Lucy Burke
@lucyburkemcr.bsky.social
Academic (literary & cultural disability studies/medical humanities), Green New Deal podcast https://www.gndmedia.co.uk Wellcome Trust Advisory Committee, North Manchester & Kreiz Breizh.
Pinned
Lucy Burke
@lucyburkemcr.bsky.social
· Dec 17
NEW💥
In the second part of this series, we explore the origins of the Bhopal Disaster in India’s so-called “Green Revolution” in farming, and assess how national foreign exchange laws led to Union Carbide cutting corners at its Bhopal plant ☢️
🎧 bit.ly/4gyQ0s4
In the second part of this series, we explore the origins of the Bhopal Disaster in India’s so-called “Green Revolution” in farming, and assess how national foreign exchange laws led to Union Carbide cutting corners at its Bhopal plant ☢️
🎧 bit.ly/4gyQ0s4
Episode 2 of our series on the #Bhopal Gas Disaster is out. Learning about Bhopal is so important, particularly for those advocating technological quick fixes that involve corporations whose primary horizon is profit rather than planet. Please have a listen #ClimateEmergency #ClimateAction
Reposted by Lucy Burke
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
UK Covid-19 Inquiry report has just been released - it details the damning failure to protect Disabled people as “too little, too late”, mentioning government's “remarkable” failure to anticipate and plan an effective response
More👇
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/uk-covi...
UK Covid-19 Inquiry report has just been released - it details the damning failure to protect Disabled people as “too little, too late”, mentioning government's “remarkable” failure to anticipate and plan an effective response
More👇
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/uk-covi...
UK Covid-19 Inquiry Report Details Damning Failure to Protect
www.disabilityrightsuk.org
November 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
UK Covid-19 Inquiry report has just been released - it details the damning failure to protect Disabled people as “too little, too late”, mentioning government's “remarkable” failure to anticipate and plan an effective response
More👇
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/uk-covi...
UK Covid-19 Inquiry report has just been released - it details the damning failure to protect Disabled people as “too little, too late”, mentioning government's “remarkable” failure to anticipate and plan an effective response
More👇
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/uk-covi...
Reposted by Lucy Burke
While it feels like I'm repeatedly slamming my head against a brick wall repeating this massively simple concept. Saying "Reform would be worse" doesn't make what Labour is doing better. Labour is now the most anti-immigration, anti-any marginalised group, government we have seen in decades. 1/
Very long thread: As with many of Labour's anti-immigration policies, this isn't new. British police have been stationed in other countries for this purpose for a long time
It does however show how Labour is pushing more on anti-immigration than previous governments. 1/
www.lbc.co.uk/article/shab...
It does however show how Labour is pushing more on anti-immigration than previous governments. 1/
www.lbc.co.uk/article/shab...
Home Secretary orders police and border 'hit squads' to Albania to stamp out people smugglers | LBC
Shabana Mahmood will send hit squads of police and border force teams to Albania in a fresh drive to stamp out people-smuggling gangs upstream.
www.lbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 5:36 PM
While it feels like I'm repeatedly slamming my head against a brick wall repeating this massively simple concept. Saying "Reform would be worse" doesn't make what Labour is doing better. Labour is now the most anti-immigration, anti-any marginalised group, government we have seen in decades. 1/
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Worth remembering as this unfolds that it was disabled people and people from ethnic minority backgrounds who disproportionately died. Tens of thousands needlessly lost their lives, many who died alone or with just an iPad. Thousands more were left with life changing Long Covid. A true scandal.
BREAKING: The UK’s response to Covid was “too little, too late”, a damning official report on the handling of the pandemic has concluded, saying the introduction of a lockdown even a week earlier than happened could have saved more than 20,000 lives.
November 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Worth remembering as this unfolds that it was disabled people and people from ethnic minority backgrounds who disproportionately died. Tens of thousands needlessly lost their lives, many who died alone or with just an iPad. Thousands more were left with life changing Long Covid. A true scandal.
