Luke Cooper
@lukecooper100.bsky.social
Associate Professorial Research Fellow in International Relations (IR) at LSE IDEAS running PeaceRep's Ukraine programme. Book: Authoritarian Contagion, co-host Another Europe pod.
https://www.lse.ac.uk/ideas/people/Luke-Cooper
https://www.lse.ac.uk/ideas/people/Luke-Cooper
Reposted by Luke Cooper
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Luke Cooper
'In February, Sheffield Hallam University, home to the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice (HKC), a leading research institution focused on human rights, ordered one of its best-known professors, Laura Murphy, to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China.' 1/3
UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China
Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:44 AM
'In February, Sheffield Hallam University, home to the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice (HKC), a leading research institution focused on human rights, ordered one of its best-known professors, Laura Murphy, to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China.' 1/3
Reposted by Luke Cooper
The RSF is backed by the UAE and is still committing genocide in Sudan, including through mass executions
Bellingcat has geolocated footage of a mass killing outside the recently captured Sudanese city of El Fasher. In the video, which has circulated widely online, RSF commander Abu Lulu can be seen firing his weapon at what appears to be ten unarmed men sitting on the ground. Image: @vantortech
October 31, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The RSF is backed by the UAE and is still committing genocide in Sudan, including through mass executions
Great piece on market failure in the U.K. housing market: no one who needs a home can afford to buy one.
While the article concludes by anticipating a govt intervention on demand - stoking up housing prices - what’s really need is state intervention in housing supply.
www.ft.com/content/9080...
While the article concludes by anticipating a govt intervention on demand - stoking up housing prices - what’s really need is state intervention in housing supply.
www.ft.com/content/9080...
New homes: even if you build them, there’s no one to buy them
We’re often told housing demand exceeds supply — so why are new homes struggling to be built and bought?
www.ft.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Great piece on market failure in the U.K. housing market: no one who needs a home can afford to buy one.
While the article concludes by anticipating a govt intervention on demand - stoking up housing prices - what’s really need is state intervention in housing supply.
www.ft.com/content/9080...
While the article concludes by anticipating a govt intervention on demand - stoking up housing prices - what’s really need is state intervention in housing supply.
www.ft.com/content/9080...
Reposted by Luke Cooper
If Greens start consistently leading Labour in polls, and beating them in local elections then the logic of tactical voting which Labour has been relying on could flip savagely on them. As Caerphilly by-election shows, "Only Labour can beat Reform" doesn't work if voters know it isn't true.
Our latest Westminster voting intention (26-27 Oct) has Labour on their lowest figure ever recorded by YouGov, with the Greens on their highest
Reform UK: 27% (+1 from 19-20 Oct)
Labour: 17% (-3)
Conservatives: 17% (=)
Greens: 16% (+1)
Lib Dems: 15% (=)
SNP: 3% (-1)
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Reform UK: 27% (+1 from 19-20 Oct)
Labour: 17% (-3)
Conservatives: 17% (=)
Greens: 16% (+1)
Lib Dems: 15% (=)
SNP: 3% (-1)
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
October 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
If Greens start consistently leading Labour in polls, and beating them in local elections then the logic of tactical voting which Labour has been relying on could flip savagely on them. As Caerphilly by-election shows, "Only Labour can beat Reform" doesn't work if voters know it isn't true.
Reposted by Luke Cooper
god this is properly mortifying stuff from Zarah there, GCSE-level analysis, quite hard to watch
We take no joy criticising a young left-wing UK political figure who has often spoken up for workers' rights and progressive causes. But these barely coherent comments from Zarah Sultana on Ukraine sum up much of what is wrong with her wing of the left www.instagram.com/reel/DQT62ys...
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October 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
god this is properly mortifying stuff from Zarah there, GCSE-level analysis, quite hard to watch
Reposted by Luke Cooper
That's why I have "there's too many black people in adverts" as one of the most hands-down racist klaxons there is, short of violence or Nazi iconography. There's no pretence of a policy issue there, no tapdance of "legitimate concerns". It's just pathetic melanin whinging.
Something I can't get over with the Sarah Pochin comments is that it's not just racist, it's also pathetic? Like oh wittle Sarah doesn't like the wittle adverts is it? Get a grip, you're a grown woman and member of parliament, stop being a snowflake and find a real problem to deal with
October 26, 2025 at 9:40 PM
That's why I have "there's too many black people in adverts" as one of the most hands-down racist klaxons there is, short of violence or Nazi iconography. There's no pretence of a policy issue there, no tapdance of "legitimate concerns". It's just pathetic melanin whinging.
Reposted by Luke Cooper
When someone tells you who they are...
Farage on Trump and immigration: 'what he has done is amazing'. He dismisses ICE-style raids as 'your media narrative'.
