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William Cullerne Bown @williamcb.bsky.social · 1d

The Cabinet reshuffle has clarified Britain’s ambiguous relationship with American Big Tech, I argue here in Renewal.

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 1d

"It is hard now to think of a touch point for Big Tech with the UK state that does not fall under the auspices of the Blairites"

@williamcb.bsky.social analyses the government's relationship with Big Tech in light of the recent Cabinet reshuffle

Britain's Big Tech problem

The essence of a banana republic is that the state has the legal form of a republic but substantive power resides elsewhere, in the hands of American corporations backed by a US state that considers t...

renewal.org.uk

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Fortuna Desperata @fortunadesperata.bsky.social · 1d

"The essence of a banana republic is that the state has the legal form of a republic but substantive power resides elsewhere... A question for the UK today is the extent to which its relations with American Big Tech are falling into this pattern."

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 1d

"It is hard now to think of a touch point for Big Tech with the UK state that does not fall under the auspices of the Blairites"

@williamcb.bsky.social analyses the government's relationship with Big Tech in light of the recent Cabinet reshuffle

Britain's Big Tech problem

The essence of a banana republic is that the state has the legal form of a republic but substantive power resides elsewhere, in the hands of American corporations backed by a US state that considers t...

renewal.org.uk

1 3

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 1d

"It is hard now to think of a touch point for Big Tech with the UK state that does not fall under the auspices of the Blairites"

@williamcb.bsky.social analyses the government's relationship with Big Tech in light of the recent Cabinet reshuffle

Britain's Big Tech problem

The essence of a banana republic is that the state has the legal form of a republic but substantive power resides elsewhere, in the hands of American corporations backed by a US state that considers t...

renewal.org.uk

4 4

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David Pearce @medavep.bsky.social · 2d

I'm down with this

Prime Minister Kier Starmer in a suit and glasses is speaking at a podium against a solid red background. Three text captions appear across three panels: "Nicking a pint glass from a pub, calling a kebab shop owner 'boss man'.", "Or simply shouting 'you can't park there mate' when someone crashes their car.", and "That is real Britain." The overall style mimics a humorous internet meme about British culture.

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Alistair Strathern MP @alistrathern.bsky.social · 2d

At a time when patriotism can feel as as contested as ever, this is a bloody lovely ode to so much of what we love about Britain from @sofiejenkinson.bsky.social in @renewaljournal.bsky.social.

Well worth a read 👉 renewal.org.uk/blog/mr-blob...

Mr Blobby patriotism

Over recent weeks I have found myself thinking about the country we live in, what it feels like and what I like, and love, about it. I guess I found myself thinking about this because of the summer w...

renewal.org.uk

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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 2d

Blobby blobby blobby blobby. Blobby blobby blooby @sofiejenkinson.bsky.social blobby, blobby blobby blobby.

Blobby blobby blobby!

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 2d

"Most of us basically love our country, even if begrudgingly – not the version we’re told to, or even presented with, but the one we really see and live in every day. Silly Sausage Britain is the Britain most of us reside in, and love."

@sofiejenkinson.bsky.social on "Mr Blobby patriotism"

Mr Blobby patriotism

Over recent weeks I have found myself thinking about the country we live in, what it feels like and what I like, and love, about it. I guess I found myself thinking about this because of the summer w...

renewal.org.uk

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Dr. Jeevun Sandher MP @jeevunsandher.bsky.social · 2d

Sof is one of the best comms people I've met.

Read her insightful piece on British patriotism here: renewal.org.uk/blog/mr-blob...

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Sofie Jenkinson @sofiejenkinson.bsky.social · 2d

As I was speaking on panels at Labour conference last week I began to describe the Britain I know exists and love. In the end I gave it a name: Mr Blobby Patriotism

And I’ve written about it for @renewaljournal.bsky.social here bsky.app/profile/rene...

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 2d

"Most of us basically love our country, even if begrudgingly – not the version we’re told to, or even presented with, but the one we really see and live in every day. Silly Sausage Britain is the Britain most of us reside in, and love."

@sofiejenkinson.bsky.social on "Mr Blobby patriotism"

Mr Blobby patriotism

Over recent weeks I have found myself thinking about the country we live in, what it feels like and what I like, and love, about it. I guess I found myself thinking about this because of the summer w...

renewal.org.uk

3 12 33

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 2d

"Most of us basically love our country, even if begrudgingly – not the version we’re told to, or even presented with, but the one we really see and live in every day. Silly Sausage Britain is the Britain most of us reside in, and love."

@sofiejenkinson.bsky.social on "Mr Blobby patriotism"

Mr Blobby patriotism

Over recent weeks I have found myself thinking about the country we live in, what it feels like and what I like, and love, about it. I guess I found myself thinking about this because of the summer w...

renewal.org.uk

1 18 36

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 2d

Congratulations to our contributing editor Sacha!

LSE Sociology @lsesociology.bsky.social · 2d

We're pleased to announce that our Inaugural Craig J. Calhoun Prize for an Outstanding Thesis in Sociology has been awarded to @sachahilhorst.bsky.social. Her thesis investigated the shifting politics of ex-mining and manufacturing towns in the Midlands.

Read more about the prize 👇

News

Read the latest news from the LSE Department of Sociology

buff.ly

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Phil Swatton @philswatton.bsky.social · 3d

Just caught up on this fantastic essay by @sundersays.bsky.social in @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Brilliant, punchy, to the point on Labour's lack of serious engagement with multiculturalism, and a much-welcome rebuttal to those who advocate for Labour to accommodate Reform's radical right populism.

