Abi O'Connor
@drabioconnor.bsky.social
Urban Sociologist. Leverhulme ECF @ Sheffield University. Fellow @ Uni of Liverpool. PhD ✍️ political economy of housing/land, spatial inequality, local gov/politics & stigma. Fullback Union rep. Organising w Liverpool Residents Action et al. Views my own
We’re on our 3rd day of (v cold) strike today @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
Donate to the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund
What is the Sheffield UCU Industrial Action Solidarity Fund, and how to contribute.
shorturl.at
November 19, 2025 at 10:24 AM
We’re on our 3rd day of (v cold) strike today @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
HE is being dismantled by mgmt on eye watering salaries, whilst staff delivering teaching, research & admin are casualised, burnt out & forced out
Pls donate to our fighting fund if you can shorturl.at/EpeTe
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
another good day at the Arts Tower picket today --- sending lots of solidarity from there!
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
another good day at the Arts Tower picket today --- sending lots of solidarity from there!
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
Saw the sun rise across the Pennines this morning as I was on my way to Sheffield, sadly I’m here because we’re on strike to stand against compulsory redundancies at Sheffield, the continued erosion of our working conditions & students’ learning conditions
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Saw the sun rise across the Pennines this morning as I was on my way to Sheffield, sadly I’m here because we’re on strike to stand against compulsory redundancies at Sheffield, the continued erosion of our working conditions & students’ learning conditions
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
The Labour Government reeling off the same far-right talking points on immigration. And look who is celebrating. The far-right.
There is a political alternative that won’t ever scapegoat those fleeing war, persecution and torture
join.greenparty.org.uk
There is a political alternative that won’t ever scapegoat those fleeing war, persecution and torture
join.greenparty.org.uk
November 16, 2025 at 10:28 AM
The Labour Government reeling off the same far-right talking points on immigration. And look who is celebrating. The far-right.
There is a political alternative that won’t ever scapegoat those fleeing war, persecution and torture
join.greenparty.org.uk
There is a political alternative that won’t ever scapegoat those fleeing war, persecution and torture
join.greenparty.org.uk
I chatted to Matthew Wright on @LBC about this today, the underlying issue for this government’s housing plans remains the same:
They prioritise the corporate developer lobby over communities, nature & those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
They prioritise the corporate developer lobby over communities, nature & those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
November 16, 2025 at 8:33 AM
I chatted to Matthew Wright on @LBC about this today, the underlying issue for this government’s housing plans remains the same:
They prioritise the corporate developer lobby over communities, nature & those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
They prioritise the corporate developer lobby over communities, nature & those at the sharp end of the housing crisis.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The UK’s largest mortgage lender becoming one of the country’s biggest landlords is a problem, for many reasons
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Lloyds the landlord: how the bank quietly became a big rental property player
Bank has a £2bn rental property portfolio via its Lloyds Living arm, amassing 7,000 properties so far with plans to add 43,000 more by 2030
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The UK’s largest mortgage lender becoming one of the country’s biggest landlords is a problem, for many reasons
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
New York City elect Mayor who supports rent freezes, Conor Bradley sent Real Madrid packing again & the Labour party continues to poll terribly as a result of their own political choices. A brighter Wednesday than usual
November 5, 2025 at 10:14 AM
New York City elect Mayor who supports rent freezes, Conor Bradley sent Real Madrid packing again & the Labour party continues to poll terribly as a result of their own political choices. A brighter Wednesday than usual
Very normal response to an extremely low bar being set in housing law
November 2, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Very normal response to an extremely low bar being set in housing law
On my way to London for 2 important events today. First up the Homes for Us annual summit, power building with housing activists from across the UK 🫡 then onto Stratford Library for the Custom House Our House closing exhibition - a real privilege to be part of such amazing projects ❤️
October 25, 2025 at 7:23 AM
On my way to London for 2 important events today. First up the Homes for Us annual summit, power building with housing activists from across the UK 🫡 then onto Stratford Library for the Custom House Our House closing exhibition - a real privilege to be part of such amazing projects ❤️
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
Check out this excellent interview given by @drabioconnor.bsky.social to #PoliticsLive on mass displacement and rent rises in Manchester
More from me on #PoliticsLive:
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
October 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Check out this excellent interview given by @drabioconnor.bsky.social to #PoliticsLive on mass displacement and rent rises in Manchester
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
Spare a thought for all the journalists and pundits who will be disappointed that Reform did not win in Caerphilly
That will not stop the hype though and the mainstreaming circus will move on to the next scandal, opinion poll or by-election that suits the narrative with a focus on immigration etc
That will not stop the hype though and the mainstreaming circus will move on to the next scandal, opinion poll or by-election that suits the narrative with a focus on immigration etc
October 24, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Spare a thought for all the journalists and pundits who will be disappointed that Reform did not win in Caerphilly
That will not stop the hype though and the mainstreaming circus will move on to the next scandal, opinion poll or by-election that suits the narrative with a focus on immigration etc
That will not stop the hype though and the mainstreaming circus will move on to the next scandal, opinion poll or by-election that suits the narrative with a focus on immigration etc
More from me on #PoliticsLive:
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
October 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
More from me on #PoliticsLive:
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
🤔 Labour MP said she benefited from safe & secure as a kid, as did many, so why won’t govt extend that opportunity to others?
