No doubt this is a disaster for Starmer and McSweenyism. But it’s worse for Farage. Voters split 2:1 in favour of progressive parties. Reform swept up the entire right-wing vote and still only got 28% in a seat they were supposed to be going to win.

Commemoration of the Red Ribbon Rebellion in the Australian goldfields. Lots of Chartist involvement. The flag, first flown in 1853, now hangs in Bendigo Trades Hall (just round the corner from the stones). Could be the only surviving Chartist banner anywhere in the world! #Chartism #C19th #History

Called in at Bendigo Trades Hall (Victoria, Australia) and got a very friendly welcome from folks there. Great trade union history in the town dating back to gold rush days in the 1850s. #tradeunions #tradeunionhistory

Out today, my new book about Margaret Bondfield, all-round ground-breaker and political pioneer is published by @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social and is available in both book and audio form. I am, obviously, very pleased about it!

George Julian Harney, among the first and last of the Chartists, editor of the Northern Star and Red Republican, was born #OnThisDay 17 February 1817. His story is told in Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/Chartist-Liv...

Owenite socialist, Chartist land plan smallholder, Northern Star reporter and mutual insurance pioneer Thomas Martin Wheeler died #OnThisDay Monday 16 February 1862. His story is told in Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/Chartist-Liv...

Owenite socialist, Chartist land plan smallholder, Northern Star reporter and mutual insurance pioneer Thomas Martin Wheeler died #OnThisDay Monday 16 February 1862. His story is told in Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/Chartist-Liv...

#ChartismDay #CallForPapers #CfP Do you have research to share that touches on Chartism? Our call for papers sets out the sort of thing that might make the programme. Get in touch if you are interested. sslh.org.uk/2026/02/12/c...

Cue blockbuster movie trailer voice-over: This Valentine’s Day… None of the greatest love stories ever told… But don’t let that deter you… www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G3Q7PR7Y

The man putting the Rat in Ratcliffe 🐀

Great idea for a jigsaw.

Chartism Day 2026 This year's event will take place in Warwick on 19 September 2026. For more info and to see the call for papers, click the link. #Chartism #ChartismDay #CfP sslh.org.uk/2026/02/12/c...

Great to see Pretenders to the Throne of God download itself this morning. Really enjoyed earlier books in this series and have been looking forward to @aptshadow.bsky.social latest for a long time. Fantastic cover, too.

In 1918, The Representation of the People Act received royal assent. @emmapeplow.bsky.social explains how the Act gave the parliamentary vote to some women for the first time as well as millions of previously excluded working men.

Norwich Chartist John Dover was baptised at St Paul’s church #OnThisDay 1804. A ‘noisy fellow’ who upset his fellow Chartists and the authorities once too often, he was transported for life to Van Diemen’s Land in 1845. His story is one of dozens told in Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G3Q7PR7Y

‪See my site for accurate & praised visual histories of Paine & Peterloo, other books ridiculing superstition and irrationality... and tons of harsh political cartoons to view for free. polyp.org.uk/books/

#Chartism #C19th #History It probably hasn’t escaped your attention that I am busy trying to flog copies of Chartist Lives. It’s full of amazing stories and it’s £19.99 in hardback, £9.99 in paperback and just £8.99 for kindle. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G3Q7PR7Y

Nice statue of Sylvia Townsend Warner and cat on South Street. Wasn’t there last time I was in Dorchester.

#Chartism #C19th #History It probably hasn’t escaped your attention that I am busy trying to flog copies of Chartist Lives. It’s full of amazing stories and it’s £19.99 in hardback, £9.99 in paperback and just £8.99 for kindle. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G3Q7PR7Y

In the summer of 1848 a young artist linked English Chartists intent on revolution and Irish nationalists planning an armed rising. Discover the amazing life story of William Paul Dowling on Chartist Ancestors www.chartistancestors.co.uk/william-paul...

Online talk on The Radical Life of Thomas Paine, on his 289th birthday - Monday 9 February, 7pm - with @peterloomemorial.bsky.social chair Polyp, who published a Fantastical Visual Biography of Paine. Book now! humanists.uk/events/in-co... polyp.org.uk/books/paine-...

Can’t see Trump playing this one at future rallies

My portrait of Cuffay derived from his sketch: his face combined with a few photos of very similar looking modern blokes. From: polyp.org.uk/books/courag...

#C19th #Chartism If you’ve ever seen the portrait of William Cuffay sketched by a fellow prisoner in Newgate Gaol, you may wonder what became of the Irish Confederate who drew it. William Paul Dowling’s life story is now on Chartist Ancestors. www.chartistancestors.co.uk/william-paul...

