Lush is a brilliant company. In September, I sent a speculative email to its general public relations email address about the student-led Gaza 40+ campaign to get students with UK scholarships evacuated.

A powerful account of what the ceasefire means to Gazans, by Ali Skaik, published in The Nation. ‘We, the ones who made it out alive, carry the duty of memory. We survived to speak the names of the martyrs, to share their stories, and to keep their voices alive.’ www.thenation.com/article/worl...

Sana is one of the students our charity, the Durham Palestine Educational Trust, funded to study for a Master’s programme. She did amazing work in Gaza, delivering education in a refugee camp www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

My friend Ali Skaik provides a visceral view of life in Gaza City right now, a reality that lives in dreams as well as waking hours electronicintifada.net/content/nigh...

Huda Skaik writes powerfully from within Gaza City: ‘Remember that every corner, every street, and every whisper of life in Gaza City was once a part of me.’ www.newarab.com/opinion/isra...

A compelling feature by Huda Skaik and Ali Skaik on the work of photojournalists during the genocide in Gaza. They are heroes. So brave, demonstrating a commitment to truth knowing that they could be targeted for death by the Israeli occupation forces at any time theintercept.com/2025/09/16/g...

The v talented Nadera Mushtha has published a new piece that draws out the theft of time, space and life by Israel in Gaza, but also the beautiful defiance of Gazans amidst these dynamics. She’s a poet distilling what is essential about humanity in prose wearenotnumbers.org/we-counted-t...

If you’re wondering why there are fewer images and videos coming from citizens on the ground in north Gaza today, it’s because the Israelis bombed and destroyed internet and phone centres this morning. I guess they really don’t want you to see what’s going on

A friend’s neighbourhood, Gaza City, today. There is no other objective here other than eradicating a people

The absolute legend that is Gruff Rhys, aka the best, aka Yr Arwr, pops up to speak eloquently about yr iaith Gymraeg, its politics and the ongoing genocide in Gaza as “the defining event of our times”. His new album, Dim Probs, out now, and it’s ace www.channel4.com/news/gruff-r...

A few streets away from a friend in Gaza City. The only thing that will work against this brutal Israeli regime is hard sanctions and criminal prosecutions

The Israelis have just bombed and destroyed Al-Tiba Tower on the coast in Gaza City. As you can see from the video, it is surrounded by the tents of the displaced. When you search for the tower in Google Maps, you get a video of a mixed gender group of youngsters playing football outside it

My gifted friend Huda Skaik’s poem, Alone Beneath the Rubble, was recited at the Milton Keynes vigil for Gaza yesterday. Huda is an inspirational writer and journalist. She is currently in Gaza City, and is in my thoughts continuously. Text here wearenotnumbers.org/alone-beneat...

My friend Huda Skaik, on the ground in Gaza, has visited the Strip’s only Catholic church a month on from Israel’s attack. She speaks to survivors and reports their experiences with considerable care. theintercept.com/2025/08/18/g...

Here is a poem by my friend Nadera Raied Mushtha, an exceptionally gifted writer and journalist in Gaza, Palestine. Recited by another friend, Jackie Andrew-Barrett at a vigil in Milton Keynes. Nadera, your words echoed through our city this evening and we are with you

The MK ANSARS are doing important work to help settle Palestinian students and recent graduates. Please read, donate (time and/ or money) if you can, and share www.mkfm.com/news/local-n...

Launching today: MK ANSARS, a new Milton Keynes initiative to support Palestinian students from Gaza & the West Bank 🇵🇸. Mentoring, friendship & practical help to rebuild futures. Led by @KurshidaMirza & @nela-smolovic.bsky.social

A simple request for the UK government to get students with offers to study here out of Gaza. Please do what you can - raise it at a meeting, write to your MP. Governments in Germany, France and Ireland have managed to evacuate offer holders, so why not the UK? www.theguardian.com/education/20...

A much needed, critical journal on feminism and organization, with a brilliant group of scholars leading and supporting it

Well, Adwaith were fantastic in Newcastle this evening. The new record is a proper rocker eh

*plays the new Adwaith album* Amdaniiiiiiiiii …

A big night on the Toon fair play. Lovely to be amongst so many joyful people. Tell me ma me ma, I’m not coming home for tea. I’m going to Wem-ber-ley, tell me ma me ma!

Oh well I finally deactivated my Twitter account. Promoting fascists and fascism is too much. I don’t like this platform - I get tonnes of US and cats content - but it will do for now or until I give up on social media entirely

I’m super excited for this. Album ordered and a couple of tour dates booked in. Let’s gooo www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Beyond the Fragments: 45 Years On sslh.org.uk/2024/12/28/b...

Top albums 2024: 1. Gruff Rhys, Sadness sets me free; 2. The Cure, Songs of a lost world; 3. La Luz, News of the Universe; 4. Beak>, >>>>; 5. Daisy Rickman, Howl; 6. The Soundcarriers, Through Other Reflections; 7. Blood Incantation, Absolute elsewhere; 8. Julie Christmas, Ridiculous & full of blood

There’s a big old discount on Keith and I’s book on leadership. It’s packed full of power, resistance and intrigue. If you buy no other book in leadership that’s fine by us. www.bloomsbury.com/uk/leadershi...

Sobering reading from Amnesty International’s comprehensive research today. I hope the UK Government finally starts to take substantial action www.amnesty.org.uk/genocide-rep...

There’s a vicious rumour circulating that I really like the Super Furry Animals and Gruff Rhys. I would like to categorically den… Ok you’ve got me

My suggested cap is 0.01 pence taxed at 1bn%. Public funding for political parties, proportional representation, abolish House of Lords. No political party membership, replace with democratic primaries. Independent review of all MPs’ expenses entitlements by a panel of NHS nurses

I don’t know who needs to hear this but I’ve become bewitched by the coldwave, darkwave and post-punk of Köln band Suir. Highly recommended! Embrace the cold dark waves suir.bandcamp.com/music

My statement on the Assisted Dying Bill.

Diane Abbott is correct as usual of course. You can’t introduce assisted dying into a neoliberal economy and expect all to be fine. ‘Safeguards’ won’t work. What a dangerous and wasteful way of using parliamentary time and the national attention

Gruff Rhys yn Gateshead neithiwr💫🌘

Our doggo and her robe