Ewan Gibbs
@ewangibbs.bsky.social
Historian of work, energy, industry and protest. Author of Coal Country. Now writing An Injury to All: The Unmaking of the British Working Class. Not getting that much more right wing as I get older.
Pinned
Ewan Gibbs
@ewangibbs.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Coal Country - University of London Press
The flooding and subsequent closure of Scotland’s last deep coal mine in 2002 brought a centuries long saga to an end. Villages and towns across the densely populated Central Belt owe their existence ...
uolpress.co.uk
My book, Coal Country: The Meaning and Memory of Deindustrialization in Postwar Scotland is the first book-length account of the end of coal mining in Scotland through the memories of miners and their families. It is available to download for free on this link, or you can also buy paper copies.
Reposted by Ewan Gibbs
Obviously I'm right about all of this and one takeaway point is that you should all preorder @ewangibbs.bsky.social's forthcoming book! -- www.amazon.co.uk/Injury-All-U...
November 10, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Obviously I'm right about all of this and one takeaway point is that you should all preorder @ewangibbs.bsky.social's forthcoming book! -- www.amazon.co.uk/Injury-All-U...
Running by the bare trees. 🏃♂️
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Running by the bare trees. 🏃♂️
Reposted by Ewan Gibbs
My sons they have grown an’ away they have flown,
Tae search for black oil in the far northern sea.
Like oilmen they walk an’ like Yankees they talk,
There’s no much in common ’tween my sons an’ me…
—Matt Armour, “Generations of Change”
Sung here by Joe Aitken
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf9D...
Tae search for black oil in the far northern sea.
Like oilmen they walk an’ like Yankees they talk,
There’s no much in common ’tween my sons an’ me…
—Matt Armour, “Generations of Change”
Sung here by Joe Aitken
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf9D...
GENERATIONS OF CHANGE JOE AITKEN Scottish Folk Song
YouTube video by Ian Anderson
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:48 PM
My sons they have grown an’ away they have flown,
Tae search for black oil in the far northern sea.
Like oilmen they walk an’ like Yankees they talk,
There’s no much in common ’tween my sons an’ me…
—Matt Armour, “Generations of Change”
Sung here by Joe Aitken
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf9D...
Tae search for black oil in the far northern sea.
Like oilmen they walk an’ like Yankees they talk,
There’s no much in common ’tween my sons an’ me…
—Matt Armour, “Generations of Change”
Sung here by Joe Aitken
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf9D...
Sending off proofs for an essay about how oil transformed work and community in Northern Scotland through rig manufacturing in the Cromarty Firth and the Sullom Voe terminal in Shetland. It uses oral histories with workers and members of their families and archival research.
November 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Sending off proofs for an essay about how oil transformed work and community in Northern Scotland through rig manufacturing in the Cromarty Firth and the Sullom Voe terminal in Shetland. It uses oral histories with workers and members of their families and archival research.
The Gorbals looking pretty in the winter sky.
November 9, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The Gorbals looking pretty in the winter sky.
Reposted by Ewan Gibbs
Rockstar North workers fight back against union-busting bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/11/07/r... #GrandTheftAutoVI #GTA6 #RockstarGames
Rockstar North workers fight back against union-busting
Edinburgh-based workers at video games giant Rockstar North yesterday walked out in solidarity with dozens of co-workers fired in what has been called “the most ruthless and blatant example of ille…
bellacaledonia.org.uk
November 7, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Rockstar North workers fight back against union-busting bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/11/07/r... #GrandTheftAutoVI #GTA6 #RockstarGames
When my colleague Jim Tomlinson retired he kindly gave me this book the TUC published to celebrate its centenary.
It’s a very interesting product of its time - a confident account of organised labour’s forward march towards a more democratic more egalitarian society.
It’s a very interesting product of its time - a confident account of organised labour’s forward march towards a more democratic more egalitarian society.
November 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
When my colleague Jim Tomlinson retired he kindly gave me this book the TUC published to celebrate its centenary.
It’s a very interesting product of its time - a confident account of organised labour’s forward march towards a more democratic more egalitarian society.
It’s a very interesting product of its time - a confident account of organised labour’s forward march towards a more democratic more egalitarian society.
Reposted by Ewan Gibbs
ScotWind could power a fairer future, if the new government gets ownership right.
But, as our report shows, too much ownership & profit sit overseas.
