Louise, Prof/Dr
@louiselocock.bsky.social
Mostly retired qualitative health services researcher, linguist, europhile, cat lover. Other animals welcome.
Mostly in Oxford, occasionally in Aberdeen
She/her
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8109-1930
Mostly in Oxford, occasionally in Aberdeen
She/her
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8109-1930
Pinned
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
I agree with this. Thanks to REF pressures, we're all publishing too many articles nobody reads.
When I started teaching, I had several older colleagues who published little until late in life, when thoughtful, well-researched books came out drawing on their life's work.
It's not a terrible model.
When I started teaching, I had several older colleagues who published little until late in life, when thoughtful, well-researched books came out drawing on their life's work.
It's not a terrible model.
“It’s time for the ‘publish more’ mindset to perish.”
Mandy Hill, writing in the Financial Times, calls for reform in academic publishing:
Read the full letter (paywall) 🔗 https://cup.org/3WRVlDm
Mandy Hill, writing in the Financial Times, calls for reform in academic publishing:
Read the full letter (paywall) 🔗 https://cup.org/3WRVlDm
November 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I agree with this. Thanks to REF pressures, we're all publishing too many articles nobody reads.
When I started teaching, I had several older colleagues who published little until late in life, when thoughtful, well-researched books came out drawing on their life's work.
It's not a terrible model.
When I started teaching, I had several older colleagues who published little until late in life, when thoughtful, well-researched books came out drawing on their life's work.
It's not a terrible model.
So, BBC, please don't be cowardly in reporting on Trump.
In a message obtained by Congress, the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein wrote that Trump spent hours at his house with one of Epstein’s victims
Epstein Alleged in Emails That Trump Knew of His Conduct
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:52 PM
So, BBC, please don't be cowardly in reporting on Trump.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
If Starmer wants to stop a leadership challenge, he just needs to change direction. It’s not hard. Have the brains to realise that the Blue Labour approach is failing dismally.
November 12, 2025 at 7:13 AM
If Starmer wants to stop a leadership challenge, he just needs to change direction. It’s not hard. Have the brains to realise that the Blue Labour approach is failing dismally.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
George Monbiot - "We should never underestimate the extent to which the BBC changed this country by giving endless airtime to Nigel Farage, other far right extremists and the Tufton Street junktanks, while shutting out progressive voices."
November 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
George Monbiot - "We should never underestimate the extent to which the BBC changed this country by giving endless airtime to Nigel Farage, other far right extremists and the Tufton Street junktanks, while shutting out progressive voices."
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Early career researchers feel sharp end of jobs crisis.
As universities shed jobs, those setting out in academia are feeling pain of diminished prospects.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
As universities shed jobs, those setting out in academia are feeling pain of diminished prospects.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
November 12, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Early career researchers feel sharp end of jobs crisis.
As universities shed jobs, those setting out in academia are feeling pain of diminished prospects.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
As universities shed jobs, those setting out in academia are feeling pain of diminished prospects.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Early Career Rescue Fellowship
www.uni-konstanz.de
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Ladies and gentlemen, Sir Robbie Gibb, the BBC Board Member with the impartiality remit
November 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Ladies and gentlemen, Sir Robbie Gibb, the BBC Board Member with the impartiality remit
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
We probably all need this right now: Japanese surrealist Tohukiro Kawai’s saintly cats. 🐈 🐱 www.gyokuei.tokyo/globalstore?...
November 11, 2025 at 7:52 PM
We probably all need this right now: Japanese surrealist Tohukiro Kawai’s saintly cats. 🐈 🐱 www.gyokuei.tokyo/globalstore?...
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Rupert Lowe is very soft on crime - if those crimes are committed by members of an in-group (those members of the majority group, who express violent prejudices against Muslims, minorities or migrants, and who incite lawless disorder against Muslims *and* those who oppose violence against Muslims)
November 11, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Rupert Lowe is very soft on crime - if those crimes are committed by members of an in-group (those members of the majority group, who express violent prejudices against Muslims, minorities or migrants, and who incite lawless disorder against Muslims *and* those who oppose violence against Muslims)
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
And if you want to read on why a leadership challenge is likely and who the candidates to replace Starmer are....
samf.substack.com/p/who-might-...
samf.substack.com/p/who-might-...
November 11, 2025 at 7:51 PM
And if you want to read on why a leadership challenge is likely and who the candidates to replace Starmer are....
samf.substack.com/p/who-might-...
samf.substack.com/p/who-might-...
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
This kind of (seemingly) reverse corruption needs a look
1. Reform MPs praise JCB endlessly, councillors promote the firm's tech on their authorities.
2. Then the boss gives a £200,000 party donation.
To a cynical eye, it looks like an affiliate rewards scheme
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/bill...
1. Reform MPs praise JCB endlessly, councillors promote the firm's tech on their authorities.
2. Then the boss gives a £200,000 party donation.
To a cynical eye, it looks like an affiliate rewards scheme
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/bill...
Billionaire Tory donor and JCB chair Lord Bamford gives Reform UK £200,000
"Lord Bamford's latest political donation makes the point, yet again, that we need a cap on donations."
leftfootforward.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:40 PM
This kind of (seemingly) reverse corruption needs a look
1. Reform MPs praise JCB endlessly, councillors promote the firm's tech on their authorities.
2. Then the boss gives a £200,000 party donation.
To a cynical eye, it looks like an affiliate rewards scheme
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/bill...
1. Reform MPs praise JCB endlessly, councillors promote the firm's tech on their authorities.
2. Then the boss gives a £200,000 party donation.
To a cynical eye, it looks like an affiliate rewards scheme
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/bill...
