Full recordings of the #ucu VP hustings will (I think) be up this week, but with the voting deadline looming I’m going to be posting my clips myself over the next few days. First, some introductory comments in two short clips (2 mins each). More about me also at: ucucommons.org/mark4vp/

If Matt Goodwin is serious about his concerns that women are delaying motherhood, he should demand: - Better employment security for women - Better maternity rights - Better maternity pay - Free or at least affordable childcare - Equal pay for women - Equal pensions for women

I've just done my democratic duty by voting in the @ucu.org.uk elections, casting my vote for @markpendleton.bsky.social and mostly @ucucommons.org folks. Less than one in five members usually vote, so your ballot can make a huge difference in ensuring your union represents its members' views.

Non-apology apology. You stay classy Ratty.

There is nothing quite as aurally cute as a dog sleep-woofing and sleep-growling at some dream critter they've almost caught.

Well I said “this Friday” but there’s still no sign of my #ucu national election ballots yet… if you’re in a similar situation, you should order a replacement at: yoursay.ucu.org.uk/s3/UCU-elect...

@dyfrigjones.bsky.social out there doing the Lord’s work

And thank god that HE is devolved in Wales. Zia Yusuf has threatened to de-fund Bangor University, but he’ll need to win this year’s Senedd election first. The people of Wales know better than to hand power to such tyrants. Vote Plaid Cymru in May to keep Reform out.

I’m really proud of Bangor University students today. Very much in the spirit of Penrhyndeudraeth lad Bertrand Russell, when he said that “nothing fruitful or sincere could ever emerge from an association between us”, when invited to debate Oswald Mosley.

I fully support Bangor University's students telling Reform to go and fuck off Also, higher education funding in Wales is devolved, you Dubai based ignoramus The UK Government literally have no say over it

Excellent as always from @markpendleton.bsky.social I just posted my ballot voting for @markpendleton.bsky.social @suzitoole.bsky.social and the entire @ucucommons.org slate!

“For Keir Starmer to say Peter Mandelson ‘lied to me’ leaves Starmer with zero credibility.” @drjogrady.bsky.social

Excellent piece on casualisation from @hagenilda.bsky.social cdbu.org.uk/our-employer...

It would be super nice to be confident in our union leadership amidst all the tumult of UK higher ed. Please vote @ucucommons.org

My ballot papers just arrived for the @ucu.org.uk NEC and VP elections. I’ll be voting for @markpendleton.bsky.social and @suzitoole.bsky.social for the Vice Presidential posts, as well as the candidates on this slate: campaignforucudemocracy.com/2025/11/26/2...

February is LGBTQ+ history month 🌈 It's is a time to reflect on how far we have come and how much there is still to do. I am honoured to have been endorsed by all five UCU equality committees and I’m committed to continuing the work of UCU to champion the voices and needs of marginalised members.

Delighted to be one of many colleagues endorsing @markpendleton.bsky.social for #ucu Vice-President (Higher Education). Find out more about him and his campaign here ucucommons.org/about-mark/ and please do vote when your ballot arrives! 😀

Today’s start of LGBT+ history month is a great time to focus on and recommit to the important work UCU does to advance LGBTQ+ and wider equality. My contributions to that have led to endorsement from the chairs of all five of UCU’s equality committees. Thank you. ucucommons.org/endorsements/

I travelled on an @eduinternational.bsky.social trip to Palestine. But we never got there We were detained for 5+ hours, grilled and refused entry by Israeli forces It was intimidating and a violation of our rights. It is nothing compared to what Palestinians go through every day under occupation

I am so grateful that Mark Pendleton is running as the next UCU VP (Higher Education). He is a dedicated, strategic, kind, and level headed union organizer; brilliant historian; and a dear friend. He will make a terrific vicepresident; please vote for him, all. ucucommons.org/about-mark/

Great to see that Mark Pendleton is running for UCU VP (Higher Education). Worked with him on the RHS LGBT+ report and he was consistently, insistently and cheerfully simply ace. Learn more from ucucommons.org/about-mark/ . And regardless, don't ignore your ballot.