👀 see Manchester where ‘build baby build’ has been embraced yet there’s been +50% rent rises & mass displacement
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
-> @drabioconnor.bsky.social calls out the Government and private building industry for failing to build the number of homes needed, and for the inherent shortcomings of relying on a profit-driven private sector model/system to build homes for those in housing need. #BBCPanorama
“That’s the biggest misunderstanding in this country of the housing crisis. That it’s a crisis reserved for the poorest people in insecure jobs…”
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Panorama - The Race to Build 1.5 Million Homes
The government’s made a very big promise: to build 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029. Anita Rani and Justin Rowlatt travel the length of the country to find out if it can be done.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 7:47 PM
-> @drabioconnor.bsky.social calls out the Government and private building industry for failing to build the number of homes needed, and for the inherent shortcomings of relying on a profit-driven private sector model/system to build homes for those in housing need. #BBCPanorama
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
“That’s the biggest misunderstanding in this country of the housing crisis. That it’s a crisis reserved for the poorest people in insecure jobs…”
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Panorama - The Race to Build 1.5 Million Homes
The government’s made a very big promise: to build 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029. Anita Rani and Justin Rowlatt travel the length of the country to find out if it can be done.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
“That’s the biggest misunderstanding in this country of the housing crisis. That it’s a crisis reserved for the poorest people in insecure jobs…”
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
@drabioconnor.bsky.social talks to BBC Panorama’s Anita Rani as part of their investigation into the UK housing crisis.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Ahead of my appearance on Panorama tonight, I was on #PoliticsLive talking about how the government aren’t fixing the housing crisis. They’re ignoring 172k children in temporary accommodation, refusing to address *astronomical rents* & siding with developers (but denying it!)
October 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Ahead of my appearance on Panorama tonight, I was on #PoliticsLive talking about how the government aren’t fixing the housing crisis. They’re ignoring 172k children in temporary accommodation, refusing to address *astronomical rents* & siding with developers (but denying it!)
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
Here's a link to Abi's project: sheffield.ac.uk/crafic/news/...
Dr Abi O’Connor joins CRAFiC through the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme
Abi O’Connor will join Sheffield University Management School’s Centre for Research into Accounting and Finance in Context to research a project titled ‘Following urban assetisation: a comparative the...
sheffield.ac.uk
October 20, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Here's a link to Abi's project: sheffield.ac.uk/crafic/news/...
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
A big welcome to @drabioconnor.bsky.social who has joined CRAFiC as a @leverhulme.ac.uk Early Career Fellow. Her project is titled: ‘Following urban assetisation: a comparative theory of local state restructuring’ - I'm really looking forward to the findings... sheffield.ac.uk/management/p...
O'Connor, Abi , Dr
sheffield.ac.uk
October 20, 2025 at 12:55 PM
A big welcome to @drabioconnor.bsky.social who has joined CRAFiC as a @leverhulme.ac.uk Early Career Fellow. Her project is titled: ‘Following urban assetisation: a comparative theory of local state restructuring’ - I'm really looking forward to the findings... sheffield.ac.uk/management/p...