Reposted by Lucy Burke
This does feel like a major crossing of the Rubicon – the world's best-funded and in many ways most powerful public health agency is now actively pushing disinformation.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
The CDC website now disseminates disinformation about vaccines, claiming erroneously that infant vaccines might cause autism, when we know conclusively that they do not. It is difficult to overstate just how dangerous this is. www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
This does feel like a major crossing of the Rubicon – the world's best-funded and in many ways most powerful public health agency is now actively pushing disinformation.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
Don’t be disabled, ill or get injured, don’t have a disabled child or dependent, get made redundant, or do a low paid but vital job in social care. And crucially - when falling bombs, rising temperatures, or war threaten your life - just stay put and wait to die because this Government hates you
New Labour policy is that if you've ever had to borrow money because this country is incredibly expensive or if you're sick and therefore don't work and pay tax, you can never secure permanent immigration status.
Just let that sink in.
👇👇👇
Just let that sink in.
👇👇👇
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Don’t be disabled, ill or get injured, don’t have a disabled child or dependent, get made redundant, or do a low paid but vital job in social care. And crucially - when falling bombs, rising temperatures, or war threaten your life - just stay put and wait to die because this Government hates you
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Unless I'm missing something, further to the policy announcement this week a refugee who arrived irregularly could face a 30 year wait for settlement....
The UK government's proposals on changes to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) rules have now been published in a consultation paper, ahead of a statement from the Home Secretary to MPs shortly www.gov.uk/government/c...
Earned settlement
The government is consulting on how the current settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented.
www.gov.uk
November 20, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Unless I'm missing something, further to the policy announcement this week a refugee who arrived irregularly could face a 30 year wait for settlement....
Reposted by Lucy Burke
'Nottingham will be the only Russell Group university not to teach modern foreign languages degrees if it approves plans to close a swath of courses including Spanish and French as well as music and dozens of others.' 1/3
University of Nottingham considers axing language and music degrees
Total of 48 degrees could disappear from Russell Group institution, with falling revenues and rising costs blamed
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:01 PM
'Nottingham will be the only Russell Group university not to teach modern foreign languages degrees if it approves plans to close a swath of courses including Spanish and French as well as music and dozens of others.' 1/3
Reposted by Lucy Burke
BBC News: "the government believe refugees are deliberately bringing their children to avoid deportation"
As opposed to doing what with their children??
As opposed to doing what with their children??
November 17, 2025 at 10:11 PM
BBC News: "the government believe refugees are deliberately bringing their children to avoid deportation"
As opposed to doing what with their children??
As opposed to doing what with their children??
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Worsens integration in both directions. Makes it impossible for newcomers to settle and build a proper life. And encourages everyone else to see and treat them as interlopers.
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
November 18, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Worsens integration in both directions. Makes it impossible for newcomers to settle and build a proper life. And encourages everyone else to see and treat them as interlopers.
Reposted by Lucy Burke
We have estimated the educational outcomes of refugee and asylum-seeking children in England. They are are as poor as those of other groups with statutory protections.
Adding yet more instability to their lives by returning them overseas is unconscionable. We are supposed to protect children.
Adding yet more instability to their lives by returning them overseas is unconscionable. We are supposed to protect children.
The educational outcomes of refugee and asylum-seeking children in England - Education Policy Institute
New research from the Education Policy Institute, supported by Unbound Philanthropy, finds that asylum-seeking children who enter the UK separated from their parents are on average over three years be...
epi.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 7:45 PM
We have estimated the educational outcomes of refugee and asylum-seeking children in England. They are are as poor as those of other groups with statutory protections.
Adding yet more instability to their lives by returning them overseas is unconscionable. We are supposed to protect children.
Adding yet more instability to their lives by returning them overseas is unconscionable. We are supposed to protect children.
Reposted by Lucy Burke
They won’t get a second childhood because their future is traded for imaginary polling gains. You get one chance to develop into an adult whose personality is underpinned by a sense of safety and belonging. Take that away and it can never be returned.
