Paul O’Connell
@pmpoc.bsky.social
📤 499
📥 95
📝 28
socialist | trade unionist | legal academic | foghlaimeoir Gaeilge | denouncing the abyss
*sighs in Marxist*
1 day ago
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Aaron Sheridan
4 days ago
A little preview of my forthcoming journal article on council tenants' resistance and resilience today in
@scotnational.bsky.social
. Massive thanks to
@charlielynch.bsky.social
for reaching out and giving my work a write-up.
www.thenational.scot/politics/257...
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Resistance and resilience: Digging into Edinburgh's history of tenant activism
NEW research has highlighted the resistance and resilience among tenants in council housing in Edinburgh
https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25760139.digging-edinburghs-history-tenant-activism/
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David Mead
1 day ago
@britishacademy.bsky.social
International Fellowships are now open Applics. welcome across humanities & soc.sci from early career researchers anywhere in the world to come to UK for 2 years Deadline:11 March I’d be very pleased to host ECRs keen to study
#protest
#policing
#publicorder
#assembly
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International Fellowships 2026
The International Fellowships Programme enables researchers to work for two years at a UK institution with the aim of building a globally connected, mobile research and innovation workforce.
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/schemes/international-fellowships/?utm_source=newsletter
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Laleh Khalili
3 days ago
Three UK hunger strikers end their hunger strike after the MoD meets one of their demands: The MoD has denied a major new £2 billion contract with the Israeli defence firm's subsidiary, Elbit Systems UK, for an Army training program..
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
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Three Palestine Action protesters end their hunger strike
Four more who had paused opt not to continue after government opts against giving contract to Elbit Systems UK
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/14/three-palestine-action-protesters-end-their-hunger-strike
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Val Aston
5 days ago
Excellent from Paul O'Connell: "Terrorism now performs the function that treason once did: not a description of actual conduct but a mechanism for foreclosing political possibility."
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David Mead
5 days ago
A really interesting and thoughtful piece by
@pmpoc.bsky.social
- perhaps more so for its discussion and dissecting of what he wonderfully terms the “siege architecture” around the right to protest and organise in the UK today
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Paul O’Connell: Anticipatory Repression and the Proscription of Palestine Action
The proscription of Palestine Action in July 2025 represents more than an aggressive application of counter-terrorism law. It reveals a broader, qualitative shift in the British state’s approach to…
https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/01/12/paul-oconnell-anticipatory-repression-and-the-proscription-of-palestine-action/
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Felicity Callard
5 days ago
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David Mead
5 days ago
And like buses, two pieces at once on protest, proscription and political participation by
@pmpoc.bsky.social
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Paul O’Connell
I have a post out today on the proscription of Palestine Action and how, through the lens of anticipatory repression, we can understand it as part of a much wider assault on democratic rights and freedoms in Britain:
ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/01/12/p...
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Paul O’Connell: Anticipatory Repression and the Proscription of Palestine Action
The proscription of Palestine Action in July 2025 represents more than an aggressive application of counter-terrorism law. It reveals a broader, qualitative shift in the British state’s approach to…
https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/01/12/paul-oconnell-anticipatory-repression-and-the-proscription-of-palestine-action/
5 days ago
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"Naming this as anticipatory repression ... is a precondition for building the solidarities and organisational forms capable of withstanding it. They who sow pestilence must reap whirlwinds" -
criticallegalthinking.com/2026/01/12/c...
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Cadaverous Tranquillity: Proscription, Anticipatory Repression and Coleridge
In December 1795, William Pitt’s government introduced the Treasonable Practices Bill and the Seditious Meetings Bill—the “Gagging Acts” as their
https://criticallegalthinking.com/2026/01/12/cadaverous-tranquillity-proscription-anticipatory-repression-and-coleridge/
5 days ago
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"Naming this as anticipatory repression ... is a precondition for building the solidarities and organisational forms capable of withstanding it. They who sow pestilence must reap whirlwinds" -
criticallegalthinking.com/2026/01/12/c...