With the right reforms, offshore wind can create good jobs, public revenue & community benefit in Scotland.
www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
But, as our report shows, too much ownership & profit sit overseas.
With the right reforms, offshore wind can create good jobs, public revenue & community benefit in Scotland.
www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
November 7, 2025 at 8:27 AM
ScotWind could power a fairer future, if the new government gets ownership right.
But, as our report shows, too much ownership & profit sit overseas.
With the right reforms, offshore wind can create good jobs, public revenue & community benefit in Scotland.
www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
But, as our report shows, too much ownership & profit sit overseas.
With the right reforms, offshore wind can create good jobs, public revenue & community benefit in Scotland.
www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...
This week I finally got down to some writing I’d criminally overlooked. That’s it sent off. Feel a bit relieved!
November 6, 2025 at 7:19 PM
This week I finally got down to some writing I’d criminally overlooked. That’s it sent off. Feel a bit relieved!
An upside down cat 🐈⬛
November 5, 2025 at 7:54 PM
An upside down cat 🐈⬛
The British new right have done a very effective job of archiving themselves and making resources available freely and easily accessible online. Obviously the Thatcher Foundation is key case in point for the Centre for Policy Studies and others have done it too. An effective route to hegemony!
November 4, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The British new right have done a very effective job of archiving themselves and making resources available freely and easily accessible online. Obviously the Thatcher Foundation is key case in point for the Centre for Policy Studies and others have done it too. An effective route to hegemony!
Reposted by Ewan Gibbs
Osborne deserves a lot more condemnation, for not just doing austerity but doing it so cackhandedly:
1. Not borrowing to invest when borrowing costs were at essentially zero
2. Cutting spending by salami slicing every part of the public sector with no real analysis of where could take it
1. Not borrowing to invest when borrowing costs were at essentially zero
2. Cutting spending by salami slicing every part of the public sector with no real analysis of where could take it
Late period Osborne: interest rates at zero and 50-80bn of headroom: and his priority was “don’t invest”.
November 4, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Osborne deserves a lot more condemnation, for not just doing austerity but doing it so cackhandedly:
1. Not borrowing to invest when borrowing costs were at essentially zero
2. Cutting spending by salami slicing every part of the public sector with no real analysis of where could take it
1. Not borrowing to invest when borrowing costs were at essentially zero
2. Cutting spending by salami slicing every part of the public sector with no real analysis of where could take it
Enjoyed the Glasgow leg of @dominicmhinde.bsky.social’s book tour. Drifting North is a journey through the people and places which have made Scotland formative to the making of carbon capitalism but which are now facing up to building a new world shaped by climate change.
November 4, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Enjoyed the Glasgow leg of @dominicmhinde.bsky.social’s book tour. Drifting North is a journey through the people and places which have made Scotland formative to the making of carbon capitalism but which are now facing up to building a new world shaped by climate change.
I was sad to read that folk singer Archie Fisher has passed away. Men O' Worth is a powerful song of his about how the oil and gas industry transformed life in Northern Scotland.
But when the job is over and your boat rots on the shore
How will you feed your family when the companies go away?
But when the job is over and your boat rots on the shore
How will you feed your family when the companies go away?
Men O' Worth
YouTube video by Archie Fisher - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I was sad to read that folk singer Archie Fisher has passed away. Men O' Worth is a powerful song of his about how the oil and gas industry transformed life in Northern Scotland.
But when the job is over and your boat rots on the shore
How will you feed your family when the companies go away?
But when the job is over and your boat rots on the shore
How will you feed your family when the companies go away?
Insightful comment from @danigaravelli.bsky.social. I suspect this is exactly right. The monarchy will fade due to people simply not believing in it any more.
Recently revelations will accelerate that but there’s arguably been a longer and ongoing falling away of support, interest and mobilisation.
Recently revelations will accelerate that but there’s arguably been a longer and ongoing falling away of support, interest and mobilisation.
"As for the monarchy, it will end not with a bang but a whimper. Giuffre’s book, with all its harrowing details, is one more wave battering against its cliff face, eroding the public’s faith." My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
'From beyond the grave, Virginia Giuffre has proved not even princes are untouchable'
Virginia Giuffre has proved that not even princes are untouchable. From beyond the grave, she is doing her best to ensure nobody else is ever…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Insightful comment from @danigaravelli.bsky.social. I suspect this is exactly right. The monarchy will fade due to people simply not believing in it any more.