#C19th #Chartism If you’ve ever seen the portrait of William Cuffay sketched by a fellow prisoner in Newgate Gaol, you may wonder what became of the Irish Confederate who drew it. William Paul Dowling’s life story is now on Chartist Ancestors. www.chartistancestors.co.uk/william-paul...

Seeing lots of hospitality business owners on TV complaining about the cost of increases in the minimum wage. Rather fewer people on minimum wage being asked what that extra 50p an hour has meant for them.

Only 5 weeks until @titanbooks.bsky.social officially publishes my novel JITTERBUG, and I'm getting excited. This is a special book, and I think you're going to love it. Give yourself a little treat and preorder it today from your favourite bookshop!

Ernest Jones, leader of the later Chartist movement and poet, was born #OnThisDay 25 January 1819. His is one of dozens of stories told in Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/Chartist-Liv...

May Paris, Fife-born Chartist activist in Greenwich, south London, was born #OnThisDay 25 January 1809. Hers is one of dozens of stories told in Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/Chartist-Liv...

Ernest Jones, leader of the later Chartist movement and poet, was born #OnThisDay 25 January 1819. His is one of dozens of stories told in Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/Chartist-Liv...

May Paris, Fife-born Chartist activist in Greenwich, south London, was born #OnThisDay 25 January 1809. Hers is one of dozens of stories told in Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/Chartist-Liv...

Can anyone recommend a good history of the convict system for those transported to Australia? Have read Robert Hughes’ The Fatal Shore, which is useful, but most other stuff seems to be entertaining stories of individual convicts or lacking depth.

Blog post: A letter to Ireland - news of the political exiles of 1848 #Chartism chartistancestors.blog/2026/01/22/n...

George Jacob Holyoake, the great Owenite socialist, co-operator, secularist and Chartist, died in Brighton #OnThisDay 22 January 1906 aged 88. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.

Whatever happened to Elizabeth Feargus Bronterre Benbow Chartist Wheeler? #Chartism #C19th #FamilyHistory www.chartistancestors.co.uk/chartist-chi...

Shop! www.chartistancestors.co.uk/shop/

Shop! www.chartistancestors.co.uk/shop/

The People’s Charter in red, blue and gold #Chartism #C19th #BritishHistory www.chartistancestors.co.uk/the-peoples-...

William Coleman Balls was born in Norwich #OnThisDay 16 January 1790. He was a key member of the City of London Charter Association, but in 1846 he was sent in chains to Norfolk Island, 900 miles off Australia. His is one of dozens of stories in Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G3Q7PR7Y

William Coleman Balls was born in Norwich #OnThisDay 16 January 1790. He was a key member of the City of London Charter Association, but in 1846 he was sent in chains to Norfolk Island, 900 miles off Australia. His is one of dozens of stories in Chartist Lives www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G3Q7PR7Y

Just realised it is now ten years since I spoke to Stephen Roberts about his memories of the great Chartist historian Dorothy Thompson. Alas, Stephen is now no longer with us, but I think the interview is still of interest www.chartistancestors.co.uk/stephen-robe...

The People’s Charter in red, blue and gold #Chartism #C19th #BritishHistory www.chartistancestors.co.uk/the-peoples-...

A wonderful read! Alongside my particular interest in the long history of Ireland in London, I volunteer in Abney Park Cemetery & so regularly pass James Bronterre O'Brien's grave. I love this letter written by Victor Hugo apologising for not being able to attend O'Brien's funeral in Abney Park

A wonderful writeup here of the many sons & daughters of Chartists named after the Irish radical journalists, political agitators & Chartist leaders Fergus O'Connor (1796?–1855) and James Bronterre O'Brien (1804-1864) ☘️

Whatever happened to Elizabeth Feargus Bronterre Benbow Chartist Wheeler? #Chartism #C19th #FamilyHistory www.chartistancestors.co.uk/chartist-chi...

A blatant and shameless advert… Chartist Lives is just £9.99 in paperback, and you can also get it in hardback or as an ebook. Forty-two life stories for less than a tenner www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G3Q7PR7Y

I’ve added a new biog to Chartist Ancestors. Hugh Craig had a reputation as a radical in his home town of Kilmarnock and was Ayrshire’s delegate to the First Convention, but he resigned his seat and ended his life a Tory #C19th #Chartism #BritishPolitics www.chartistancestors.co.uk/hugh-craig-1...

That's an interesting argument for someone who heads a country on the American continent.

While we are on the theme of Chartism...