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Cadaverous Tranquillity: Proscription, Anticipatory Repression and Coleridge
In December 1795, William Pitt’s government introduced the Treasonable Practices Bill and the Seditious Meetings Bill—the “Gagging Acts” as their
https://criticallegalthinking.com/2026/01/12/cadaverous-tranquillity-proscription-anticipatory-repression-and-coleridge/
5 days ago
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UK Constitutional Law Association
5 days ago
Paul O’Connell: Anticipatory Repression and the Proscription of Palestine Action
ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/01/12/p...
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Paul O’Connell: Anticipatory Repression and the Proscription of Palestine Action
The proscription of Palestine Action in July 2025 represents more than an aggressive application of counter-terrorism law. It reveals a broader, qualitative shift in the British state’s approach to…
https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/01/12/paul-oconnell-anticipatory-repression-and-the-proscription-of-palestine-action/
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I have a post out today on the proscription of Palestine Action and how, through the lens of anticipatory repression, we can understand it as part of a much wider assault on democratic rights and freedoms in Britain:
ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/01/12/p...
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Paul O’Connell: Anticipatory Repression and the Proscription of Palestine Action
The proscription of Palestine Action in July 2025 represents more than an aggressive application of counter-terrorism law. It reveals a broader, qualitative shift in the British state’s approach to…
https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/01/12/paul-oconnell-anticipatory-repression-and-the-proscription-of-palestine-action/
5 days ago
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David Mead
8 days ago
Always a welcome way to end a week but especially first week back: submission of a chapter This 9,000-worder, written with my splendid UEA colleague
@crwerren.bsky.social
, will be in an edited collection "Human Rights in the UK under the Conservatives" by Conall Murray & Adam Ramshaw later in 2026
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Shane Darcy
17 days ago
Al-Haq calls for concrete measures in response to these latest restrictive measures by Israel. Words of condemnation have proven insufficient to protect Palestinians.
@alhaq.bsky.social
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Obada Lawyer 🇵🇸⚖️
17 days ago
Israel not only inflicts pain, hunger, death & destruction on the Palestinians, it also prevents any aid & relief from reaching its victims. There are no limits to its depravity. List of aid groups working in Gaza that Israel is suspending
#humanRights
#booksky
#Gaza
@mommunism.bsky.social
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List of aid groups working in Gaza that Israel is suspending
Israel says it's suspending humanitarian organizations that have failed to meet its new rules to vet international groups working in Gaza.
https://apnews.com/article/gaza-humanitarian-aid-suspension-israel-ec535cea548ddc75080f1e6bffe53801?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=share <br>List
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Colin Harvey
26 days ago
Two Palestine Action hunger strikers admitted to hospital
www.thenational.scot/news/2571572...
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Two Palestine Action hunger strikers admitted to hospital
TWO Palestine Action activists on hunger strike while in prison awaiting trial have been taken to hospital
https://www.thenational.scot/news/25715721.two-palestine-action-hunger-strikers-admitted-hospital/
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Paul O’Connell
Behind the charts in the WIR 2026 is a blunt truth: the global economy extracts value from poorer countries to sustain the wealth of richer ones. That’s not misfortune, or a glitch- it's modern imperialism at work, and this fundamentally undermines all human rights
about 1 month ago
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Behind the charts in the WIR 2026 is a blunt truth: the global economy extracts value from poorer countries to sustain the wealth of richer ones. That’s not misfortune, or a glitch- it's modern imperialism at work, and this fundamentally undermines all human rights
about 1 month ago
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David Mead
about 2 months ago
A disgraceful institution heaping shame on itself by seeking to impose a double pay deduction for taking lawful strike action, a protected human right, in pursuit of collective grievances How low can these places sink into the moral vacuum? Yet another place to avoid …with fewer & fewer left
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University of Sheffield staff 'intimidated' by pay forfeit warning
University of Sheffield to withhold pay if staff do not make up for teaching missed while striking.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78v7k8vn20o
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Mary Dudziak
about 2 months ago
Important and timely new article by
@msjamshidi.bsky.social
out today from the University of Minnesota Law Review: Securitizing the University. Open access.
minnesotalawreview.org/article/secu...
