Janey Starling
@janeystarling.bsky.social
Co-director of Level Up. Abolitionist, feminist, trade unionist and writer on a mission to end imprisonment of pregnant women and mothers.
welevelup.org
welevelup.org
If the British left has a future, it’s in Faiza Shaheen
If the British left has a future, it's in a reboot for the 2020s-2030s which identifies, invests in and elevates the UK equivalents of AOC, Ilhan Omar and Zohran Mamdani. Any hint of relitigating 2015-19 for the umpteenth time is something to be strenuously avoided.
Politico reports that the left-wing grouping of independents in the Commons (Inc Corbyn) has been "formalising its operation lately, hiring staff to work for the group rather than individual MPs and debating how to go about potentially becoming a proper party." They're discussing a name (Assemble?)
July 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
If the British left has a future, it’s in Faiza Shaheen
Reposted by Janey Starling
“‘Demonstrations’ in the fullest sense of the word—proof of how many people these organizations could mobilize, and how militantly they could be mobilized”
@olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social author of Elite Capture, in @time.com
@olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social author of Elite Capture, in @time.com
Why Protests Should Be Promises
Modern movements that aim to advance racial equity should withhold and promise, rather than perform, writes Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò
time.com
June 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
“‘Demonstrations’ in the fullest sense of the word—proof of how many people these organizations could mobilize, and how militantly they could be mobilized”
@olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social author of Elite Capture, in @time.com
@olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social author of Elite Capture, in @time.com
Palestine Action knew that appeals to morality were pointless, that blocking the killing machine was the only way.
The government’s decision to ban them is an acknowledgement of how effective that strategy is.
The government’s decision to ban them is an acknowledgement of how effective that strategy is.
June 24, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Palestine Action knew that appeals to morality were pointless, that blocking the killing machine was the only way.
The government’s decision to ban them is an acknowledgement of how effective that strategy is.
The government’s decision to ban them is an acknowledgement of how effective that strategy is.
Reposted by Janey Starling
Reality has a well known anti-Israel bias.
June 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Reality has a well known anti-Israel bias.
I wrote about Dr Laila Soueif’s hunger strike to #FreeAlaa & why it’s always mothers on the frontline of the fight against prisons
@labour-hub.bsky.social
labourhub.org.uk/2025/06/12/r...
@labour-hub.bsky.social
labourhub.org.uk/2025/06/12/r...
Rigged Justice: Laila Soueif’s hunger strike is a feminist call to arms
Janey Starling explains why Laila Soueif’s hunger strike to release her son imprisoned in Egypt raises broader questions about dehumanising incarceration, including in Britain. Dr Laila Soueif’s hu…
labourhub.org.uk
June 13, 2025 at 9:08 AM
I wrote about Dr Laila Soueif’s hunger strike to #FreeAlaa & why it’s always mothers on the frontline of the fight against prisons
@labour-hub.bsky.social
labourhub.org.uk/2025/06/12/r...
@labour-hub.bsky.social
labourhub.org.uk/2025/06/12/r...
Reposted by Janey Starling
How on earth can the UK sanction two Israeli ministers yet — at the very same time — continue supplying weapons to the very government they serve?
The UK’s position is becoming more absurd by the day. End all arms sales to Israel, now.
The UK’s position is becoming more absurd by the day. End all arms sales to Israel, now.
June 11, 2025 at 10:17 AM
How on earth can the UK sanction two Israeli ministers yet — at the very same time — continue supplying weapons to the very government they serve?
The UK’s position is becoming more absurd by the day. End all arms sales to Israel, now.
The UK’s position is becoming more absurd by the day. End all arms sales to Israel, now.
Prisons are institutions of power and control, they will never ever be caring places.
Women in prison ‘punitively’ restrained 424 times amid mental health crisis
Women in prison ‘punitively’ restrained 424 times amid mental health crisis
Revealed: Dozens of women with mental health problems ‘stripped’ and made to wear ‘last resort’ anti-rip clothing
bit.ly
June 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Prisons are institutions of power and control, they will never ever be caring places.
Reposted by Janey Starling
They really are saying the quiet bit out loud now, fucking hell
June 6, 2025 at 7:54 AM
They really are saying the quiet bit out loud now, fucking hell
Reposted by Janey Starling
One horrific headline after another revealing the tip of the iceberg of ongoing genocidal violence. All while the international community lets this continue despite the fact that the 1948 UN convention which outlaws genocide *obligates* states to prevent and punish genocide.
June 1, 2025 at 11:12 AM
One horrific headline after another revealing the tip of the iceberg of ongoing genocidal violence. All while the international community lets this continue despite the fact that the 1948 UN convention which outlaws genocide *obligates* states to prevent and punish genocide.