November 17, 2025 at 8:19 PM
They won’t get a second childhood because their future is traded for imaginary polling gains. You get one chance to develop into an adult whose personality is underpinned by a sense of safety and belonging. Take that away and it can never be returned.
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Shabana Mahmood asked by Labour MP John McDonnell to "give me the assurance that no child will be placed in detention as a result of this policy"
Mahmood does not give him that assurance
Mahmood does not give him that assurance
November 17, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Shabana Mahmood asked by Labour MP John McDonnell to "give me the assurance that no child will be placed in detention as a result of this policy"
Mahmood does not give him that assurance
Mahmood does not give him that assurance
Reposted by Lucy Burke
"don't unpack yer suitcase, Paddington" - Labour
November 17, 2025 at 6:25 PM
"don't unpack yer suitcase, Paddington" - Labour
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Asked about Tommy Robinson supporting her asylum plans Shabana Mahmood replies that "Tommy Robinson doesn't even think I'm actually English, so he will certainly not be supporting anything I've got to say."
But he is supporting what she's got to say. That was the point of the question
But he is supporting what she's got to say. That was the point of the question
November 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Asked about Tommy Robinson supporting her asylum plans Shabana Mahmood replies that "Tommy Robinson doesn't even think I'm actually English, so he will certainly not be supporting anything I've got to say."
But he is supporting what she's got to say. That was the point of the question
But he is supporting what she's got to say. That was the point of the question
Reposted by Lucy Burke
My Dad escaped the Nazis in 1939 on the Kindertransport.
He went to night school then University, trained as a physicist. Married my mum, brought up 3 kids, all work in public sector.
Under these proposed rules, he would have been deported.
100% 'performatively cruel' @stellacreasy.bsky.social
He went to night school then University, trained as a physicist. Married my mum, brought up 3 kids, all work in public sector.
Under these proposed rules, he would have been deported.
100% 'performatively cruel' @stellacreasy.bsky.social
ICE-style raids on Britain's streets: that's all Labour's brutal asylum reforms will achieve | Stella Creasy
ICE-style raids on Britain's streets: that's all Labour's brutal asylum reforms will achieve | Stella Creasy
If we want to ‘stop the boats’, we need to stop the BS when it comes to what creates refugees, and how to respond to them, says Labour MP Stella Creasy
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
My Dad escaped the Nazis in 1939 on the Kindertransport.
He went to night school then University, trained as a physicist. Married my mum, brought up 3 kids, all work in public sector.
Under these proposed rules, he would have been deported.
100% 'performatively cruel' @stellacreasy.bsky.social
He went to night school then University, trained as a physicist. Married my mum, brought up 3 kids, all work in public sector.
Under these proposed rules, he would have been deported.
100% 'performatively cruel' @stellacreasy.bsky.social
There’s a myth that Britain has been historically generous and welcoming to refugees and latterly asylum seekers. The facts - and immigration law - tell a different story. And today’s news made me think about Benjamin Zephaniah’s poem about the death of Joy Gardner & how many more deaths we’ll see
November 17, 2025 at 5:41 PM
There’s a myth that Britain has been historically generous and welcoming to refugees and latterly asylum seekers. The facts - and immigration law - tell a different story. And today’s news made me think about Benjamin Zephaniah’s poem about the death of Joy Gardner & how many more deaths we’ll see
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Imagine having a thumping majority in parliament and deciding to use it for something as squalid as this.
November 17, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Imagine having a thumping majority in parliament and deciding to use it for something as squalid as this.
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Just wilful performative cruelty that is entirely out of step with the majority of British people.
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Just wilful performative cruelty that is entirely out of step with the majority of British people.
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
How many Labour MPs got into politics in order to vote for stealing jewellery off of people seeking refuge from war and persecution?