October 25, 2025 at 9:58 AM
When someone tells you who they are...
Reposted by Luke Cooper
🔥We’ve REVAMPED our visual identity, designed by the brilliant Kemba Earle.
🌱 OUR NEW LOGO combines the universal symbolism of plants— associated with growth, renewal, & hope— & visual inspiration from the Bauhaus movement, pointing to the transformative power of social movements across borders. 🧵
🌱 OUR NEW LOGO combines the universal symbolism of plants— associated with growth, renewal, & hope— & visual inspiration from the Bauhaus movement, pointing to the transformative power of social movements across borders. 🧵
October 25, 2025 at 9:52 AM
🔥We’ve REVAMPED our visual identity, designed by the brilliant Kemba Earle.
🌱 OUR NEW LOGO combines the universal symbolism of plants— associated with growth, renewal, & hope— & visual inspiration from the Bauhaus movement, pointing to the transformative power of social movements across borders. 🧵
🌱 OUR NEW LOGO combines the universal symbolism of plants— associated with growth, renewal, & hope— & visual inspiration from the Bauhaus movement, pointing to the transformative power of social movements across borders. 🧵
Wow at Lucy Powell’s deputy leader acceptance speech. Does not pull her punches at all. Tells Labour to stop “out reforming Reform” and attacks “command and control” culture in the party leadership. The first phase of the Manchester Labour Party insurrection has been concluded it seems.
October 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Wow at Lucy Powell’s deputy leader acceptance speech. Does not pull her punches at all. Tells Labour to stop “out reforming Reform” and attacks “command and control” culture in the party leadership. The first phase of the Manchester Labour Party insurrection has been concluded it seems.
Reposted by Luke Cooper
A curious approach from people who don't like the concept of immigration
October 22, 2025 at 11:02 AM
A curious approach from people who don't like the concept of immigration
Reposted by Luke Cooper
Our democracy is in crisis. 6 in 10 people are now represented by an MP they did not vote for. We have a government that won a landslide on just a third of the vote. 🧵
October 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Our democracy is in crisis. 6 in 10 people are now represented by an MP they did not vote for. We have a government that won a landslide on just a third of the vote. 🧵
Reposted by Luke Cooper
Greens up to 15% in new YouGov poll. Their highest ever rating, now level with the Lib Dems and just two points short of the Conservatives
October 21, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Greens up to 15% in new YouGov poll. Their highest ever rating, now level with the Lib Dems and just two points short of the Conservatives
Well said @jonathanliew.bsky.social 👏 👏 👏 👏 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
October 21, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Well said @jonathanliew.bsky.social 👏 👏 👏 👏 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Luke Cooper
Labour seems to be pursuing an even more self-destructive variant of the Rishi Sunak strategy: taking a position that will never win over Reform-leaning voters and simply infuriating and alienating the people who actually elected them to office.
If Labour cannot denounce mass deportation of permanent residents, Idi Amin style, what is the point of them?
October 20, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Labour seems to be pursuing an even more self-destructive variant of the Rishi Sunak strategy: taking a position that will never win over Reform-leaning voters and simply infuriating and alienating the people who actually elected them to office.
Reposted by Luke Cooper
Please join us for this webinar on 28 October, 1-2pm UK time, on 'Modern Slavery and Human Rights: Migrant Workers in the Agricultural and Care Sectors in the UK,' with Prof Tomoya Obokata, the current UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery since 2020
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
Modern slavery and human rights: migrant workers in the agricultural and care sectors in the UK - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
October 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Please join us for this webinar on 28 October, 1-2pm UK time, on 'Modern Slavery and Human Rights: Migrant Workers in the Agricultural and Care Sectors in the UK,' with Prof Tomoya Obokata, the current UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery since 2020
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
Wow what a great illustration of a flawed tax system in the Observer. Buckingham palace paid just £1828 in council tax for the year 2023-2024. Less than a band c property in Middlesbrough and many flats in London.
October 19, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Wow what a great illustration of a flawed tax system in the Observer. Buckingham palace paid just £1828 in council tax for the year 2023-2024. Less than a band c property in Middlesbrough and many flats in London.
Reposted by Luke Cooper
Wrote a piece on Matthew Goodwin for the latest issue of @prospectmagazine.co.uk.
What led a promising academic to throw it all away in the name of becoming a propagandist for the radical right?
What led a promising academic to throw it all away in the name of becoming a propagandist for the radical right?
July 17, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Wrote a piece on Matthew Goodwin for the latest issue of @prospectmagazine.co.uk.
What led a promising academic to throw it all away in the name of becoming a propagandist for the radical right?
What led a promising academic to throw it all away in the name of becoming a propagandist for the radical right?