Recently revelations will accelerate that but there’s arguably been a longer and ongoing falling away of support, interest and mobilisation.
Recently revelations will accelerate that but there’s arguably been a longer and ongoing falling away of support, interest and mobilisation.
Reposted by Ewan Gibbs
"As for the monarchy, it will end not with a bang but a whimper. Giuffre’s book, with all its harrowing details, is one more wave battering against its cliff face, eroding the public’s faith." My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
'From beyond the grave, Virginia Giuffre has proved not even princes are untouchable'
Virginia Giuffre has proved that not even princes are untouchable. From beyond the grave, she is doing her best to ensure nobody else is ever…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:10 AM
"As for the monarchy, it will end not with a bang but a whimper. Giuffre’s book, with all its harrowing details, is one more wave battering against its cliff face, eroding the public’s faith." My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Reposted by Ewan Gibbs
I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Elspeth King, the legendary curator of the People's Palace, and a fierce advocate for Glasgow and its history.
This was fascinating on the release of the film adaptation of Alasdair Gray's "Poor Things".
yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/p...
This was fascinating on the release of the film adaptation of Alasdair Gray's "Poor Things".
yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/p...
November 1, 2025 at 8:52 AM
I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Elspeth King, the legendary curator of the People's Palace, and a fierce advocate for Glasgow and its history.
This was fascinating on the release of the film adaptation of Alasdair Gray's "Poor Things".
yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/p...
This was fascinating on the release of the film adaptation of Alasdair Gray's "Poor Things".
yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/p...
Saturday morning 10k in the wind and the rain 🏃♂️
November 1, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Saturday morning 10k in the wind and the rain 🏃♂️
Really enjoyed the film showing and it was a privilege to host a q and a with one of the iron ladies, Linda Erskine, a local councillor, trade unionist and miner’s wife from West Fife.
Iron Ladies is a new film about the women who led the 1984-5 miners’ strike in coalfield communities.
It’s being shown at the MacRobert in Stirling on Friday. I’ll be hosting a Q and A after with Linda Erskine from Fife who features in the documentary. ⬇️
www.macrobertartscentre.org/shows/736027...
It’s being shown at the MacRobert in Stirling on Friday. I’ll be hosting a Q and A after with Linda Erskine from Fife who features in the documentary. ⬇️
www.macrobertartscentre.org/shows/736027...
You Choose: £8.50 / £6.50 / £4.50
www.macrobertartscentre.org
October 31, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Really enjoyed the film showing and it was a privilege to host a q and a with one of the iron ladies, Linda Erskine, a local councillor, trade unionist and miner’s wife from West Fife.
Analogies tend to be made between now and the 70s for understandable reasons, but I’m tempted to say the 2020s chimes with the 1920s:
An old two party system dying.
Short lived prime ministers.
Britain struggled to find a place in a volatile international order.
Economic precarity.
An old two party system dying.
Short lived prime ministers.
Britain struggled to find a place in a volatile international order.
Economic precarity.
October 30, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Analogies tend to be made between now and the 70s for understandable reasons, but I’m tempted to say the 2020s chimes with the 1920s:
An old two party system dying.
Short lived prime ministers.
Britain struggled to find a place in a volatile international order.
Economic precarity.
An old two party system dying.
Short lived prime ministers.
Britain struggled to find a place in a volatile international order.
Economic precarity.
The new Grangemouth Jobs Prioritisation Scheme announced by Unite and the Scottish government makes just transition funding for Grangemouth firms conditional on offering redundant refinery workers jobs. It's an important victory for the Keep Grangemouth Working campaign. www.gov.scot/news/support...
Supporting Grangemouth workers
Scheme to give workers priority for new jobs.
www.gov.scot
October 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The new Grangemouth Jobs Prioritisation Scheme announced by Unite and the Scottish government makes just transition funding for Grangemouth firms conditional on offering redundant refinery workers jobs. It's an important victory for the Keep Grangemouth Working campaign. www.gov.scot/news/support...
Reposted by Ewan Gibbs
@entandsoc.bsky.social was delighted to recently publish @riyokoshibe.bsky.social fascinating work on Grangemouth. The work can be found here and is published Open Access:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
October 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
@entandsoc.bsky.social was delighted to recently publish @riyokoshibe.bsky.social fascinating work on Grangemouth. The work can be found here and is published Open Access:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...