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty.
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Transition Security Project
transitionsecurity.org
October 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty.
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵
transitionsecurity.org
In todays episode of the housing crisis is a result of political choices:
'London Council buys back home sold under the right to buy for almost *FOUR* times original cost'
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
'London Council buys back home sold under the right to buy for almost *FOUR* times original cost'
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
London council buys back Right to Buy home for almost four times original cost
Councils ‘should have retained’ homes sold off under Right to Buy scheme, experts say
www.independent.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 3:12 PM
In todays episode of the housing crisis is a result of political choices:
'London Council buys back home sold under the right to buy for almost *FOUR* times original cost'
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
'London Council buys back home sold under the right to buy for almost *FOUR* times original cost'
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
What @zackpolanski.bsky.social is saying is simply what anyone who pays attention to politics is witnessing
Starmer has played a key role in mainstreaming far-right politics, enabled by a mainstream media which still tiptoes around this terrible state of affairs
Starmer has played a key role in mainstreaming far-right politics, enabled by a mainstream media which still tiptoes around this terrible state of affairs
October 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
What @zackpolanski.bsky.social is saying is simply what anyone who pays attention to politics is witnessing
Starmer has played a key role in mainstreaming far-right politics, enabled by a mainstream media which still tiptoes around this terrible state of affairs
Starmer has played a key role in mainstreaming far-right politics, enabled by a mainstream media which still tiptoes around this terrible state of affairs
It's finally my first day as a @leverhulme.ac.uk early career fellow at @sheffielduni.bsky.social in the Centre for Finance & Accounting in Context! Not in Sheffield yet, as on route London to record for Panorama on the housing crisis which this govt show they have little interest in fixing...
October 1, 2025 at 10:16 AM
It's finally my first day as a @leverhulme.ac.uk early career fellow at @sheffielduni.bsky.social in the Centre for Finance & Accounting in Context! Not in Sheffield yet, as on route London to record for Panorama on the housing crisis which this govt show they have little interest in fixing...
I was on LBC at 8am & we referenced young people living in vans due to housing crisis… now I’m listening to Keir Starmer on BBC saying “it was only £20,000” about a piece of land he bought for his mum’s donkeys...quite incredible
September 28, 2025 at 8:28 AM
I was on LBC at 8am & we referenced young people living in vans due to housing crisis… now I’m listening to Keir Starmer on BBC saying “it was only £20,000” about a piece of land he bought for his mum’s donkeys...quite incredible
Wrapping up two busy years at @neweconomics.bsky.social ! Grateful to the good folk I’ve worked with, the communities who’ve participated in research & housing activists who I’ve organised with. The future is ours!
September 26, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Wrapping up two busy years at @neweconomics.bsky.social ! Grateful to the good folk I’ve worked with, the communities who’ve participated in research & housing activists who I’ve organised with. The future is ours!
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
Our political class has a special kind of collective psychosis.
Two years into a genocide, after arming the perpetrators, they draw themselves up to their fullest height, clear their throats, and say: "we recognise the existence of the victims".
And we are supposed to stand and applaud.
Two years into a genocide, after arming the perpetrators, they draw themselves up to their fullest height, clear their throats, and say: "we recognise the existence of the victims".
And we are supposed to stand and applaud.
September 21, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Our political class has a special kind of collective psychosis.
Two years into a genocide, after arming the perpetrators, they draw themselves up to their fullest height, clear their throats, and say: "we recognise the existence of the victims".
And we are supposed to stand and applaud.
Two years into a genocide, after arming the perpetrators, they draw themselves up to their fullest height, clear their throats, and say: "we recognise the existence of the victims".
And we are supposed to stand and applaud.
Reposted by Abi O'Connor
They’re betting everything on “this time even tougher than ever we promise” on immigration to save Starmer.
I’d say brace for a proper BNP-style conference speech.
I’d say brace for a proper BNP-style conference speech.
September 19, 2025 at 10:18 AM
They’re betting everything on “this time even tougher than ever we promise” on immigration to save Starmer.
I’d say brace for a proper BNP-style conference speech.
I’d say brace for a proper BNP-style conference speech.