Newsletter #8! #UCU Feat @markpendleton.bsky.social & @suzitoole.bsky.social’s joint VP run & NEC bids of @matthewbarnard.phd @drgillhistory.bsky.social, @profalexp.bsky.social. & vthuppil.bsky.social, @matildaf.bsky.social, @statesofprecarity.bsky.social & more! ucucommons.org/ucu-commons-...

“These cuts are hitting the most vulnerable staff hardest.” Sophia Woodman, @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social branch president explaining the reality of the crisis in HE to the Scottish Education Committee.

From Friday 30th of Jan, you will receive ballot papers for this year’s UCU elections. I am standing for election as Vice-President (Further Education) of #UCU and am asking for your vote. Find out more about me and the candidates I support at suzitooleforvp.com I hope I can count on your support

SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN! Do not fund the government until a full investigation is performed for Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The agents responsible for their execution must be removed from duty and put on trial. The American people demand accountability and an end to ICE & DHS brutality!!!

Worth remembering when looking at the horrific scenes in the US right now that both Reform and the Tories have pledged to bring in ICE-style organisations to the UK if they win power

Disgraceful from @sheffielduni.bsky.social Punishing staff twice for taking strike action, and pushing a resolution further from reach. Terrible for staff, terrible for students Please donate to the hardship fund. But know that the union is fully behind Sheffield and supporting them through this

If Polanski runs for Gordon & Denton, what are the odds of Burnham defecting to the Greens and endorsing Polanski?

Here’s a link. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Not content with burning to the ground what they have already destroyed, management yesterday announced plans to decimate several more departments. No empathy, no understanding of the institution they purport to lead, and absolutely no vision of what they want it to be. Just destruction.

If Keir Starmer had the tiniest bit of political nouse, he would have gone all out against Trump's apalling remarks belittling the sacrifices of NATO allies, including the UK, in Afghanistan, & used it to relentlessly draw a contrast with Trump worshipping Farage But Starmer does not have the nouse

We are further delighted to report that today's meetings of the Black Members' Standing Committee and Disabled Members' Standing Committee passed the motion. Next up: Equality Committee. #UCU

#UCU elections open next Friday. Please vote. Here’s the UCU Commons pitch

Your regular reminder that Donald Trump is an insult to everything good and decent. news.sky.com/story/i-was-...

If Starmer lets Burnham stand, then it's a Labour HOLD If not, then disillusioned Labour supporters mean it will be a Green GAIN

We are now 366 days into Trump "ending the war in Ukraine within 24 hours". We are also 1,427 days into Putin's "3-day special operation". Turns out tyrannical narcissists are full of shit.

Trump is a demented moron

TACO

Some may remember that last year @ucu.org.uk ran a survey of members to improve participation in the union's democracy. The report from the LRD (commissioned to undertake the survey) is here (login needed): www.ucu.org.uk/article/5364...

Sheffield merely the latest university to claim that legally withdrawing your labour should actually be postponing your labour, and punishing people further. Here’s how strikes work: 1. You legally stop working for a period of time. You don’t get paid. 2. Win or lose you go back to work.

Response from Donald Trump when asked to comment on this

100% agree with @governor.ca.gov Europe needs to stand up to the bully in the White House instead of seeking pathetic appeasement news.sky.com/share/13496558

This is the broken clock example where the broken First Past The Post system actually attempts to reflect the electorate. We are in a multiparty system now. Labour must deliver proportional representation ahead of the next election.

In other words, Reform have a ceiling and they've hit it. They offer nothing to the people of Wales. Indeed, they have neither a Welsh leader (their last one is in jail for accepting bribes from Putin) nor any policies for Wales. They're being found out for the charlatans that they are.

Shame on the University of Sheffield "Any work undertaken will be regarded as voluntary" WTF is even that?! 🤬

Imagine giving away your Nobel peace prize medal hoping for a presidency and getting a Trump-signed gift bag instead No words edition.cnn.com/2026/01/15/a...

Plaid Cymru showing that, in order to beat Reform, you have to offer the voters a true progressive alternative instead of merely trying to copy Reform's racist policies. Imagine that! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