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Securitizing the University lawreview - Minnesota Law Review
By MARYAM JAMSHIDI. Full Text. Since October 7, 2023, public and private actors have doubled down on efforts to securitize the American university. In large part, these initiatives aim to quash a voca...
https://minnesotalawreview.org/article/securitizing-the-university/
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David Mead
about 2 months ago
Part of my evidence put before the court today attests to the unique nature of the proscription based on some research I conducted, and part speaks to the chilling effect on academic teaching and research in the area
www.bbc.com/news/article...
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Palestine Action like the Suffragettes, court told
Lawyers for the group say the government's ban is unprecedented, as they launch a legal challenge.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w9qelpdw2o
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If you're around London next Thursday, I'll be giving a talk at LSE on "Imperialism, Inequality and Human Rights" for anyone interested - you can sign up to attend here:
lselaw.events/event/pil-hu...
about 2 months ago
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Nimer Sultany
about 2 months ago
Position Paper: Palestinian Civil Society Condemns UNSC Resolution 2803 Establishing Joint US-Israel Illegal Occupation of Gaza
www.alhaq.org/advocacy/268...
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Position Paper: Palestinian Civil Society Condemns UNSC Resolution 2803 Establishing Joint US-Israel Illegal Occupation of Gaza
Photo: Yousef Zaanoun On Monday, 17 November 2025, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted in favour of Resolution 2803, normalising the colonial occupation of Palestinian territory. This re...
https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/26842.html
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Nimer Sultany
about 2 months ago
80 leading legal scholars, solicitors, and barristers have signed this letter to the Home Secretary & Attorney General criticising the proposed changes to protest law. If you are a legal scholar or practitioner based in Britain, please consider adding your name
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Over 70 legal scholars and practitioners have signed an open letter opposing the governments proposed "cumulative impact" measure, as an unwarranted attack on the right to protest - if you wish to add your name to the letter you can do so here:
forms.gle/VXhwMtwhZhof...
about 2 months ago
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Lucy Burke
2 months ago
Labour pushes further & further to the right, enabling Reform to go even further still. We’re heading for catastrophe in this country aided by a government that has brought nothing but despair & more division so far. Labour in government appears to be the place where principles & humanity go to die.
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Lewis Graham
2 months ago
“We will remove the current legal obligation to provide support to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute” Disgusting.
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Jessica Whyte
2 months ago
As the U.S. uses sanctions and tariffs against those who seek to hold Israel accountable for genocide,
@shahdhm.bsky.social
and I have organised this panel on economic and physical coercion with an excellent group of speakers:
twailr.com/webinar-geno...
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Paul O’Connell
Unite UCU
3 months ago
Being disabled shouldn’t mean you’re on a lower wage, or that you’re afraid to ask for support at work because it could hit you financially. Having a reasonable adjustment should never lead to a pay cut. But this is what’s happening to some UCU staff right now. Short 🧵
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Nimer Sultany
3 months ago
"It does not matter what you call it. Whether you call it 'Israel is our ally', 'Judeo-Christian values', 'maintaining qualitative military advantage', 'Staatsräson'... the oucome, practically, of all of these, is that the Israeli boot remains on the Palestinian neck."
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I've posted a new paper on SSRN - it argues that unless imperialism is central to our analysis of inequality and its impact on human rights, then our theory and practice remain in a blind alley - forthcoming in the Palestine Yearbook of International Law
is.gd/igjgnI
4 months ago
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I've posted a new paper on SSRN - it looks at the question of democratic forms (right to protest etc) via the principle of working class self-emancipation, and sets out an argument about how we should engage these forms in times of crisis and authoritarianism
is.gd/1fxDIP
4 months ago
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I've posted a new paper on SSRN - it looks at the fundamental challenge posed to socio-economic rights by the logic of commodification and how socio-economic rights might be reasserted on the basis of decommodification, human needs, and political struggle
is.gd/jdVAiS
4 months ago
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Maryam Jamshidi
5 months ago
My new piece for
@mondoweiss.net
. Those who only recognize the genocide of the Palestinian people when they starve adopt a dehumanizing logic /n
bsky.app/profile/harm...