Reposted by Luke Cooper
UK government loses attempt to block judicial review of Palestine Action ban (nb the merits of the challenge are not decided yet)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Government loses bid to block appeal against Palestine Action ban
Palestine Action's co-founder said the government's attempt to avoid judicial scrutiny had 'backfired spectacularly'.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
UK government loses attempt to block judicial review of Palestine Action ban (nb the merits of the challenge are not decided yet)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Luke Cooper
this is obviously appalling - and he should lose his job - but it's also really quite shocking; I first met Calgie when he was a baby reporter in his early twenties and sure, he was always a Tory, but he was....fine and normal? right-wing radicalisation is out of control in SW1
A mainstream “journalist” calling for a British MP to be deported. Is it because I’m Muslim? Next time, just say it with your chest.
October 18, 2025 at 9:23 AM
this is obviously appalling - and he should lose his job - but it's also really quite shocking; I first met Calgie when he was a baby reporter in his early twenties and sure, he was always a Tory, but he was....fine and normal? right-wing radicalisation is out of control in SW1
Reposted by Luke Cooper
Swearing in isn’t some ceremony. You aren’t a member of Congress until it happens. He knows that.
No phones, no staff, nothing.
I had to escort her into the Capitol on Wed bc Capitol police must treat her as a public visitor until she’s sworn in. And solo visitors aren’t allowed during shutdown!
No phones, no staff, nothing.
I had to escort her into the Capitol on Wed bc Capitol police must treat her as a public visitor until she’s sworn in. And solo visitors aren’t allowed during shutdown!
Johnson: "Grijalva should be working for her constituents right now. I don't know what she's doing. I keep seeing their political stunt videos. She should be in her office. She should be working or in the district for her constituents" (Grijalva is not in fact a Rep. b/c Johnson refuses to seat her)
October 17, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Swearing in isn’t some ceremony. You aren’t a member of Congress until it happens. He knows that.
No phones, no staff, nothing.
I had to escort her into the Capitol on Wed bc Capitol police must treat her as a public visitor until she’s sworn in. And solo visitors aren’t allowed during shutdown!
No phones, no staff, nothing.
I had to escort her into the Capitol on Wed bc Capitol police must treat her as a public visitor until she’s sworn in. And solo visitors aren’t allowed during shutdown!
Good editorial in the FT on the Trump administration’s war on academic freedom on.ft.com/4hfkYat
October 17, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Good editorial in the FT on the Trump administration’s war on academic freedom on.ft.com/4hfkYat
Reposted by Luke Cooper
A much needed corrective by @chrisgiles.ft.com to the "welfare is out of control" narrative, drawing on research by my colleague @benbgeiger.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/ee67...
www.ft.com/content/ee67...
No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
It’s far from perfect, but the UK’s spending is broadly controlled and employment is high
www.ft.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
A much needed corrective by @chrisgiles.ft.com to the "welfare is out of control" narrative, drawing on research by my colleague @benbgeiger.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/ee67...
www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Reposted by Luke Cooper
The trillions invested in US AI boom is one of the awesome exercises in PLANNING by commerical and government entities.
-40% of US GDP growth this year is AI
-AI companies account for 80% of gains in US stocks in 2025.
Just don't ask about the social welfare function....
bsky.app/profile/benb...
-40% of US GDP growth this year is AI
-AI companies account for 80% of gains in US stocks in 2025.
Just don't ask about the social welfare function....
bsky.app/profile/benb...
October 8, 2025 at 10:08 PM
The trillions invested in US AI boom is one of the awesome exercises in PLANNING by commerical and government entities.
-40% of US GDP growth this year is AI
-AI companies account for 80% of gains in US stocks in 2025.
Just don't ask about the social welfare function....
bsky.app/profile/benb...
-40% of US GDP growth this year is AI
-AI companies account for 80% of gains in US stocks in 2025.
Just don't ask about the social welfare function....
bsky.app/profile/benb...
Reposted by Luke Cooper
Glad to see Nigel Farage has finally remembered Nathan Gill, former leader of Reform in Wales - found guilty of taking bribes from Russia.
Maybe he'll now remember how much he took from Putin's propaganda broadcaster Russia Today for all his TV appearances when he was a MEP?
Maybe he'll now remember how much he took from Putin's propaganda broadcaster Russia Today for all his TV appearances when he was a MEP?
October 11, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Glad to see Nigel Farage has finally remembered Nathan Gill, former leader of Reform in Wales - found guilty of taking bribes from Russia.
Maybe he'll now remember how much he took from Putin's propaganda broadcaster Russia Today for all his TV appearances when he was a MEP?
Maybe he'll now remember how much he took from Putin's propaganda broadcaster Russia Today for all his TV appearances when he was a MEP?