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Reposted by Ruth Hubbard

Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 13d

Brilliant discussion with the fab @graceblakeley.substack.com
on everything from growth to inequality, power & community organising, & how capitalism is actually a “system based on centralised planning & control rather than free markets”, where big biz is protected from consequences of failure👇

Bold Politics with Zack Polanski @boldpolitics.bsky.social · 14d

The latest episode with Zack Polanski in conversation with Grace Blakeley breaking down the structures that ultimately prop up our inequality is premiering now!

youtu.be/ojrrTf_SD0M

Why Rachel Reeves Is Obsessed With Growth At Any Cost | Grace Blakeley | Zack Polanski

YouTube video by Bold Politics with Zack Polanski

youtu.be

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Reposted by Ruth Hubbard

Simon Duffy @simonduffy.bsky.social · 13d

Yesterday we published what I think will be a key document for @citizennetwork.bsky.social - a strategy to create neighbourhoods of care. Although I hope is that it will be adopted in South Yorkshire it will also encourage others to radically reimagine care.
citizen-network.org/library/neig...

Citizen Network: Neighbourhoods of Care

A strategy to reorientate care policies to support citizenship and inclusive neighbourhoods.

citizen-network.org

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 12d

Too close to govt??

Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 12d

But why no word from IPPR North on the top-down, democracy-decimating, removal-of-rights, contemptuous to communities Clause 57? bills.parliament.uk/publications...

bills.parliament.uk

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 21d

And where is New Local speaking up about Clause 57? To defend community power exercised. The Bill overturns a democratic mandate in Sheff & removes the right of local areas (& communities) to decide the way they work. So where is yr voice?
itsoursheffield.co.uk
itsoursheffield.co.uk/trashing-ref...

Home - It's Our City Sheffield

itsoursheffield.co.uk

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 21d

My bad. As in www.itsoursheffield.co.uk

Home - It's Our City Sheffield

www.itsoursheffield.co.uk

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 21d

itsoursheffield.co.uk

itsoursheffield.co.uk/trashing-ref...

Home - It's Our City Sheffield

itsoursheffield.co.uk

Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 21d

Pushing power out of Westminster into hands of communities? U r joking. In Sheffield we took power as (diverse) communities 2 change our council. Now Clause 57 of the Bill will trash the referendum we won & top down impose the very governance system we rejected. Stop 57. www.itsoursheffield.org.uk

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 26d

@allymcgovern.bsky.social Please read below Alison...

Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · Jun 28

@jimmcmahon.co.uk

Minister, this one is particularly for you - Sheffield Can’t Go Back 👇👇🏽

Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · Jun 28

SHEFFIELD CAN’T GO BACK….

It’s Our City! public statement on the government announcement that they intend to overturn the result of Sheffield’s referendum 👇👇🏽

@se13ed.bsky.social @franbelbin.bsky.social @goodlawproject.org

itsoursheffield.co.uk/public-state...

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Reposted by Ruth Hubbard

Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 28d

Democracy relies on mutual understanding and compromise to resolve conflict. Extreme affective polarization makes this form of resolution virtually impossible.

How to Fight Polarization | Journal of Democracy

The world increasingly appears afflicted by “us-them” divides that breed anger, resentment, and violence. But across the globe small local groups are mounting a thoughtful resistance against…

www.journalofdemocracy.org

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 29d

Just seen. I have a clip...
Olivia Blake (Sheff Hallam) also spoke up similarly, later in the debate.

www.facebook.com/share/v/17Jd...

Redirecting...

www.facebook.com

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Reposted by Ruth Hubbard

Ed Hammond @se13ed.bsky.social · Sep 4

You may have missed it (and I don't have a clip) but at the second reading of the Devo Bill Abtisam Mohamed MP (Sheffield Central) highlighted the inequity of Government's abolition of the cttee system... (1/2)

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Reposted by Ruth Hubbard

Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 29d

Populism is a mortal threat to liberal democracy, but it rarely hits the mark. The evidence shows that these would-be strongmen require an extraordinary set of circumstances to succeed, which is why they so rarely do.

muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

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Reposted by Ruth Hubbard

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Sep 9

Could we please stop pretending that the flags being hung from streetlamps or painted on roundabouts are innocent expressions of patriotic pride? This is the far right marking out its territory. It uses these flags to intimidate its traditional victims and opponents. 🧵1/3

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 29d

So @se13ed.bsky.social this is a helluva lot of political ‘churn’ for a Bill to be subject to at this stage. What does the article below say please (paywall)?? 👇
www.room151.co.uk/funding/futu...

www.room151.co.uk

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 29d

Of course councils (including local people) should hv the right and freedom to determine their own governance arrangements. Clause 57 is utterly incoherent in relation to what the govt claims it wants to do. (And their evidence-free, misinforming approach to this is bizarre and shameful.)

Ed Hammond @se13ed.bsky.social · Sep 9

This isn't, of course, all about cost. We've said before that councils should have the freedom to determine their own governance arrangements and that the removal of that provision is disappointing irrespective of finances. But the failure to address costs, as reported, is a further worry. (7/ends)

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Reposted by Ruth Hubbard

Ed Hammond @se13ed.bsky.social · Sep 9

Arguably moving from the cttee system reopens that settlement, and time and effort will need to be expended understanding the wider impact there on local democracy. Similar considerations apply to Bristol and to a gtr or lesser extent to the other non-shire district cttee system authorities (6/)

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Reposted by Ruth Hubbard

Ed Hammond @se13ed.bsky.social · Sep 9

For councils faced with this choice however they could (reasonably) think the costs they will incur will be higher. In Sheffield the adoption of the committee system was part of a wide "civic settlement" (my words!!) with local people following the street trees debacle. (5/)

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 29d

...disingenuous repetitions of myths and lies about committee systems - sheer nonsense from.the govt. For what? (We do need answers here.) 2/2

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 29d

And actually not only must it go, but there needs to be much deeper thought at govt level about frameworks (& rights & freedoms) that support local governance responses (& for local democracies the govt is putting at risk) that can respond to the current moment. Not the cloth-eared and....1/2

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 29d

...further potential.

This is why Clause 57 is so unconscionable - undermining (hard-won) basic legitimacy via a civic settlement (& at a time when there's vanishingly little trust & legitimacy).

Significant govt arrogance & sheer vandalism, quite at odds with govt claims.
Clause 57 must go.//

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 29d

..we absolutely had our say as citizens in the referendum and established the principle by democratic (and resounding) vote for change. And of course political/officer views and perspectives are also legitimate too. So yes definitely a new & important civic 'settlement'. And with....

4/

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 29d

But I get they were fearful at that point.

However, I will say they made the legal change required w. great commitment, despite their fear/shock at that point. They hv embraced it even if largely on their own terms to date. (And of course its been a really important lever 4 wider change.)

But..
3/

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 29d

...champion particularly what has been done subsequent to the referendum as it was taken over very much as a legal/technocratic/political and 'council-owned' exercise from the point of the referendum. (Oh it could be so much better and democratically innovative building on what citizens did.)

2/

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Ruth Hubbard @itsourcity1.bsky.social · 29d

Oh I think 'civic settlement' is probably an accurate phrase & others in #sheffield wld agree I think - given that our change to a cttee system involved the most significant citizen & community mobilisation for local governance change ever seen in England. Itsoursheffield.co.uk

I will not....

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