19 January 2022

Newham council rejects using 0.03% of reserves to fund arts

I was part of the deputation from the North and East London branch of performing arts union Equity to a Newham Council cabinet meeting

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19 January 2022

Theatre: Yes Yes UCS

Interview: Telling the story of the 1971 Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in: In June 1971, the privately owned shipyards of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders collapsed into receivership. But instead of accepting redundancy, the large workforce occupied the affected sites and began its famous

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12 January 2022

Anne: Hillsborough and the fight for justice

Kevin Sampson's short TV series portrays the crusade for justice by the family of one of the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster's victims

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12 January 2022

Money Heist: A Robin Hood tale set in modern-day capitalism

TV series: 'La Casa de Papel' or Money Heist: This is a must-watch Spanish drama over five series, and now available to watch in its entirety on Netflix.

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12 January 2022

Bullying weighing room culture at the races

Horse racing, known as 'the sport of kings', has a long history. And for most of that time the jockeys were male, until the 1970s, in particular 1979, when women were allowed to become professional jockeys.

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15 December 2021

TV review: Vaccine Wars: The Truth About Pfizer

Nationalise the pharmaceutical giants: This Dispatches programme reveals the enormous profits made by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, the lack of vaccines sent to poorer countries, and how Pfizer money helps spread misleading claims about rivals.

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8 December 2021

Film review: The Harder They Fall

'The Harder They Fall' is a new Western on Netflix. The movie sets are stylised and the gunfights are majestically choreographed. But the film also stands out for its all-black cast, something that is

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1 December 2021

Stop the cuts to Uni arts funding

On 24 November, 60 people protested at the University of Bristol against government cuts to university arts funding. I spoke at the demonstration, representing Socialist Students.

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1 December 2021

TV review: Valley of the Tears

Effective, but flawed, depiction of war and class divisions: Valley of the Tears is an Israeli TV series which is set in the first days of the war between the Israeli state and a coalition of Arab states, principally Egypt and Syria, in October 1973.

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17 November 2021

St Mungo's report fails to address bullying and victimisation of workers

A new 'independent' report - compiled by a long-term associate of the CEO - has failed to address workers' concerns in homelessness charity St Mungo's

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10 November 2021

John Barnes on class and capitalism. What's missing?

Book review: The Uncomfortable Truth About Racism: 'The Uncomfortable Truth About Racism', by former footballer John Barnes, makes some valuable points

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3 November 2021

Sexism, safety and the profit system

After over a year of nights in, 'social bubbles' and rainy outdoor seating, it's no wonder the decision to bring back nightclubs and bars has been so popular, especially among the younger generation

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3 November 2021

Tories threaten arts students: we are prepared to fight back!

It is not surprising that our government would pass a motion for vast, brutal cuts to the arts and humanities courses in higher education, but it is deeply harmful and enraging nonetheless.

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27 October 2021

TV review Maid

Ably showing inadequacy, red tape and inhumanity of capitalism: This ten-part dramatisation is based on Stephanie Land's 2019 memoir, 'Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive'

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27 October 2021

TV review The Riots 2011: One Week in August

Following the murder of Mark Duggan by the police, riots rocked London, and many other cities, a decade ago

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20 October 2021

Biggest protest yet to save Stratford Circus

Over 70 trade unionists, arts workers and community campaigners turned out for the second protest in defence of Stratford Circus arts centre on 16 October

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20 October 2021

TV review: Squid Game

'An unflinching critique of capitalism': The South Korean-produced Squid Game now has over 111 million views around the world, in record time for a series released on Netflix

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13 October 2021

March to save Stratford arts jobs from Newham Labour attacks

The campaign to save arts jobs in Stratford, east London, has called a second protest after the council reneged on promises yet again.

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22 September 2021

TV Review - Help: Heart-wrenching portrayal of Covid care home crisis

'Help' is a heart-wrenching story of a care home in Liverpool for people with dementia. When the Covid-19 crisis hits the home, the main protagonist, Sarah, is faced with loss, pressure and difficult

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15 September 2021

TV review - Grenfell: The Untold Story

Recently, my partner and I watched 'Grenfell: The Untold Story'. We watched footage of tenants, ahead of the 2017 tragedy, battle with 'the suits' over their living conditions: lifts out of order for

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