Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 17h

70,000 HE academic staff.

Almost half of teaching only staff.

Two-thirds of research-only academic staff.

ALL on fixed term contracts.

This isn’t flexibility, it’s exploitation.

Live tomorrow at 7 PM we expose the hypocrisy at the top of HE: youtube.com/live/rZRbCP0YJ…

10 10

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 16h

Yep and the fact you’re not allowed to name it even when very blatant!

1

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 19h

Amazing for Jenrick to try and defend comments *about not seeing white faces* by saying ‘It’s not about the colour of your skin or your faith’
It’s these comments that are disgraceful and ridiculous, not journalists rightly asking about emboldening the far right
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Robert Jenrick accused of fuelling ‘toxic nationalism’ with Birmingham claims

Shadow justice secretary stands by comments made in March amid criticism including from a Tory colleague

www.theguardian.com

1 1 3

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 19h

Voodoo people - all time fave ❤️

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 2d

Tax authorities examine finances of key Farage ally (who has a US conviction for wire fraud) www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Tax authorities examine finances of key Nigel Farage ally

Exclusive: HMRC conducts scoping exercise into Reform UK backer ‘Posh George’ Cottrell’s income from business and wealth

www.theguardian.com

10 100 220

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

HJA Civil Liberties @hjacivillibs.bsky.social · 1d

Clearsprings Ready Homes, a company providing accommodation to asylum seekers, has made nearly £187m in profits since being awarded lucrative government contracts, despite allegations of terrible conditions at the hotels it uses www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Asylum hotel provider makes £180m profit despite claims of inedible food and rationed loo paper

Asylum seekers and charities tell BBC of

www.bbc.co.uk

1 3 2

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Alasdair Mackenzie @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social · 1d

Thing is, if you’re a lawyer and a Tory - maybe you’re even a Tory peer - and you fail to speak out very clearly and publicly against this stuff, you’re signalling for all to see that you’re at best comfortable with fascism and the destruction of the rule of law

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 1d

We've already seen judges and lawyers being targeted as "enemies of the people". This increases risk of threats/attacks, while undermining judiciary as a whole. Couple it with Tory plans to scrap immigration tribunals and legal aid for people seeking asylum and it shows utter contempt for the law.

Robert Jenrick lists 30 'activist judges' he vows to axe in war on UK's open border

In a bold move, Robert Jenrick is set to unveil a controversial plan targeting what he calls 'activist' judges, at the Conservative Party conference.

2 120 250

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 1d

Devastating critique of Labour’s plans to double wait to apply for ILR or claim benefits, and require volunteering to gain citizenship. RCN warns the NHS and social care would cease to function under these harsh rules, which would drive people and pander to Reform www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

NHS could cease to function under Labour’s new visa rules, say nurses

Exclusive: Royal College of Nursing says plan to tighten rules for foreign workers is ‘pandering’ to Reform UK

www.theguardian.com

20 23

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Na'amod @naamoduk.bsky.social · 2d

On the eve of Sukkot and the 2nd anniversary of October 7th, we pause to mourn and share in the pain of the family and friends of those murdered and taken hostage two years ago in the Hamas-led attacks, some of whom have still not returned home.

1 6 24

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Holly Cullen @hollycullenfreo.bsky.social · 2d

Happening now: live broadcast of oral submissions on the advisory opinion request from the ILO on the right to strike under ILO Convention No 87 on Freedom of Association.

THE HAGUE – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings in the advisory proceedings on the Right to Strike – International Labour Office; International Trade Union Confederation; In...

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings on the request for an advisory opinion concerning the Right to Strike under ILO Convention No. 87 on 6 October 2025.

webtv.un.org

1 9 20

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 2d

‘The horrific antisemitic attacks in Manchester have left people frightened and shaken. Every Jewish person has the right to feel safe in their own community. And the answer to bigotry cannot be to shut down protest… when communities face terror and fear, we must look for ways to come together’

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 2d

inews.co.uk/opinion/zack...

Zack Polanski: I'm a Jewish Mancunian. Our grief cannot be used to silence protest

The answer to bigotry cannot be to shut down protest

inews.co.uk

15 24

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 2d

"Community kitchens feeding thousands of besieged residents in Sudan's El Fasher have shut down after running out of food, volunteers said on Sunday, raising fears of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in the North Darfur capital" sudantribune.com/article/305724

Community kitchens close in Sudan's besieged El Fasher as food runs out - Sudan Tribune

October 5, 2025 (EL FASHER) – Community kitchens feeding thousands of besieged residents in Sudan’s El Fasher have shut down after running out of food, volunteers said on Sunday, raising fears of a de...

sudantribune.com

3 2

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Dr Benjamin Thorne @benjaminthorne.bsky.social · 2d

Really important decision and hopefully will lead the way for other cases as this is unfortunately a much wider issue - www.bbc.com/news/article...

Kenyans win case to prove UK soldiers are their fathers - BBC News

Commercially available DNA databases were used to identify unknown fathers, who had served in Kenya.

www.bbc.com

5 4

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Yair Wallach @yairwallach.bsky.social · 3d

This shows that when the Jewish diaspora wants Israel to change tack in order to secure its vital interests - it has absolutely zero leverage.
For the Israeli government, the diaspora's interests count for nothing. Israel interests (however they see them) would always come first.

Yair Wallach @yairwallach.bsky.social · 3d

Extraordinary.

Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli tweet on X
"The @BoardofDeputies
has, regrettably, become first and foremost a political organization - openly aligned with left-wing, woke, pro-Palestinian parties.

Just hours after Jews were murdered in Manchester, instead of demanding protection or holding the government accountable, the Board rushed for a photo-op with the Prime Minister.

