Tom Sykes
@tgcsykes.bsky.social
Associate Prof, Writing & Journalism, University of Portsmouth. Writer, historian, socialist, anti-imperialist, traveller. Author, 7 books inc. Imagining Manila, Coast of Teeth, Realm of the Punisher. Journalist, Private Eye etc. https://tomgsykes.co.uk
I've had only shifty and slippery responses to this so far from my councillors. Perhaps the going rate on the stock exchange this morning was 1 local political career = 70,000 Global Southern lives.
palestinecampaign.eaction.org.uk/CouncillorPl...
palestinecampaign.eaction.org.uk/CouncillorPl...
Councillor Pledge for Palestine
palestinecampaign.eaction.org.uk
December 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I've had only shifty and slippery responses to this so far from my councillors. Perhaps the going rate on the stock exchange this morning was 1 local political career = 70,000 Global Southern lives.
palestinecampaign.eaction.org.uk/CouncillorPl...
palestinecampaign.eaction.org.uk/CouncillorPl...
The cognitive dissonance that claims these people still have a shred of integrity left is as depraved as letting mass-murdering gangsters off the hook because they loved their dear mums and never forget their roots.
December 28, 2025 at 10:12 AM
The cognitive dissonance that claims these people still have a shred of integrity left is as depraved as letting mass-murdering gangsters off the hook because they loved their dear mums and never forget their roots.
Diosa Labiste and I could not have imagined that our critique of the Ressa Brand would by now have garnered over 4800 reads.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The Great Woman Theory of Media History: Maria Ressa, the neoliberal influencer brand and US-Philippine elite centrism
Published in Media Asia (Ahead of Print, 2025)
www.tandfonline.com
December 28, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Diosa Labiste and I could not have imagined that our critique of the Ressa Brand would by now have garnered over 4800 reads.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The fairytale delusion of centrism says that all horrid things in US politics started with the nasty orange monster.
December 28, 2025 at 7:32 AM
The fairytale delusion of centrism says that all horrid things in US politics started with the nasty orange monster.
"Russia ... has neither the means nor the interest to conquer Europe. In Ukraine, despite hundreds of thousands of soldiers killed in four years of war, it has conquered only a few tens of thousands of square kilometres of territory.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/...
www.wsws.org/en/articles/...
European Union provides €90 billion for war against Russia in Ukraine
The fact that the EU is investing such large sums in the war in Ukraine confirms that it is a proxy war between NATO and Russia.
www.wsws.org
December 24, 2025 at 8:38 AM
"Russia ... has neither the means nor the interest to conquer Europe. In Ukraine, despite hundreds of thousands of soldiers killed in four years of war, it has conquered only a few tens of thousands of square kilometres of territory.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/...
www.wsws.org/en/articles/...
4)...in a nuclear furnace. "We must love one another or die," wrote WH Auden.
December 21, 2025 at 7:42 AM
4)...in a nuclear furnace. "We must love one another or die," wrote WH Auden.
3)...present-day Europe, at the start of another risky phase of history, that is enabling yet more genocide, exploiting and beggaring the poor world, smothering its one citizens in austerity and trying to scrounge together the resources for an unwinnable war that would only get itself devastated...
December 21, 2025 at 7:42 AM
3)...present-day Europe, at the start of another risky phase of history, that is enabling yet more genocide, exploiting and beggaring the poor world, smothering its one citizens in austerity and trying to scrounge together the resources for an unwinnable war that would only get itself devastated...
2)...involves the erasure of Europe's own history of barbarism (two world wars, numerous religious conflicts and persecutions, genocides against those considered lower breeds within and without the continent, the very existence of Emmanuel Macron etc etc) and an almost catatonic denial of...
December 21, 2025 at 7:40 AM
2)...involves the erasure of Europe's own history of barbarism (two world wars, numerous religious conflicts and persecutions, genocides against those considered lower breeds within and without the continent, the very existence of Emmanuel Macron etc etc) and an almost catatonic denial of...
1) This new Eurocentrism - with the emphasis on political centrism - is foolish, dangerous and undoubtedly racist. It's hugely disappointing to see so many supposedly educated and empathetic people signing up to it. The 'defending ourselves from the barbarism to the east and west of us' fustian...
December 21, 2025 at 7:37 AM
1) This new Eurocentrism - with the emphasis on political centrism - is foolish, dangerous and undoubtedly racist. It's hugely disappointing to see so many supposedly educated and empathetic people signing up to it. The 'defending ourselves from the barbarism to the east and west of us' fustian...
Is the insurance industry, for the most part, pure, unadulterated evil - or is that being too soft on it?
December 16, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Is the insurance industry, for the most part, pure, unadulterated evil - or is that being too soft on it?
Tangled Saviours is out now. Set in multiple times and places it's a novel of magic, curses, redemption and cultural connection.
#booksky
www.collectiveinkbooks.com/roundfire-bo...
#booksky
www.collectiveinkbooks.com/roundfire-bo...
Tangled Saviours from Roundfire Books
Meet Kirk Decker, abusive 1980s B-movie actor. He’s self-destructing from drink and drugs, and some people want him dead. While shooting a...
www.collectiveinkbooks.com
December 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Tangled Saviours is out now. Set in multiple times and places it's a novel of magic, curses, redemption and cultural connection.
#booksky
www.collectiveinkbooks.com/roundfire-bo...
#booksky
www.collectiveinkbooks.com/roundfire-bo...
I know the Guardian has taken a hard turn to the right in the last 20 years but alluding to MAGA surely takes the cake.
December 14, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I know the Guardian has taken a hard turn to the right in the last 20 years but alluding to MAGA surely takes the cake.
