the pre Budget narrative from the government hasn’t been ‘Russian planes keep buzzing the Essex coast, US support for NATO is looking shaky, and thanks to the Tories our army fits in Old Trafford - that’s why we need to raise taxes’.
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Yep - the government is consistently failing to make the case as to why it is investing more in defence and how the changing geopolitical system plus that whole war going on means it is increasingly needed
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
A Palestinian-American boy on a trip to the West Bank was arrested for throwing stones at settlers, which he denies. He was arrested aged 15, and held without charge and without speaking to his father for nine months. He was also allegedly beaten during detention. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Palestinian-US teen held by Israel for nine months without charge due in court
Mohammed Ibrahim, 16, from Florida, was detained by Israeli soldiers while on holiday in the occupied West Bank.
www.bbc.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:43 AM
A Palestinian-American boy on a trip to the West Bank was arrested for throwing stones at settlers, which he denies. He was arrested aged 15, and held without charge and without speaking to his father for nine months. He was also allegedly beaten during detention. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
The government’s decision to halve the time limit for refugees to leave Home Office accommodation is driving people into homelessness and exploitation, according to migrant rights campaigners and homelessness charities
By me, for @theleaduk.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
By me, for @theleaduk.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
New asylum policies making homeless refugees “targets for the far right”
Labour’s abrupt return to the 28-day move-on period is pushing vulnerable people into rough sleeping and exposing them to fraud and abuse.
national.thelead.uk
November 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
The government’s decision to halve the time limit for refugees to leave Home Office accommodation is driving people into homelessness and exploitation, according to migrant rights campaigners and homelessness charities
By me, for @theleaduk.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
By me, for @theleaduk.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
God this is awful
😳💔 In Kharkiv, water is being supplied on a schedule due to Russian strikes on infrastructure. The enemy launched 10 "Shaheds" that destroyed a transformer substation, the city mayor said.
November 25, 2025 at 12:28 PM
God this is awful
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
❗️ The number of people killed in Kyiv as a result of shelling has increased to 7 people
In the Desnyansky district, the body of a deceased man was removed from under the rubble, - Klitschko.
In the Desnyansky district, the body of a deceased man was removed from under the rubble, - Klitschko.
November 25, 2025 at 11:13 AM
❗️ The number of people killed in Kyiv as a result of shelling has increased to 7 people
In the Desnyansky district, the body of a deceased man was removed from under the rubble, - Klitschko.
In the Desnyansky district, the body of a deceased man was removed from under the rubble, - Klitschko.
So revealing how many people on the liberal/left side of the political spectrum bang on about wealth tax, then as soon as there is a tax on wealth it’s like: no! Not MY wealth.
November 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM
So revealing how many people on the liberal/left side of the political spectrum bang on about wealth tax, then as soon as there is a tax on wealth it’s like: no! Not MY wealth.
November 25, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
FUCKING HELL I FUCKING CANT DEAL WITH FUCKING AM*RICANS HOW DO YOU NOT DRINK FROM SWAMPS YOU TROGLODYTE
November 25, 2025 at 8:58 AM
FUCKING HELL I FUCKING CANT DEAL WITH FUCKING AM*RICANS HOW DO YOU NOT DRINK FROM SWAMPS YOU TROGLODYTE
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
"We have built factories that could start making equipment tomorrow. But we can’t until an order is placed”
Worked with @estwebber.bsky.social on a sad tale about Britain's defence industry, waiting to hear if the government will ever pour money into the sector
www.politico.eu/article/keir...
Worked with @estwebber.bsky.social on a sad tale about Britain's defence industry, waiting to hear if the government will ever pour money into the sector
www.politico.eu/article/keir...
Starmer promised to spend big on defense but Britain’s arms industry is still waiting
Six months after a major inquiry into how the U.K. would meet geopolitical threats, many in the industry complain they haven’t received the certainty they need about where the British government pl…
www.politico.eu
November 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM
"We have built factories that could start making equipment tomorrow. But we can’t until an order is placed”
Worked with @estwebber.bsky.social on a sad tale about Britain's defence industry, waiting to hear if the government will ever pour money into the sector
www.politico.eu/article/keir...
Worked with @estwebber.bsky.social on a sad tale about Britain's defence industry, waiting to hear if the government will ever pour money into the sector
www.politico.eu/article/keir...
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
🔴 UPD: Six people were killed, and at least 14 were injured as a result of the Russian attack on Kyiv overnight.
🔗 united24media.com/latest-news/...
🔗 united24media.com/latest-news/...
November 25, 2025 at 8:25 AM
🔴 UPD: Six people were killed, and at least 14 were injured as a result of the Russian attack on Kyiv overnight.
🔗 united24media.com/latest-news/...
🔗 united24media.com/latest-news/...
Reposted by sianushka.bsky.social
Honestly crazy how no man has ever had any problem that oppressing women couldn’t solve.
November 24, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Honestly crazy how no man has ever had any problem that oppressing women couldn’t solve.
