I spoke my brains to the New York Times about what should happen in the Labour Party right now. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/w...

My own contribution examines Hincmar of Reims and the trial by ordeal, on the basis of a recently rediscovered "ordo" for the ordeal by cold water, which I argue Hincmar knew (transcribed as an appendix)

... by strange coincidence, the British Library @blmedieval.bsky.social has today released new multispectral imaging for this manuscript! www.bl.uk/stories/blog...

Very good advice here. One of Starmer’s big mistakes was relying on a highly partisan Chief of Staff - McSweeney (whose return to favour recently is among many reasons why Starmer must go). Any PPS appointment needs to have much more inclusive view of Labour and its MPs.

Burnham’s success - the new shape if UK politics where local government experience can be a route to the top? Interesting, though well to remember that before the rise of Spads local govt was always a way into national politics. theconversation.com/andy-burnham...

Excellent. About bloody time. What excuse is there for any other Department -and the PM?

'The university described her as "one of the most influential figures in modern British politics", saying the plaque celebrated both her time at Durham "and her remarkable contribution to peace and public service".'

'White children eligible for free school meals (FSM) are lagging behind their peers when it comes to progressing to university, according to a report by social mobility charity the Sutton Trust.' 1/3

These proposals will be a disaster for mature students, unless, of course, they lead to a prolonged discussion of all those who will rightly need to be exempt from these minimum qualifications.That would almost certainly nullify any ‘benefit’ from this plan. Another case of fiddling while HE burns?

This is of course true for other social democratic parties in Europe (and their environment) as well. The idea of the working class is a carricature of a white, straight, authoritarian and nationalist man in a factory. Ten years (and more) of trying to win them back has been an electoral disaster.

It seems a good day to remind people that in the UK 3 times as many people work in Indian restaurants or for McDonalds as in the whole coal and steel industry. 5 times as many are academic staff at universities. If Labour does not understand its electorate, there is no way to appeal to it.

65% of US universities drop in QS 2027 ranking. 40% of UK universities drop. 61% of China's universities rise. Who knew that sustained investment might prove advantageous and persistent policy churn prove deleterious?

My comment on the Oxford Union Society's behaviour - and our city's response to it 👇

The decision to go ahead with this 'debate,' even after Robinson is questioned under anti-terror laws, following his return from Moscow where he helped stoke racist riots on the streets of the UK, is utterly shameful from the Oxford Union bylinetimes.com/2026/06/17/p...

A die stamp, potentially for making foils akin to those on the Sutton Hoo helmet has been found in Kent. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The @findsorguk.bsky.social record is here: finds.org.uk/database/art...

A snarling leopard from Carolingian Francia: the Dagobert throne, perhaps once owned by Charles the Bald.

Exciting to see this volume coming close to publication: www.cambridge.org/core/books/c...

A great blog on accountability in Carolingian Francia.

Reform copying Trump in their sheer crassness, and lack of seriousness about the weight of the powers they seek.

This looks fascinating and a must read.

"If you've been using X over the last year" and you are Keir Starmer or any other Labour MP, then you really need your head examining.

Netanyahu says he will not comply with Trump’s peace deal with Iran as he doesn't see eye to eye with Trump on the issue and, hence, will strike Iran and Lebanon whenever he deems necessary in accordance with Israel's security measures.

The UK govt's ban on social media for under-16s is not enough. Social media platforms are used to spread hate amd lies, role back decades of progress, and harm people of all ages. We need tough regulations that force them to be safe by design. www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/uk-public-wa...

In the wake of Rosamond McKitterick's death, on the blog @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social remembers her as a teacher and a mentor: salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2026/06/15/a...

RIP Roy Hattersley. A pragmatic style of politics in unswerving service of radical, egalitarian ends. A rare blend then, which would be rarer still today. www.thenewworld.co.uk/matt-kelly-r...

Shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Rosamond McKitterick. One of four outstanding women- with Jinty Nelson, Mayke de Jong and Regine Le Jan -who transformed our view of the Carolingians through their work & the students they trained & nurtured. Thro’ that work & students she will live on.

This is calamitously stupid and short-sighted. And note the coverage: ‘a blow to Ed Miliband’. No: it’s a blow to our children and grandchildren, and in the medium term, the death-knell for a competitive UK car industry.

