Rebecca Goldsmith
@beccagold.bsky.social
Writing about politics, the ‘vernacular’, selfhood and class. Research Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge.
PhD on ‘The making of “Labour’s working class” 1931-1951’. She/her
PhD on ‘The making of “Labour’s working class” 1931-1951’. She/her
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Not enough attention is being paid to the effective closure of the bulk of one of the 2 or 3 most important public archives for modern British history. A terrible own goal for the BBC as a public-service agency.
For those in Oxford, I’ll be speaking tomorrow at the Modern British History seminar! Come along to hear some of the findings from my recently completed PhD thesis on ‘The making of “Labour’s working class”, 1931-51’.
October 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
For those in Oxford, I’ll be speaking tomorrow at the Modern British History seminar! Come along to hear some of the findings from my recently completed PhD thesis on ‘The making of “Labour’s working class”, 1931-51’.
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
🚨We’re hiring a Junior Research Fellow in Economic History (Sept 2026–Aug 2029) at Wadham College, University of Oxford. It’s a genuinely supportive place to work. Happy to answer any questions. Spread the word!
www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/about/the-da...
www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/about/the-da...
The David Richards Junior Research Fellowship in Economic History
Wadham College invites applications for a fixed-term Junior Research Fellowship in Economic History, named the David Richards Fellowship, September 2026 – August 2029.
www.wadham.ox.ac.uk
October 29, 2025 at 11:43 AM
🚨We’re hiring a Junior Research Fellow in Economic History (Sept 2026–Aug 2029) at Wadham College, University of Oxford. It’s a genuinely supportive place to work. Happy to answer any questions. Spread the word!
www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/about/the-da...
www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/about/the-da...
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
'This widespread sense of insecurity is rooted in the very real threat of significant, targeted harm that trans people can be exposed to simply by existing in public. Almost two-thirds (65%) of trans adults reported verbal abuse in public spaces'.
By simply existing in public.
By simply existing in public.
In @yougov.co.uk polling of the trans community, to the best of our knowledge the first of its kind ever conducted, an astonishing 84% said Britain is “fairly unsafe” or “very unsafe” for trans people.
goodlaw.social/ncfw
goodlaw.social/ncfw
‘Abject terror’: survey shows 84% of trans people feel Britain is unsafe
YouGov poll reveals safety crisis for trans people in the UK
goodlaw.social
October 28, 2025 at 7:56 AM
'This widespread sense of insecurity is rooted in the very real threat of significant, targeted harm that trans people can be exposed to simply by existing in public. Almost two-thirds (65%) of trans adults reported verbal abuse in public spaces'.
By simply existing in public.
By simply existing in public.
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
🚨 New MBH article alert! This piece was the wonderfully deserving winner of the Tanner Prize last year.
“Roads to Economization: Valuing Life, Limb, and Leisure in the Social Democratic State” by Charles Troup is out now in Modern British History.
👉 doi.org/10.1093/tcbh...
#ModernBritishHistory
“Roads to Economization: Valuing Life, Limb, and Leisure in the Social Democratic State” by Charles Troup is out now in Modern British History.
👉 doi.org/10.1093/tcbh...
#ModernBritishHistory
Roads to Economization: Valuing Life, Limb, and Leisure in the Social Democratic State
Abstract. This article reinterprets contemporary forms of economization in UK government by recovering their emergence in the early nationalized transport
doi.org
October 28, 2025 at 10:28 AM
🚨 New MBH article alert! This piece was the wonderfully deserving winner of the Tanner Prize last year.
“Roads to Economization: Valuing Life, Limb, and Leisure in the Social Democratic State” by Charles Troup is out now in Modern British History.
👉 doi.org/10.1093/tcbh...
#ModernBritishHistory
“Roads to Economization: Valuing Life, Limb, and Leisure in the Social Democratic State” by Charles Troup is out now in Modern British History.
👉 doi.org/10.1093/tcbh...
#ModernBritishHistory
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
My book UP IN THE AIR: A HISTORY OF HIGH-RISE BRITAIN is out today!