It is nothing short of obscene that the Filton hunger strikers are not being covered by the state-corporate media. No wonder trust in these outlets is at an all-time low.
www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
Amnesty ‘seriously concerned’ about the misuse of terrorism powers against Filton 24 members on hunger strike
We are Amnesty International UK. We are ordinary people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights.
www.amnesty.org.uk
December 7, 2025 at 10:00 PM
It is nothing short of obscene that the Filton hunger strikers are not being covered by the state-corporate media. No wonder trust in these outlets is at an all-time low.
www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...
"...neither the ‘Reset’ nor the redundancies resulting from it were financially necessary given the University’s significant monetary reserves. In total 43 staff members lost their jobs due to compulsory redundancy. 74 colleagues took voluntary severance."
www.starandcrescent.org.uk/2025/11/14/p...
www.starandcrescent.org.uk/2025/11/14/p...
Portsmouth UCU Branch Challenges Justification for University ‘Reset’ and Redundancies
News for and by the people of Portsmouth
www.starandcrescent.org.uk
December 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
"...neither the ‘Reset’ nor the redundancies resulting from it were financially necessary given the University’s significant monetary reserves. In total 43 staff members lost their jobs due to compulsory redundancy. 74 colleagues took voluntary severance."
www.starandcrescent.org.uk/2025/11/14/p...
www.starandcrescent.org.uk/2025/11/14/p...
This critique of the Maria Ressa 'brand' now has over 4500 views and 12 Altmetric citations.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The Great Woman Theory of Media History: Maria Ressa, the neoliberal influencer brand and US-Philippine elite centrism
Published in Media Asia (Ahead of Print, 2025)
www.tandfonline.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:24 AM
This critique of the Maria Ressa 'brand' now has over 4500 views and 12 Altmetric citations.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Any sympathies I had for the BBC lately have melted in the bonfire of hypocrisy and illiteracy about Ukraine that I heard accidentally (I've near enough boycotted Beeb News since its libellous conspiracy theorising against Corbyn) on Radio 4 just now. This better.
newleftreview.org/sidecar/post...
newleftreview.org/sidecar/post...
Richard Seymour, The Belligerati — Sidecar
Ukraine and the Western media.
newleftreview.org
November 23, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Any sympathies I had for the BBC lately have melted in the bonfire of hypocrisy and illiteracy about Ukraine that I heard accidentally (I've near enough boycotted Beeb News since its libellous conspiracy theorising against Corbyn) on Radio 4 just now. This better.
newleftreview.org/sidecar/post...
newleftreview.org/sidecar/post...
Heartily - and maybe fartily - recommend this YouTube channel for its hot takes on psychogeography, New Wave SF (not sci-fi!), psychedelia, transgressive fic, dub, folk horror and music journalism when it was still a thing and done by proper writers like Jon Savage.
m.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
m.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Bureau of Lost Culture - Transmissions - YouTube
The Bureau of Lost Culture broadcast rare, countercultural stories, oral testimonies and tales from the underground. Host Stephen Coates meets a wide range o...
m.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Heartily - and maybe fartily - recommend this YouTube channel for its hot takes on psychogeography, New Wave SF (not sci-fi!), psychedelia, transgressive fic, dub, folk horror and music journalism when it was still a thing and done by proper writers like Jon Savage.
m.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
m.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Labour's swing to the far right indirectly praised by Tommy Robinson. Is it just his ilk that needs to be stopped or those actually in control of the racist and totalitarian state apparatuses? Thanks to Nick Robinson for highlighting.
November 17, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Labour's swing to the far right indirectly praised by Tommy Robinson. Is it just his ilk that needs to be stopped or those actually in control of the racist and totalitarian state apparatuses? Thanks to Nick Robinson for highlighting.
Tangled Saviours: A Multimedia Book Launch
All welcome!
Tuesday, December 9th
7-8.15pm
White Swan Theatre, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Rd, Portsmouth PO1 2DT
I'll be launching my new novel with audiovisual performances based on its themes.
All welcome!
Tuesday, December 9th
7-8.15pm
White Swan Theatre, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Rd, Portsmouth PO1 2DT
I'll be launching my new novel with audiovisual performances based on its themes.
November 13, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Tangled Saviours: A Multimedia Book Launch
All welcome!
Tuesday, December 9th
7-8.15pm
White Swan Theatre, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Rd, Portsmouth PO1 2DT
I'll be launching my new novel with audiovisual performances based on its themes.
All welcome!
Tuesday, December 9th
7-8.15pm
White Swan Theatre, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Rd, Portsmouth PO1 2DT
I'll be launching my new novel with audiovisual performances based on its themes.
Okay now apologise for your smearing of Corbyn, your parroting of government propaganda relating to disastrous wars, your doctoring of footage of the Miners' Strike, your tedious and brown-nosing coverage of the Royal Family Inc. and a million other things.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC chair Samir Shah apologises for Panorama Trump edit - BBC News
The BBC's director general and head of news both resigned on Sunday after criticism of the programme.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Okay now apologise for your smearing of Corbyn, your parroting of government propaganda relating to disastrous wars, your doctoring of footage of the Miners' Strike, your tedious and brown-nosing coverage of the Royal Family Inc. and a million other things.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Streeting the Starmtrooping apparatchik being opportunistic, hypocritical and politically illiterate in less than two sentences.
November 5, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Streeting the Starmtrooping apparatchik being opportunistic, hypocritical and politically illiterate in less than two sentences.
This must pose a dilemma to the thoroughly modern fash that's embraced Zionism and remains poppy-fanatical. Maybe in their eyes these are the wrong kind of veterans, though.
November 3, 2025 at 3:25 PM
This must pose a dilemma to the thoroughly modern fash that's embraced Zionism and remains poppy-fanatical. Maybe in their eyes these are the wrong kind of veterans, though.