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Maryam Jamshidi
5 months ago
In both Hebrew and Arabic, “Gaza” means strong and fierce. Etymologically, Gaza originates from the Persian “ganj” which means “treasure.” Ancient Egyptians called it the “prized city.” This is what Israel has done to this fierce, treasure of a prized place
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Sanjit Nagi
8 months ago
My article on the Attlee government’s resistance of the ECHR and how this historical episode can inform contemporary Convention critical debates can be found in the April 2025 edn of Pubic Law
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Declassified UK
7 months ago
🎞️ Tomorrow 🎞️ Join
@john-mcevoy.bsky.social
alongside speakers from
@caatuk.bsky.social
and
@forceswatch.bsky.social
to discuss how we can hold the UK accountable for its role in the ongoing devastation in Gaza and Yemen. 🎟️ 👇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-yemen...
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From Yemen to Gaza: How can we hold the UK accountable in 2025?
Join us for an evening of short films and critical discussion about UK involvement in Yemen and Gaza.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-yemen-to-gaza-how-can-we-hold-the-uk-accountable-in-2025-tickets-1401988207469
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The British Labour Party - unrepentant apologists for genocide
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7 months ago
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Conor McCabe
8 months ago
Thinking of republishing this in zine format to at least try to combat some of the love-in that's planned for 6 August (250th anniversary of his birth) - the anti-socialist, anti-trade union, anti-working class, slum landlord, pro-monarchist and free marketeer, Daniel O'Connell
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David Mead
8 months ago
I shall be guest editor of Public Law’s Special Analysis section next spring: “The Public Order Act 1986 at Forty” Really looking forward to curating pieces by:
@crwerren.bsky.social
on policing public order
@deanknight.bsky.social
on NZ recent proposals
@katrinanavickas.bsky.social
looking at
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UEA UCU says join a union
8 months ago
🚩We're back on the picket line this morning. 🚩We'll also be out this Weds, Thurs, and Fri. 🚩Join us at our Gazebo HQ opposite the main UEA bus stop from 8am.
#SaveUEA
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Sanjit Nagi
8 months ago
With renewed interest in Blue Labour, I wrote a post that looks to develop its constitutionalism. More specifically, what does Blue Labour’s rejection of the “abstract ideal of the individual” in favour of “reciprocal obligations” and “solidarity” in society mean for rights?
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"Organize and fight against all imperialism. Stop war profiteering. Lower the cost of living. Resist wage cuts. Peace and socialism is in the hearts of millions around the world. May First, the “sun of tomorrow”, shines upon us. The future is ours". - Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
9 months ago
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When you find the words of Kneecap more offensive than the industrial murder of an entire people, then there’s something seriously wrong with you and how you relate to this world
9 months ago
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Paul O’Connell
Unite UCU
9 months ago
When, some months ago, we first posted our members’ testimonies - lived experiences of working for UCU - our employer’s only response was a demand they be removed. No contrition, shame or concern for their staff: just an anger we’d shared them.
#UniteVoices
uniteucu.wordpress.com/campaign-cam...
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If you're a UCU member, please share this, post it to your branch mailing list, and get as many UCU members as possible out in support of our UCU staff
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9 months ago
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Paul O’Connell
Unite UCU
9 months ago
We might be on day 11 of our strike action, but we’re not letting up. North West region members were out in force in Manchester this morning.
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Mothers Against Genocide
9 months ago
We are the people! We won't be silenced! Stop the bombing now, now, now!
#Palestine
#Gaza
#Ireland
#Solidarity
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James Duggan
10 months ago
Concerned/confused about Labour's direction on disability. Check out this event: Social Murder in Labour’s Pathways to Work Date: 10 apr • 17:30 Location: BR G.78 Brooks Building MMU & Online
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-mur...
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Social Murder in Labour’s Pathways to Work
This event
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-murder-in-labours-pathways-to-work-tickets-1301853401569?aff=ebdsshother&utm_share_source=listing_android
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