An ex-police officer built a mobile prison cell that tours primary schools so children can experience “prison life” and it’s called HMP Not-4-Me and this is the website and it’s not satire:
hmpnot4me.co.uk/our-programmes
hmpnot4me.co.uk/our-programmes
May 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
An ex-police officer built a mobile prison cell that tours primary schools so children can experience “prison life” and it’s called HMP Not-4-Me and this is the website and it’s not satire:
hmpnot4me.co.uk/our-programmes
hmpnot4me.co.uk/our-programmes
Wellness fascism has reached its horrifying apex
May 22, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Wellness fascism has reached its horrifying apex
Some hope from the Independent Sentencing Review. If the government are serious, they will divert funding away from prisons into communities.
May 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Some hope from the Independent Sentencing Review. If the government are serious, they will divert funding away from prisons into communities.
Reposted by Janey Starling
A Nottinghamshire police officer accused of banging a teenage girl's head on a vehicle and putting his hands on her throat has been sacked following a two-day misconduct hearing www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...
Midlands police officer accused of banging teen's head on car sacked
Kevin Markowski, 47, has been dismissed from the police force
www.birminghammail.co.uk
May 20, 2025 at 6:58 AM
A Nottinghamshire police officer accused of banging a teenage girl's head on a vehicle and putting his hands on her throat has been sacked following a two-day misconduct hearing www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...
More harrowing accounts of women being cuffed to officers during childbirth. Every day there’s more evidence of why we need to end the imprisonment of pregnant women.
www.thetimes.com/article/8502...
www.thetimes.com/article/8502...
Prisoners who gave birth in handcuffs sue Ministry of Justice
One of five women who went into labour while an inmate at HMP Bronzefield says she begged officers to remove her restraints in the hospital
www.thetimes.com
May 20, 2025 at 7:48 AM
More harrowing accounts of women being cuffed to officers during childbirth. Every day there’s more evidence of why we need to end the imprisonment of pregnant women.
www.thetimes.com/article/8502...
www.thetimes.com/article/8502...
It’s now confirmed that pregnant women fall into the scope of The Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill.
This means it is going to remove one of the very few, hard-won protections we have for pregnant women and mothers: the direction for courts not to sentence them without a PSR.
This means it is going to remove one of the very few, hard-won protections we have for pregnant women and mothers: the direction for courts not to sentence them without a PSR.
May 14, 2025 at 1:51 PM
It’s now confirmed that pregnant women fall into the scope of The Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill.
This means it is going to remove one of the very few, hard-won protections we have for pregnant women and mothers: the direction for courts not to sentence them without a PSR.
This means it is going to remove one of the very few, hard-won protections we have for pregnant women and mothers: the direction for courts not to sentence them without a PSR.
So moved by this song about mums in pre-trial detention that Fiona Apple released yesterday!
While the US & UK bail systems are different, the devastating impacts of holding mothers in prison are the same: losing housing, healthcare and children.
pitchfork.com/news/fiona-a...
While the US & UK bail systems are different, the devastating impacts of holding mothers in prison are the same: losing housing, healthcare and children.
pitchfork.com/news/fiona-a...
Fiona Apple Returns With First New Song in 5 Years, “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)”
Apple’s first original since Fetch the Bolt Cutters is a protest anthem advocating for jailed mothers who can’t afford bail
pitchfork.com
May 8, 2025 at 10:41 AM
So moved by this song about mums in pre-trial detention that Fiona Apple released yesterday!
While the US & UK bail systems are different, the devastating impacts of holding mothers in prison are the same: losing housing, healthcare and children.
pitchfork.com/news/fiona-a...
While the US & UK bail systems are different, the devastating impacts of holding mothers in prison are the same: losing housing, healthcare and children.
pitchfork.com/news/fiona-a...
Reposted by Janey Starling
‘The pain was worse than giving birth’: why are so many women separated from their babies in prison?
‘The pain was worse than giving birth’: why are so many women separated from their babies in prison?
First they had to give birth in custody, then their babies were taken away. Sometimes they never got them back. Here’s what 29 women told the Lost Mothers Project
www.theguardian.com
May 7, 2025 at 6:50 AM
‘The pain was worse than giving birth’: why are so many women separated from their babies in prison?
Reposted by Janey Starling
I want to talk about trans suicides and 'distress'.
Specifically in the context of this thread and the climate of sheer hostility that has been fostered by government policy and societal apathy towards, if not outright endorsement of, trans suffering.
Many folks chalk this up to "gender distress".
Specifically in the context of this thread and the climate of sheer hostility that has been fostered by government policy and societal apathy towards, if not outright endorsement of, trans suffering.
