There is a giant hole in the joint ‘libcon manifesto’ which the current coalition is going to be based around. This hole is in the form of foreign policy and it is simply not mentioned at all outside the realms of Europe. This is not overly surprising given the wildly different views the two parties hold on the issue, but could well lead to the first major disputes and fractions in the coalition. The issue of foreign policy has been swept under the carpet by Cameron and his team; and it was very...

Luna17 recommends…

1. Four Lions: Islamophobia or damning indictment of ‘war on terror’? (The Sauce)

2. Cameron, Clegg, and the cuts (Neil Faulkner at Counterfire)

3. Clegg’s 10k tax allowance is a Tory dream (Left Foot Forward)

4. "Volcano of oil" in Gulf may be unstoppable (Madam Miaow)

5. Coalition will provoke extra-parliamentary struggles (A World to Win)

6. Shit on toast (Splintered Sunrise)

7. A Tory wet dream of women in politics (Penny Red)

8. The revolution will be tweeted (Scottish Socialist Youth)

9. ...

The student protesters occupying the Mansion Building at Trent Park campus were informed on Friday morning that the university management was seeking a court injunction to end our sit-in protest. This news came as a surprise to us since we were in the midst of negotiations with management over the future of philosophy at Middlesex. We are disappointed at the management’s provocative decision to bring lawyers in to resolve this dispute. We intend to continue our campaign to save philosophy at Middlesex...

I’m only asking. Well, I’m not really asking. I’m asking if it’s ok to ask. According to Jak Codd, the Communications and Internal Officer of Leeds University Students’ Union, the students’ newspaper, Leeds Student, should not be allowed to publish the question at all. I’m sure the context had something to do with it so let’s have a look:

On Friday April 30, the freedom of this paper came under threat.

The freedom of speech, from ideology, from the establishment, and from mainstream media, has upheld Leeds...

As a follow-up to my recent article, “98 MPs Who Supported Human Rights While Countering Terrorism,” in which I presented a list of current MPs who had supported the return from Guantánamo of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident in the prison, had opposed the use of secret evidence in UK courts, and/or had voted against the renewal of control orders on March 1 this year, I have put together a template for a letter that those concerned with these issues — and with British complicity in torture —...

Column out today! For the Morning Star! Which is a great paper that everyone should read!

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It’s hard to decide what aspect of Britain’s new centre-right government is more insulting to women. Is it the dramatic drop in the number of people with female bodies holding positions of power? Is it the Conservatives’ notion that one can best support "families" by encouraging women to marry and leave the workplace? Or is it the sudden arrival of Theresa May MP as the most powerful woman in the country? The...

Jeremy sent me this picture of the eviction notice. No cops or anything yet there, apparently…maybe some sort of bluff. Nabarro are a commercial law firm (their slogan: ‘clarity matters’....). Students are staying put.

At the moment (12.30pm), I’m probably still unconscious and recovering from early morning surgery. But I love this, another Friday lunchtime distraction from Mark Fiore on the the absurdity of oil dependence, so I thought I’d schedule it in advance:

Middlesex occupation needs ur support. Management at high court to
evict. all come NOW. Trent park campus. Oakwood station, picadilly
line, shuttle bus or walk to campus.Bring people and video cameras etc.Clare Solomon
ULU President elect
http://ulucampaigner.wordpres.comSent from my iPhone so please excuse any spelling mistakes (or
misunderstandings for that matter!)

Management at High Court to Evict!!! Middlesex students have just received a letter from Mansion House wanting us out in half an hour. We would urge as MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE to go straight to the Mansion Building straight away!!! Oakwood tube, Picadilly line, shuttle bus or walk to Trent Park Campus. Also:  Dear everyone, we just received a notification that the Management will pursue legal action within 1 hour. We urge you all to come and support us in our hour of need (literally). Thank you for your...

Here are some details of a solidarity demonstration with Middlesex University philosophy students, campaigning to defend their department against being axed. They have been in occupation of the administration building of their university at Trent Park campus for over a week now. Supporters of the students are organising leafleting and a demonstration at the Hendon campus of the university on Monday 17 May between 6-8pm. Address: The Burroughs, Hendon NW4. Nearest tube: Hendon central on the Edgware...

Just before the election, I created a list of 149 MPs (out of 650 in total), who had signed up to two important Early Day Motions over the previous 12 months. The first opposed the use of secret evidence in UK courts, particularly in the cases of terror suspects (both British and foreign nationals), where it is used as a pretext to hold them under control orders (a form of house arrest) or in prison pending deportation, or on deportation bail (again, a form of house arrest), without them being formally...

I knew their relationship was in trouble but a whole US institute devoted to peace with Afghan President Karzai? That’s what it says in the BBC report. Hilary Clinton even addressed the institute just recently:

We’re not fighting the Afghan people," she said during a visit to the US Institute of Peace with President Karzai.

We’re fighting a small minority of very dedicated, ruthless extremists who unfortunately are able to enlist young men… for a variety of reasons and send them out...

14 May, 4pm, Wolfson Room, IHR, Senate House, London. A Symposium on Fredric Jameson’s Valences of the Dialectic Matthew Beaumont (University College London), Gail Day (University of Leeds), Nina Power (Roehampton University), and Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths). All welcome.