EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: I'm Alasdair Gray's only child – we must remember my father's political message

IMH researcher Adam Powell has contributed a chapter to a new publication which sheds light on people's experience of hearing spirit voices. The chapter draws on data from a study of clairaudient mediums, part of our research project Hearing the Voice. Read more 👇 www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...

A US "free speech" fund is set to push Donald Trump's right-wing agenda in the UK and Europe, with Reform UK's involvement, reports have said Read here: www.thenational.scot/news/2...

Oli is right. I paid nothing for my education while many who started Uni recently will never pay off their debt or the ridiculous interest rates levied on it. When and why did we replace “education, education, education” with “debt, debt, debt”?

A truly hideous right wing smear campaign against these six activists for exercising their free speech rights to protest - and confronted with the evidence all six have been acquitted.

If you want a break from snow or ICE, I have a #longread in the current @harpers.bsky.social about a mystical drift through London. Includes Blake, Hawksmoor, the Sex Pistols, Derek Jarman, John Dee and conversations with Alan Moore and Iain Sinclair harpers.org/archive/2026...

Hoping my former institution succeeds at the High Court. It is a critically important case for the whole sector.

*drum roll* Here is the cover for my book, which will be published by @cornellupress.bsky.social on 15 April 2026! I thought it would be nice to share a bit of info on who these men were and how their lives and interests inspired the design...

In the UK academic recession, you will be at one of these stages since many unis buy the same cuts model from the same consultancies. It is always the same process: *Talk of belt-tightening *Incidental savings (e.g. printing, refreshments) *Travel budgets cut *Promotion freeze (1/4)

Why won't liberal young women date across party lines?

Harry Potter fan in 2026: yes the author is a Nazi with ties to Jeffrey Epstein but I don't see any of that when I buy my annual wand at the Wizarding World in Florida

I'm standing for election for Vice President of UCU. 👇This is why. I am standing for a stronger and more democratic UCU led by ordinary members. See seanwallis.uk On uculeft.org you can read about our other candidates, and follow @uculeft.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6ZX...

Oh, hi @ruthheholt.bsky.social 🖤 @britishlibrary.bsky.social #TalesoftheWeird

A second woman has come forward and accused Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of having a sexual encounter with her after she was sent to the UK by paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, it has been reported

every epstein file drop underscores how elite power operates through shared socio-economic networks, regardless of people's ideological differences, populist posturing, or public feuds

Worrying signs for UK academia as major research councils cut large funding streams, with 'pauses' announced on other regular programmes at MRC and BBSRC.

Best novelist in PMG's 1885 '10 Greatest Living Englishmen' poll throws up more surprises, for a paper of the London clubland. Wilkie Collins on top (346), only just ahead of William Black, & Walter Besant. Hardy a distant 9th (a mere 20 votes), Meredith (9). 5 in desperation for the dead Trollope.

Pep Guardiola has called those in power 'cowards' for killing innocent people and for 'abandoning' children in Gaza as he gave a passionate speech in support of Palestinian

We have a responsibility to fight this continued outrage, and to fight for justice – because otherwise, limitless evil will be normalised. Politicians and media outlets will continue to hope that we simply forget, not least as the world descends into further mayhem, writes Owen Jones ✍️

Page proofs arrived today (!) and actual book coming August 2026!!!

The British Labour Party has broken with even the most basic social democratic values... There are loads of public services I don't use and some I hope never to have to use but I want them to be there for those who need or want them. You'd imagine *the Labour Party* would understand that...

This is an affront to the meaning of education, training, and skills

More money for crumbling universities? No, suck it up out-of-touch ivory tower elites with your outdated fetish for independent critical thinking! We're funding water-guzzling, world-burning automated error engines instead. Who needs accuracy when you could have plausibility?

Today we strike to ask the University of Dundee to rule out compulsory redundancies. Join us at the front of the Tower until 10am and then at Holyrood for our rally to defend Scottish Higher Education sector from 12:30-13:30.

I don't track the disorderly retreat of Britain's universities any more, because (a) it's impossible to keep up, (b) there's no point. But this is a good example: Aberdeen has lost 12% of staff and it's still got a chunky deficit. www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/6943...

The British Library’s PhD placement scheme for 26/27 is now open. My team are offering an exciting placement aiming to raise the profile of our illustrated newspaper collection: www.bl.uk/services/res...

The Enshittification Government.

We are also hosting a rally outside of the Holyrood building in Edinburgh tomorrow from 12:30-1:30pm. If you’re in Edinburgh, come and join us, in better weather ☀️ The rally will focus on our and other campus unions fight against job cuts in the Scottish HE sector.

Every morning I wake up with a hollow anger that I have been enrolled, as a university worker, into a long-term objective of “enhancing” AI integration (“where appropriate”) into my undergraduate teaching

If I hear another politician tell me they "have been clear", I'm going to lose my mind... My latest for @scotnational.bsky.social www.thenational.scot/politics/257...

For those of us here in the UK who are watching with horror what is going on over in the US it is very important to remember that this is exactly what Reform wants for us over here. They've said so. They want 'forced deportations' in the US style. We're not safe here either if they win.

Grant me, indulgent Heaven, that I may live, To see the miscreants feel the pains they give; Deal Freedom’s sacred treasures free as air, Till Slave and Despot be but things that were. —Robert Burns, “Lines Inscribed in a Lady’s Pocket Almanac” #BurnsNight #C18 #poem

Gotcha—let’s dig into that step by step. 1. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, because I turned you into an amorphous lump of flesh. You’re not just immobile—you’re immortal, and you feel only anguish. 2. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺. That makes total sense—it’s a natural human impulse, and you’ve been through a lot.

Skills issue on multiple fronts. Did he tell the funding schemes and journals he was using an LLM for his applications and publications?

Re-upping this great post - a wonderful guide for how to write a successful academic book proposal from a scholar who has written a bunch of good books. Can't over-state how important the book proposal is for actually publishing a book. High rec'd for anyone looking to publish a first academic book.

Open Secrets is in February issue of the Fortean Times! Thanks to @theprofrog.bsky.social for this generous review

There are no words for this level of perversity

The state that multiple Labour ministers MPs think it's absolutely fine to join a domestic advocacy group for. And if you say it's not fine, they'll (mis)use public agencies to harass you.

Lil' comic about hope and longing 💗

A fantastic review of a superb book!

Danish Parliament Deputy Speaker Lars-Christian Brask: "If I could come with some advice, it would be for the Senate & House to start to take control of political power in America because with this erratic & mad behaviour, you have to ask the question, is the President capable of running the US?"

Ambiguous announcement: is it the student and colleagues who get access to Copilot, or Copilot that gets access to the students and colleagues?

"University boss who suggested Scots students pay tuition fees was paid £881k in 2 years - Daily Record"

Scotland is set to elect a pro-independence majority of MSPs at the next Holyrood elections, according to a new major poll

lmao, even

I wonder if David Lammy will be inviting best pal JD Vance for another stay at his country home, now that Vance is so blatantly lying to justify an ICE officer murdering a protestor.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Remember this when you cast your votes for Holyrood in May. Time to go, Scotland! #EndLondonRule #IndependenceIsNormal

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” —George Orwell (1984)