Labour pushes further & further to the right, enabling Reform to go even further still. We’re heading for catastrophe in this country aided by a government that has brought nothing but despair & more division so far. Labour in government appears to be the place where principles & humanity go to die.
Home Secretary to quadruple qualification period for settlement to 20 years for asylum seekers arriving illegally
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Shabana Mahmood: ‘Illegal migration is tearing Britain apart’
The home secretary is planning to introduce a 20-year wait for permanent stay to end a ‘golden ticket’ for asylum seekers
www.thetimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Labour pushes further & further to the right, enabling Reform to go even further still. We’re heading for catastrophe in this country aided by a government that has brought nothing but despair & more division so far. Labour in government appears to be the place where principles & humanity go to die.
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Kuenssberg interview w Shabana Mahmood. The very first question she asks is whether a refugee who’s been in the U.K. for 19 years gets deported when their country is deemed safe.
Mahmood avoids answering that question. So Kuennesberg asks it again. Question dodged once more.
Mahmood avoids answering that question. So Kuennesberg asks it again. Question dodged once more.
November 16, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Kuenssberg interview w Shabana Mahmood. The very first question she asks is whether a refugee who’s been in the U.K. for 19 years gets deported when their country is deemed safe.
Mahmood avoids answering that question. So Kuennesberg asks it again. Question dodged once more.
Mahmood avoids answering that question. So Kuennesberg asks it again. Question dodged once more.
Reposted by Lucy Burke
I came to this country as a child refugee. No English, no certainty, no idea what my life could become. Britain gave me refuge.
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I came to this country as a child refugee. No English, no certainty, no idea what my life could become. Britain gave me refuge.
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Watching Labour MPs take a wrecking ball to nature makes me so angry & so sad. Their action tonight voting down amendments to the #PlanningBill intended to protect wildlife & habitats from destruction is so reckless & so counterproductive. People didn’t vote Labour for this 👇
Housing secretary tells Labour MPs to vote down planning bill amendment
Amendment restricts protection for animals to allow faster house building
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Watching Labour MPs take a wrecking ball to nature makes me so angry & so sad. Their action tonight voting down amendments to the #PlanningBill intended to protect wildlife & habitats from destruction is so reckless & so counterproductive. People didn’t vote Labour for this 👇
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Not sure what’s worse, Katie Lam’s comments or the fact that we can’t get Labour to criticise them …
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/a-brea...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/a-brea...
'A Breach Of Human Decency': James O'Brien Savages Tory Frontbencher's Immigration Comments
Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam said some immigrants living legally in the UK should be deported to leave the country more "culturally coherent".
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Not sure what’s worse, Katie Lam’s comments or the fact that we can’t get Labour to criticise them …
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/a-brea...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/a-brea...
Reposted by Lucy Burke
Has this guy considered that making end of life decisions SHOULD be stressful and emotionally taxing?
Earlier on, he notes that he doesn't even know if hospitals would want to use this, so why are we doing this?
Why are "playing" with introducing AI into end of life decisions?
Earlier on, he notes that he doesn't even know if hospitals would want to use this, so why are we doing this?
Why are "playing" with introducing AI into end of life decisions?
October 20, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Has this guy considered that making end of life decisions SHOULD be stressful and emotionally taxing?
Earlier on, he notes that he doesn't even know if hospitals would want to use this, so why are we doing this?
Why are "playing" with introducing AI into end of life decisions?
Earlier on, he notes that he doesn't even know if hospitals would want to use this, so why are we doing this?
Why are "playing" with introducing AI into end of life decisions?
9 years since Paul was murdered - I think about the wild, daft teenager, getting him to work out songs I liked on his guitar, and the tragic trajectory of a life that should have been full of creativity but was ultimately destroyed by addiction, violence & despair ❤️
October 7, 2025 at 10:22 AM
9 years since Paul was murdered - I think about the wild, daft teenager, getting him to work out songs I liked on his guitar, and the tragic trajectory of a life that should have been full of creativity but was ultimately destroyed by addiction, violence & despair ❤️