This is *really* extreme message from Nigel Farage to Reform supporters this morning Britain is racist against white people and the press is lying to you so you can only believe me Properly anti democratic

Wouldn’t it have been great to go with the headline “Small group of racist agitators overwhelmed by enormous demonstration of community spirit”. This is the alternative narrative up and down the country. Eight arrests at anti-immigration and counter protest www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Standing ovation for Rep. Beatty, who sued Trump over the renaming of the Kennedy Center, took him to court, and won!

Scarborough, yesterday. *credit Fred Brown.

"Why adopting Reform-lite rhetoric or intensifying enforcement measures rarely resolves the political problem for centre-left parties: the goalposts constantly move because the politics is not designed to produce resolution. It is designed to sustain a permanent sense of crisis and cultural threat."

Trump’s name went up on the Kennedy Center in broad daylight. Removing it? Full scaffolding plus a giant curtain to hide the humiliation from the public. Nothing screams “strong leader” like draping theater curtains over your own petty rejection. Fragile ego on full display. 😂

These are *wonderful*! What a joy. Thanks so much for sharing them @alexclifford.bsky.social.

My goodness, Ed Luce is furious giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

If nothing else, this confirms Starmer has to go. McSweeney is the originator of most of the often self-inflicted troubles of his govt and if he hasn’t the wit to see that he doesn’t deserve to be Prime Minister.

Marina Hyde on top form this morning.

It’s beyond sickening that Elon Musk – the world’s first trillionaire – pays a lower effective tax rate than truck drivers, firefighters, or nurses. It’s not complicated – we need to actually TAX THE RICH.

⏰️ NEWS POST ALERT⏰️ Want to learn more about the marvellous medieval music we will be having at #IMC2026? Click this link to view our new news post about medieval music at the congress: www.imc.leeds.ac.uk/marvellous-m... #MedievalSky #SkyStorians

Just discovered - somewhat belatedly - that the recorded version of my #charterrific inaugural is now up on YouTube! If you couldn't be there or were one of those who struggled with connection issues, here's your chance to hear it in its full glory... #MedievalSky #Skystorians

An Israeli property conference selling off illegally occupied Palestinian lands is set to take place in London this Sunday. I've added my name to this letter, urging the government to uphold its obligations under international law and stop the event from going ahead.

Thank goodness someone does the sums.

🚨 Fewer than 20 tickets left for my talk on the Bayeux Tapestry in @magdalenoxford.bsky.social's magnificent Grove Auditorium next Wednesday (17 June), so get your's while you can: www.magd.ox.ac.uk/events/food-.... When they're gone, they're gone! Attendance is FREE, but registration is required 🚨

David Hockney has died. But what a life’s work. Always trying something new, always open and fresh. Regularly take visitors to wonderful exhibition of his work at Salts Mill. One of the artists who really changed the way I see-hedges in the Wolds in winter really are as colourful as he painted them!

Over 50% of the welfare budget is spent on the state pension. As the biggest item, it should be the first place to look for savings. The sooner a bit of honesty enters the debate, the better.

'The Bradford zone was followed by a reduction of about 25% in GP visits for heart and breathing problems and survey data shows that the central London zone was followed by a reduction in the likelihood of a person taking sick leave.' 1/2

So, it turns out that the violent protestors, who Farage & Reform would have us believe were regular members of the public showing justifiable rage, had numerous previous criminal convictions www.bbc.com/news/article...

'“It’s a sad reflection on the sector as a whole when the Russell Group is unwilling to present a robust defence of UK higher education in response to a shoddy political hatchet job,” said Andrew McRae, a former dean of postgraduate research at the University of Exeter.' Well said. 1/3

1/3 We’re accustomed to a right wing press making editorial selections to spotlight immigrant criminality. But the @BBCNews now gives it resolutely disproportionate attention too. The effect is to distort reality and legitimise far right narratives.

“I didn’t get the letters my children wrote for me - that’s all I have from them, the letters that they wrote for me, 3 years ago before I moved here, when I was leaving them. I only got my passport, laptop & uniform- because I have to work” Ugandan student nurse burnt out of her house in Belfast