October 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
My book UP IN THE AIR: A HISTORY OF HIGH-RISE BRITAIN is out today!
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
I tried to cover a lot of ground here. A few points developing the argument, regarding current government's "Pride in Place" etc: basically I like this stuff, but worry a bit about lack of realism about what they might achieve in isolation.
📖 @npjgarland.bsky.social pens our next 10-year anniversary essay, exploring the history of past regeneration efforts to help guide today’s public policy, and offering three lessons as the government pursues its new Pride of Place agenda.
Read: http://bit.ly/4qoNpXz #PowerToChange10
Read: http://bit.ly/4qoNpXz #PowerToChange10
October 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I tried to cover a lot of ground here. A few points developing the argument, regarding current government's "Pride in Place" etc: basically I like this stuff, but worry a bit about lack of realism about what they might achieve in isolation.
An excellent report for understanding what Labour can and must learn from community-centred policy-making in the past.
For @powertochange.org.uk I suggested some "lessons from history" on community and public policy, from the late 1960s through to the current government's "Pride in Place".
www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and...
www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and...
Looking back to move forwards: A historical perspective on community and public policy - Power to Change
This month's essay from Nick Garland explores how past regeneration efforts like the New Deal for Communities offer vital lessons for shaping sustainab ...
www.powertochange.org.uk
October 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
An excellent report for understanding what Labour can and must learn from community-centred policy-making in the past.
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
If you're in Cambridge next Wednesday, do join me for the History and Politics seminar, where I'll be talking about the politicisation of disability in early to mid twentieth-century Britain through print culture, marches, charters and defiant visual culture.
www.polis.cam.ac.uk/events/histo...
www.polis.cam.ac.uk/events/histo...
History and Politics Seminar Series | Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS)
Michaelmas Term Seminars All meetings will take place in the Knox Shaw Room at Sidney Sussex College on Wednesdays at 5:30pm, except for the conference on 13 November, which will be held at Churchill ...
www.polis.cam.ac.uk
October 17, 2025 at 11:57 AM
If you're in Cambridge next Wednesday, do join me for the History and Politics seminar, where I'll be talking about the politicisation of disability in early to mid twentieth-century Britain through print culture, marches, charters and defiant visual culture.
www.polis.cam.ac.uk/events/histo...
www.polis.cam.ac.uk/events/histo...
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
We are delighted to announce that MBS2026 will be held at the University of Birmingham, 3-5 June 2026!
Papers may consider the opening day's theme of 'Polycrisis', but we also welcome all submissions related to modern British studies.
For any questions please contact [email protected]
Papers may consider the opening day's theme of 'Polycrisis', but we also welcome all submissions related to modern British studies.
For any questions please contact [email protected]
Modern British Studies Conference 2026 - University of Birmingham
Conference information
www.birmingham.ac.uk
October 17, 2025 at 9:12 AM
We are delighted to announce that MBS2026 will be held at the University of Birmingham, 3-5 June 2026!
Papers may consider the opening day's theme of 'Polycrisis', but we also welcome all submissions related to modern British studies.
For any questions please contact [email protected]
Papers may consider the opening day's theme of 'Polycrisis', but we also welcome all submissions related to modern British studies.
For any questions please contact [email protected]
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
CfP: The British General Strike of 1926: New Directions of Research, 7-8 May 2026 @newcastleuni.bsky.social
Deadline: 6 February 2026
More details:
@sslh.bsky.social
sslh.org.uk/2025/10/13/c...
sslh.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Kindly supported by @leverhulme.ac.uk
#GeneralStrike1926 #GeneralStrike100
Deadline: 6 February 2026
More details:
@sslh.bsky.social
sslh.org.uk/2025/10/13/c...
