Matthew Cookson

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The Old Lie

The First World War ended 100 years ago today, on 11 November 1918. Four years ago, Matthew Cookson looked at how poetry of the...

The radicalism of Shelley

Artists are creatures of their time, and Jacqueline Mulhallen’s new political biography of Percy Bysshe Shelley captures this. His poetry is a true expression and celebration of love, beauty and the human spirit.
Poppy field

Condemning the slaughter of the ‘Great War’

2014 marks the 100th centenary of the beginning of the First World War. Britain's rulers want us to commemorate it as a 'just war'. Matthew...

Why does Michael Gove hate Blackadder?

Today marks the 100th anniversary of Britain declaring war on Germany in the the First World War. Cameron, Gove and others want us to...

Lambeth College strike: Stage One ends, but prepare for Stage Two

by Matthew Cookson, UCU lead negotiator, EHWLC (personal capacity) Strikers at Lambeth College in south London marched back together to work today (Wednesday 9 July)...

Latest articles

Police Trafalgar square

Resist the crackdown on demonstrations

The lockdown has ended but the crackdown on protests goes on and on. We need to share skills and solidarity to resist police repression.

‘The fight of our lives’ | Interview with Marian Mayer

Marian Mayer, candidate for Vice President of UCU, spoke to rs21 about the fightback in the higher and further education sectors

Review: The Covid-19 Catastrophe

Stacey Williams reviews The Covid-19 Catastrophe, by leading UK medical writer Richard Horton
Protests in Minsk

Interview: Organised and disorganised labour in the Belarus uprising

Siarhei Biareishyk speaks to rs21 about the uprising in Belarus following the falsified re-election of Aliaksandr Lukashenka on 9 August 2020.
Trump rally in 2016

Fascism beyond Trump

Historical comparisons can lead to unhelpful conclusions if not used carefully
Beirut port destroyed

Interview: Beirut blast exposed a global system

Rima Majed spoke to rs21 about the blast that devastated Beirut in the context of an existing political and economic crisis.

Reopening schools is bad science

Mike Downham explains the poor science behind the government plans for schools reopening. 

Interview: Neighbourhood organising in Edinburgh

Activists in Edinburgh share their experiences of fighting to save lives, save jobs, and save the planet within a local community hit by Covid-19.

Review: Radical Happiness

Lynne Segal’s most recent work, Radical Happiness, addresses the relationship between political action and personal fulfilment.

Tik Tok: is time running out for Tory style education?

Ava, a sixth form student, describes how she helped to instigate the protests last weekend which led to the government U-turn.  

Highlights

Protests in Minsk

Interview: Organised and disorganised labour in the Belarus uprising

Siarhei Biareishyk speaks to rs21 about the uprising in Belarus following the falsified re-election of Aliaksandr Lukashenka on 9 August 2020.
Beirut port destroyed

Interview: Beirut blast exposed a global system

Rima Majed spoke to rs21 about the blast that devastated Beirut in the context of an existing political and economic crisis.

Review: Fortunes of Feminism

Leslie Cunningham reviews Fortunes of Feminism by Nancy Fraser, a critical account of changes in feminist thought in the era of neo-liberalism.
Ravenscraig

Post-war to post-industrial Scotland

Successive British governments have restructured the Scottish economy in damaging ways. Now we need a radical plan for a de-carbonised and independent Scotland.
Westferry printworks

Johnson’s bonanza for private capital

The Tories are increasing spending, but the money is going to the rich. Adam Blanden argues that this represents the acceleration of Britain’s transformation into a ‘speculator state’.