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 9d

"In the twenty-first century, the success of social democracy depends on narrowing differences between groups"

@sundersays.bsky.social responds to the anonymous essay that @patrickmaguire.bsky.social has reported is being shared around by Labour MPs

False prophecies

What did you manage to read on your summer holidays? I found myself in the early phases of the 14 volume CP Snow Strangers and Brothers series – covering 20th century Britain from the first world war ...

renewal.org.uk

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Lise Butler @lisebutler.bsky.social · 7d

Everybody wants growth, but how can we get it? Jimena Valdez makes the case for a growth strategy that embraces international students and immigration, now online for @renewaljournal.bsky.social

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 7d

New on Renewal Online: Jimena Valdez considers what Spain's socialist government can teach Keir Starmer about how to deliver economic growth & higher living standards

Lessons for economic growth from Pedro Sánchez’s Spain

In a recent issue of Renewal David Cesar Heymann wrote about one of the most successful social democratic governments in Europe: that of Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez (2...

renewal.org.uk

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Sacha Hilhorst @sachahilhorst.bsky.social · 7d

This @renewaljournal.bsky.social essay is so brilliant - the history of the British far right narrated entirely through its activities in Croydon. Every sentence makes it clear it was written by a scholar with a genuine love for history and for Croydon.

renewal.org.uk/articles/sub...

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 7d

New on Renewal Online: Jimena Valdez considers what Spain's socialist government can teach Keir Starmer about how to deliver economic growth & higher living standards

Lessons for economic growth from Pedro Sánchez’s Spain

In a recent issue of Renewal David Cesar Heymann wrote about one of the most successful social democratic governments in Europe: that of Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez (2...

renewal.org.uk

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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 9d

This is a brilliant easy on empire loyalism, multicultural drift and dispossessed whiteness in outer south London.

Cc @academicdiary.bsky.social @transpontine.bsky.social @ashdisorient.bsky.social @liamliburd.bsky.social

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 22d

FREE TO READ: historian Daniel Frost traces the history of far-right activism in Croydon, from the "National Fascisti" of the 1920s to the Farageist TikTok reels of today

renewal.org.uk/articles/sub...

Suburban fascism: the far right in twentieth-century Croydon

Renewal 33.2_FrostRenewal 33.2_Frost.pdf159 KBdownload-circle Croydon is frequently used as a touchstone for farright narratives of decline and demographic change. Daniel Frost traces the suburb’s ...

renewal.org.uk

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David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 9d

Punchy but necessary intervention from @sundersays.bsky.social in @renewaljournal.bsky.social, responding the anonymous memo circulating amongst Labour MPs:

renewal.org.uk/blog/false-p...

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Bob From Brockley @bobfrombrockley.bsky.social · 9d

This interview with @profafinlayson.bsky.social, on why the left still doesn’t get the Internet and why that stops us from combatting the far right effectively, really sharp:

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 22d

FREE TO READ: Renewal co-editor Jack Jeffrey talks to @profafinlayson.bsky.social about the subcultures of the online right and how they are transforming political communication

renewal.org.uk/articles/the...

The left (still) doesn't understand the internet

Renewal 33.2_Finlayson & JeffreyRenewal 33.2_Finlayson & Jeffrey.pdf161 KBdownload-circle In June 2025, Nigel Farage boasted on Facebook and X that he had more TikTok subscribers than all other 649...

renewal.org.uk

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 9d

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 9d

"In the twenty-first century, the success of social democracy depends on narrowing differences between groups"

@sundersays.bsky.social responds to the anonymous essay that @patrickmaguire.bsky.social has reported is being shared around by Labour MPs

False prophecies

What did you manage to read on your summer holidays? I found myself in the early phases of the 14 volume CP Snow Strangers and Brothers series – covering 20th century Britain from the first world war ...

renewal.org.uk

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Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 10d

Labour Party conference's most stylish accessory - modelled here by @imogenshaw.bsky.social

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David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 11d

How should Labour respond to the radical right threat? Three essays make big strategic arguments:
- @caitprowle.bsky.social calls for Labour to go big on community politics
- @paulmason.bsky.social calls for a "zero-sum socialism"
- @demofuturist.bsky.social calls for a "social democratic futurism"

Volume 33, Issue 2

A quarterly journal of politics and ideas, committed to exploring and expanding the radical potential of social democracy.

renewal.org.uk

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David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 11d

In our latest issue (guest co-edited by @sachahilhorst.bsky.social) looks at the radical right, with pieces covering:
- Reform UK in local government
- far-right activism in 20th-century Croydon
- the sociology of Reform's post-industrial electorate
- the role of pubs in Farageist ideology

Volume 33, Issue 2

A quarterly journal of politics and ideas, committed to exploring and expanding the radical potential of social democracy.

renewal.org.uk

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David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 11d

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

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 12d

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

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Richard Parry @rwparry.bsky.social · 16d

This is an excellent read. First thing I've consumed since subscribing and now can't wait to read more.

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David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 21d

How can social democrats offer an optimistic, futurist alternative to the dominant tech ideologies of 'Effective Altruism', 'Anglofuturism', and 'Accelerationism?

@demofuturist.bsky.social sets out the beginnings of an approach:

(subscribe to read)

Towards a social democratic futurism

A quarterly journal of politics and ideas, committed to exploring and expanding the radical potential of social democracy.

renewal.org.uk

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