sslh.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Kindly supported by @leverhulme.ac.uk
#GeneralStrike1926 #GeneralStrike100
CfP: The British General Strike of 1926: New Directions of Research
To commemorate the centenary of the British General Strike and miners’ lock-out, Newcastle University’s Labour & Society Research Group (LSRG) is organising a conference that revisits the…
sslh.org.uk
October 14, 2025 at 11:57 AM
CfP: The British General Strike of 1926: New Directions of Research, 7-8 May 2026 @newcastleuni.bsky.social
Deadline: 6 February 2026
More details:
@sslh.bsky.social
sslh.org.uk/2025/10/13/c...
sslh.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Kindly supported by @leverhulme.ac.uk
#GeneralStrike1926 #GeneralStrike100
Deadline: 6 February 2026
More details:
@sslh.bsky.social
sslh.org.uk/2025/10/13/c...
sslh.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Kindly supported by @leverhulme.ac.uk
#GeneralStrike1926 #GeneralStrike100
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
New online: The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) collection is now available on LSE Digital Library! We’ve digitised and published the GLF Diaries and the GLF newspaper Come Together. Further series from the archives will be added as digitisation continues.
1/2
digital.library.lse.ac.uk/collections/...
1/2
digital.library.lse.ac.uk/collections/...
October 14, 2025 at 11:16 AM
New online: The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) collection is now available on LSE Digital Library! We’ve digitised and published the GLF Diaries and the GLF newspaper Come Together. Further series from the archives will be added as digitisation continues.
1/2
digital.library.lse.ac.uk/collections/...
1/2
digital.library.lse.ac.uk/collections/...
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
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'
- @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
October 11, 2025 at 10:25 AM
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'
- @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'
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
Join us for a roundtable on 'The Modern British City' in January at Senate House, London, with Simon Gunn, Erika Hanna, Owen Hatherley, Peter Mandler, Otto Saumarez Smith and Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, followed by wine! www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Roundtable: 'The Modern British City'
www.history.ac.uk
October 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Join us for a roundtable on 'The Modern British City' in January at Senate House, London, with Simon Gunn, Erika Hanna, Owen Hatherley, Peter Mandler, Otto Saumarez Smith and Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, followed by wine! www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
This collaborative PhD project with the LSE and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on Planting Decolonization: Plantation Science and Empire in the Twentieth Century, sounds amazing.
I’m sure many of you might be interested.
#STS #HPS #HistSci
www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse...
I’m sure many of you might be interested.
#STS #HPS #HistSci
www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse...
LSE Collaborative Studentship with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
LSE Collaborative Studentship with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
www.lse.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This collaborative PhD project with the LSE and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on Planting Decolonization: Plantation Science and Empire in the Twentieth Century, sounds amazing.
I’m sure many of you might be interested.
#STS #HPS #HistSci
www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse...
I’m sure many of you might be interested.
#STS #HPS #HistSci
www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse...
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
*Calling PhD students of modern British and imperial history in London*
The @ihrbritainseminar.bsky.social's first session this Thursday (9 Oct.) is dedicated to PhDs, at any stage, for elevator pitches and meet-and-greet. Do come along! Details in the link.
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
The @ihrbritainseminar.bsky.social's first session this Thursday (9 Oct.) is dedicated to PhDs, at any stage, for elevator pitches and meet-and-greet. Do come along! Details in the link.
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
New PhD Student Session
For the first session of term we will be hosting a meet and greet at the IHR for all PhD students in modern British and imperial history.
www.history.ac.uk
October 7, 2025 at 12:17 PM
*Calling PhD students of modern British and imperial history in London*
The @ihrbritainseminar.bsky.social's first session this Thursday (9 Oct.) is dedicated to PhDs, at any stage, for elevator pitches and meet-and-greet. Do come along! Details in the link.
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
The @ihrbritainseminar.bsky.social's first session this Thursday (9 Oct.) is dedicated to PhDs, at any stage, for elevator pitches and meet-and-greet. Do come along! Details in the link.
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Delighted to be admitted as a research fellow at Lise Jardine’s (and Raymond Williams’) college today, in excellent company @jesuscollegecam.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Delighted to be admitted as a research fellow at Lise Jardine’s (and Raymond Williams’) college today, in excellent company @jesuscollegecam.bsky.social
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
Tony Harrison died on 26 September. The 𝘓𝘙𝘉 published nearly thirty of his poems over the years. He will be much missed.