Many folks chalk this up to "gender distress".
Are Wes Streeting and NHS England covering up trans suicide data? 🧵
April 15, 2025 at 8:04 AM
I want to talk about trans suicides and 'distress'.
Specifically in the context of this thread and the climate of sheer hostility that has been fostered by government policy and societal apathy towards, if not outright endorsement of, trans suffering.
Many folks chalk this up to "gender distress".
Specifically in the context of this thread and the climate of sheer hostility that has been fostered by government policy and societal apathy towards, if not outright endorsement of, trans suffering.
Many folks chalk this up to "gender distress".
A moving letter from a criminal defence solicitor representing a young mother of an infant, who explains the human cost of losing the new sentencing guideline.
“The justice secretary’s political point-scoring has devastating consequences”
@hodgejonesallen.bsky.social
“The justice secretary’s political point-scoring has devastating consequences”
@hodgejonesallen.bsky.social
April 9, 2025 at 11:28 AM
A moving letter from a criminal defence solicitor representing a young mother of an infant, who explains the human cost of losing the new sentencing guideline.
“The justice secretary’s political point-scoring has devastating consequences”
@hodgejonesallen.bsky.social
“The justice secretary’s political point-scoring has devastating consequences”
@hodgejonesallen.bsky.social
Very frustrating that, in a sentencing guideline that features 11 sections, Jenrick’s baseless intervention on *1* of them has dominated all public perception.
This guideline explicitly, and for the first time, directed courts to avoid imprisoning pregnant women & mothers due to the risks.
This guideline explicitly, and for the first time, directed courts to avoid imprisoning pregnant women & mothers due to the risks.
April 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Very frustrating that, in a sentencing guideline that features 11 sections, Jenrick’s baseless intervention on *1* of them has dominated all public perception.
This guideline explicitly, and for the first time, directed courts to avoid imprisoning pregnant women & mothers due to the risks.
This guideline explicitly, and for the first time, directed courts to avoid imprisoning pregnant women & mothers due to the risks.
A clear-sighted editorial on the government’s posturing around pre-sentence report requirements in the new sentencing guideline.
It appears to be the first time anyone has acknowledged we have no probation staff to even write these reports anyway.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It appears to be the first time anyone has acknowledged we have no probation staff to even write these reports anyway.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on sentencing guidelines: rightwing politicians must not call the tune | Editorial
Editorial: The justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, should reject false, inflammatory rhetoric and focus on the real issues
www.theguardian.com
April 8, 2025 at 12:50 PM
A clear-sighted editorial on the government’s posturing around pre-sentence report requirements in the new sentencing guideline.
It appears to be the first time anyone has acknowledged we have no probation staff to even write these reports anyway.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It appears to be the first time anyone has acknowledged we have no probation staff to even write these reports anyway.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
A clear-sighted editorial on the government’s posturing around pre-sentence report requirements in the new sentencing guideline.
It appears to be the first time anyone has acknowledged we have no probation staff to even write these reports anyway.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It appears to be the first time anyone has acknowledged we have no probation staff to even write these reports anyway.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on sentencing guidelines: rightwing politicians must not call the tune | Editorial
Editorial: The justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, should reject false, inflammatory rhetoric and focus on the real issues
www.theguardian.com
April 8, 2025 at 12:50 PM
A clear-sighted editorial on the government’s posturing around pre-sentence report requirements in the new sentencing guideline.
It appears to be the first time anyone has acknowledged we have no probation staff to even write these reports anyway.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It appears to be the first time anyone has acknowledged we have no probation staff to even write these reports anyway.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I have written about the sentencing guidelines shitshow.
Infuriating to see yet another Labour government seek to appease a rightwing voter base by reinforcing the “tough on crime” doom loop that has gridlocked our justice system for the past 30 years.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Infuriating to see yet another Labour government seek to appease a rightwing voter base by reinforcing the “tough on crime” doom loop that has gridlocked our justice system for the past 30 years.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour's populist pantomime over sentencing rules plays into the hands of the right | Janey Starling
Forcing the abandonment of new commonsense, evidence-based guidelines is a new low for a party that once prided itself on justice reform, says Janey Starling of campaign group Level Up
www.theguardian.com
April 1, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I have written about the sentencing guidelines shitshow.
Infuriating to see yet another Labour government seek to appease a rightwing voter base by reinforcing the “tough on crime” doom loop that has gridlocked our justice system for the past 30 years.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Infuriating to see yet another Labour government seek to appease a rightwing voter base by reinforcing the “tough on crime” doom loop that has gridlocked our justice system for the past 30 years.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I wish this was an April Fool’s
April 1, 2025 at 10:10 AM
I wish this was an April Fool’s