Once proudly Zionist, now politically adrift,
If only they showed the same energy attacking Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian terror state as they do attacking me and
@TRobinsonNewEra
.
10:51 PM · Oct 4, 2025
"

2 21 83

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 3d

Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace has ordered 12 former officers to serve terms of five to eight years of reparations and community work for their role in extra-judicial killings - part of a investigation into 'false positives' framing civilians as rebel fighters nacla.org/colombias-pe...

Colombia’s Peace Court Delivers Historic Sentence Against Military Officers

The ruling by the transitional justice tribunal, though criticized by some victims, brings hope that the country may soon turn the page.

nacla.org

2 5

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 4d

Damming investigation by @tbij.bsky.social on the employment tribunal penalty enforcement scheme, set up in 2016. It finds that of 7,000 workers who turned to the scheme to help them recover awards, three quarters of them did not get their money www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

Thousands of rogue bosses get away with not paying tribunal awards

The government scheme ‘enforcing’ money owed to workers has been unsuccessful in a staggering three-quarters of cases

www.thebureauinvestigates.com

3 2

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Daragh Murray @daragh.bsky.social · 4d

Great and incredibly timely piece by Conor Gearty on the UK Supreme Court’s role in ‘Erasing Human Rights’

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Conor Gearty · Unwelcome Remnant: Erasing the Human Rights Act

The Supreme Court is quietly editing the Human Rights Act out of existence. In cases where human rights cannot be...

www.lrb.co.uk

3 4

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Jonathan Tranter @jonathantranter.bsky.social · 5d

www.statewatch.org/news/2025/oc...

Statewatch | EU deportation proposals: the member states sink to new depths

A new compromise text for the upcoming deportation Regulation was recently circulated by the Danish presidency of the Council of the EU. Alongside two other legal proposals currently under discussion,...

www.statewatch.org

1 2

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Work Rights Centre @workrights.bsky.social · 6d

This damning investigation from TBIJ reveals just how easy it is for exploitative employers to simply ignore justice.

Company directors must be liable for the payment of tribunal awards or settlement amounts.

www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

Employment tribunals: ‘scandal’ of toothless scheme to punish…

Just 2% of fines given to employers who disobey court orders have actually been paid

www.thebureauinvestigates.com

4 5

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 5d

They might not be as bad, but any level of fee is going to act as a deterrent for lower / mid paid workers - perhaps unless there was a very robust and generous exemption scheme, which could end up being more expensive to administer. I think the arguments against fees in the post are sound.

1 1

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 5d

Apparent proposals to reintroduce employment tribunal fees - last seen in 2013 under the Con-Dem coalition and scrapped following a successful challenge by UNISON - stand to undermine improvements (to some areas) in the Employment Rights Bill @timsharp.bsky.social www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/dont-l...

Don't let tribunal fees undermine the government's Plan to Make Work Pay

The government’s Plan to Make Work Pay promises stronger protections for workers, but apparent proposals to reintroduce employment tribunal fees risk undermining that progress.

www.tuc.org.uk

3 10 8

Natalie Sedacca @nataliesedacca.bsky.social · 6d

Congratulations! Looking forward to reading it

1

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Catherine Briddick @catbriddick.bsky.social · 6d

My book, out now! On migration law's treatment of women, gender-based violence, and the legal challenges that migrant women have brought to the rules that determine their status. I have links if you want to review a copy or read a free chapter....

global.oup.com/academic/pro...

2 14 36

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 6d

not a serious person

George Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 6d

Kemi Badenoch saying “the last time I checked, Northern Ireland did vote to leave” is so on-brand it hurts. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Kemi Badenoch mistakenly says NI voted in favour of Brexit

In a BBC NI interview, the Tory leader said the

www.bbc.co.uk

16 39 270

Reposted by Natalie Sedacca

Feminist Legal Studies @flsjournal.bsky.social · 16d

📣🏳️‍⚧️ Call for Papers

We are inviting papers for our special issue, “Feminist Responses to the Regression of Trans Rights: Strategies, Alliances, Hope.” The issue will be dedicated to trans-inclusive feminist legal analysis that addresses attacks on trans rights & lives.

Details below. Please share.

Call for Papers: Special Issue of Feminist Legal Studies

Feminist Responses to the Regression of Trans Rights: Strategies, Alliances, Hope

Amidst continuing backlash against trans rights, recognition and inclusion, two recent decisions from the UK have substantially impacted not only trans people’s legal status but also legal and social narratives of sex, gender and identity. The narrative that trans inclusion has a chilling effect on the rights of others, particularly women, has been adopted uncritically by both the UK Supreme Court in For Women Scotland and the Office for Students in its finding that the University of Sussex’s trans-inclusion policy had a chilling effect on free speech. These cases highlight a backlash that has been ongoing for some time, and sparks debates and fear of what may lie in the near future for trans people and kin, as well as other gender-variant persons, not only in the UK, but across jurisdictions and in a global perspective. The discourse of the ‘gender critical’ movement is splintering both the feminist and LGBT+ movements globally, with some aligning politically with the Far- and Christian Right against trans rights, adopting their terminology of ‘gender ideology’ and potentially posing a wider threat to sexual and reproductive rights.

While this a difficult situation for trans people, kin and allies, this special issue seeks to emphasise that legal battles – including battles (temporarily) lost – are also an opportunity to seek to reinforce old alliances and to form new ones, to find new legal frontiers and imaginaries, to reinforce the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of legal arguments as well as intergenerational memory of what feminist legal work is, has been and should be about. How, we ask, do these decisions (and those like them globally) reflect and reproduce structures of coloniality, heteronormativity and cisnormativity? What do these decisions add to critiques of legal feminism? What would be construct…

1 150 190