The most famous of those poems was ‘v.’, first published in our pages forty years ago – a fearless, state-of-the-nation epic.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v0...
The most famous of those poems was ‘v.’, first published in our pages forty years ago – a fearless, state-of-the-nation epic.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v0...
Tony Harrison · Poem: ‘V.’
www.lrb.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Tony Harrison died on 26 September. The 𝘓𝘙𝘉 published nearly thirty of his poems over the years. He will be much missed.
The most famous of those poems was ‘v.’, first published in our pages forty years ago – a fearless, state-of-the-nation epic.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v0...
The most famous of those poems was ‘v.’, first published in our pages forty years ago – a fearless, state-of-the-nation epic.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v0...
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
Patrick is absolutely right that Labour lacks a sufficient intellectual culture - but instead of reading race-war Whatsapp essays from anonymous crackheads, Labour MPs should subscribe to @renewaljournal.bsky.social for serious and informed strategic analysis and argument
Come for the really good essay by Patrick Maguire, stay for the really bad one being shared (approvingly!!) by some Labour MPs: www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
There’s a void at the heart of Labour: it needs a battle of ideas
A withering analysis shared among Keir Starmer’s MPs says his vague incrementalism and absence of critical thinking is steering the party to disaster
www.thetimes.com
September 27, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Patrick is absolutely right that Labour lacks a sufficient intellectual culture - but instead of reading race-war Whatsapp essays from anonymous crackheads, Labour MPs should subscribe to @renewaljournal.bsky.social for serious and informed strategic analysis and argument
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
A fine obituary to the brilliant radical English poet www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...
Tony Harrison obituary: acclaimed Yorkshire poet and playwright
Writer whose poem V upset Mary Whitehouse and who was determined to show that the arts are not the preserve of the middle and upper classes dies aged 88
www.thetimes.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:37 AM
A fine obituary to the brilliant radical English poet www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
A short post about the Modern British City, out in November: www.lundhumphries.com/blogs/featur...
September 23, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A short post about the Modern British City, out in November: www.lundhumphries.com/blogs/featur...
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
So much talk about Reform voters, but I'm yet to read much about their lives beyond tropes and excuses ('legitimate concerns').
I've been back in the midlands to interview people and learn more. Here's my piece on them and Reform's attempts to present itself as a community-minded, pro-worker party:
I've been back in the midlands to interview people and learn more. Here's my piece on them and Reform's attempts to present itself as a community-minded, pro-worker party:
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
September 17, 2025 at 1:20 PM
So much talk about Reform voters, but I'm yet to read much about their lives beyond tropes and excuses ('legitimate concerns').
I've been back in the midlands to interview people and learn more. Here's my piece on them and Reform's attempts to present itself as a community-minded, pro-worker party:
I've been back in the midlands to interview people and learn more. Here's my piece on them and Reform's attempts to present itself as a community-minded, pro-worker party:
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
British History 1500-1900 at Christ's College, Cambridge. Deadline 26 September. www.christs.cam.ac.uk/college-lect...
College Lectureship and Fellowship in British History | Christs College Cambridge
www.christs.cam.ac.uk
September 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM
British History 1500-1900 at Christ's College, Cambridge. Deadline 26 September. www.christs.cam.ac.uk/college-lect...
Reposted by Rebecca Goldsmith
We've recorded nearly 100 hours of oral histories from British South Asians across the UK—spanning generations, identities & regions. Archived with the @britishlibrary.bsky.social & free to access: southasianbritain.org/oral-histories/project-collection/ @UoBArtsMatter @BL_Learning @QMULsed
Project Collection | South Asian Britain
southasianbritain.org
September 2, 2025 at 2:01 PM
We've recorded nearly 100 hours of oral histories from British South Asians across the UK—spanning generations, identities & regions. Archived with the @britishlibrary.bsky.social & free to access: southasianbritain.org/oral-histories/project-collection/ @UoBArtsMatter @BL_Learning @QMULsed