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the extraordinary influence of former Tory spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC. It's still a helpful backgrounder for what's going on now. New readers start here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
How the government captured the BBC
A right-wing cabal, largely unaccountable, is waging war on the principles that made our public broadcaster great. It must not succeed
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the extraordinary influence of former Tory spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC. It's still a helpful backgrounder for what's going on now. New readers start here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
“Trump & Brexit are not 2 different things. They are the same thing. Same companies. Same data. Same Facebook. Same Russians. Same Cambridge Analytica. Same Robert Mercer. Same Steve Bannon. Same Breitbart. Same Alexander Nix. Same Donald Trump. Same Nigel Farage” @carolecadwalla.bsky.social
👇 #BBC
👇 #BBC
November 11, 2025 at 5:39 PM
“Trump & Brexit are not 2 different things. They are the same thing. Same companies. Same data. Same Facebook. Same Russians. Same Cambridge Analytica. Same Robert Mercer. Same Steve Bannon. Same Breitbart. Same Alexander Nix. Same Donald Trump. Same Nigel Farage” @carolecadwalla.bsky.social
👇 #BBC
👇 #BBC
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
I've started a petition – will you sign it?
Remove Robbie Gibb from the Board of the BBC.
Sir Robbie Gibb has long been regarded as a malign influence within BBC News and is widely held responsible for the departure of many excellent journalists from the organisation.
Remove Robbie Gibb from the Board of the BBC.
Sir Robbie Gibb has long been regarded as a malign influence within BBC News and is widely held responsible for the departure of many excellent journalists from the organisation.
Petition: Remove Robbie Gibb from the Board of the BBC.
Sir Robbie Gibb has long been regarded as a malign influence within BBC News and is widely held responsible for the departure of many excellent journalists from the organisation.
petition.parliament.uk
November 11, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I've started a petition – will you sign it?
Remove Robbie Gibb from the Board of the BBC.
Sir Robbie Gibb has long been regarded as a malign influence within BBC News and is widely held responsible for the departure of many excellent journalists from the organisation.
Remove Robbie Gibb from the Board of the BBC.
Sir Robbie Gibb has long been regarded as a malign influence within BBC News and is widely held responsible for the departure of many excellent journalists from the organisation.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
OK. Here's the thing. You just can't put on a jacket and pretend to be a security patrol in the UK. It's actually illegal. Who the actual F are these "Essex Spartans"? Government has laws and rules and they need to enforce them.
November 11, 2025 at 3:16 PM
OK. Here's the thing. You just can't put on a jacket and pretend to be a security patrol in the UK. It's actually illegal. Who the actual F are these "Essex Spartans"? Government has laws and rules and they need to enforce them.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Interesting blog about the potential for a 'Highland weighting' to attract care staff to remote and rural areas. Did you see @louiselocock.bsky.social?
This week’s blog explores some practical ideas to address the immense challenges facing #carehome and #homecare provision in the Highlands of #Scotland. It explores ideas such as a #HighlandWeighting and other international innovations. #socialcare #workforce #change scottishcare.org/beyond-the-e...
Beyond the Edge: from ‘crisis’ to reimagining social care in the Highlands.
The following is adapted from a speech given in Fort William on the 24th October at an event organised by Angus MacDonald MP whose primary focus was to explore his proposal to create four new
scottishcare.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Interesting blog about the potential for a 'Highland weighting' to attract care staff to remote and rural areas. Did you see @louiselocock.bsky.social?
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Ya got me there.
November 11, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Ya got me there.
Surely anyone who fails to do their job properly can be asked to leave, no matter how long their contract?
Meanwhile the government is mumbling that it can’t do anything about Robbie Gibb because he was appointed until 2028, whilst overlooking their majority that would allow them to completely rewrite the BBC’s charter to provide proper governance
November 11, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Surely anyone who fails to do their job properly can be asked to leave, no matter how long their contract?
NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’ www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’
Black and Asian staff left feeling ‘deliberately intimidated’, according to chief executive of one NHS trust
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:28 AM
NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’ www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
This is so good on how right wingers like Robbie Gibb genuinely believe their political views are just impartial "common sense" and never interrogate their own biases.
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 10:19 PM
This is so good on how right wingers like Robbie Gibb genuinely believe their political views are just impartial "common sense" and never interrogate their own biases.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
November 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Absolutely right. I criticise BBC News, because we need it to be as good as we know it can be. People like Farage criticise the BBC, because they work for its competitors and don't want it to exist.
🎯 Davey is spot on. "We can have criticism of the BBC, but within that, we need to recognise how valuable an institution it is [and how] precious to our country. And that's one of the reasons why people like President Trump and Nigel Farage, want to undermine the BBC." 👏🏽~AA
November 10, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Absolutely right. I criticise BBC News, because we need it to be as good as we know it can be. People like Farage criticise the BBC, because they work for its competitors and don't want it to exist.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Tips for the next DG:
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
November 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Tips for the next DG:
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
The absolute state of Allison Pearson & GBeebies.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
A national newspaper journalist went on a British TV channel to claim police stats showed asylum-seekers committed 44% of sex crimes in Dorset.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
November 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The absolute state of Allison Pearson & GBeebies.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
Reposted by Louise, Prof/Dr
Tim Davie resigning from the BBC over the edited Trump video is like Al Capone being jailed for tax evasion: sometimes the right thing happens for the wrong reason.
November 9, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Tim Davie resigning from the BBC over the edited Trump video is like Al Capone being jailed for tax evasion: sometimes the right thing happens for the wrong reason.