Refugee mental health: a critical discourse analysis of the parliamentary debates on the passage of the UK Illegal Migration Act The passage of the UK Illegal Migration Act (the Act) has implications on the mental health of refugees and people seeking asylum (PSA). A critical discourse analysis (CDA) was employed to critical...

Important paper on why language matters in political discourse around migration. @surreypsychology.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

My piece in #brutjournal #gerryspompeii brutjournal.com/article/in-l...

Hope, faith and community en masse.

Andrew O’Hagan · Stay Classy: Mummy’s Favourite The late queen can be held responsible for much, but nobody could accuse her of seeming to enjoy her role. For the...

The finest take down of the institution of monarchy and "class" and the grasping, greedy, venal, entitled, and very stupid people it enables that you will read today or any day.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Dear Shabana, I notice today that you referred to me in your speech on immigration at the IPPR think tank. You said: “A party leader should not be on the beaches of France encouraging people to make a perilous crossing on small boats.” I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised especially after the hateful Labour campaign in Gorton and Denton, but this is just the latest in a string of lies peddled by a discredited Government who intentionally fan the flames of racism and division. When I went to Calais, I was not there to encourage people to travel to the UK. I was there to see at first hand the suffering your Government and successive Governments have done in demonising migrants in a pathetic bid to pander to the base instincts of Reform and the flawed strategy of Morgan McSweeney. As you will know, if you even bothered to research my visit instead of taking Reform talking points, I was there to witness the brutality of families living in tents in freezing temperatures. I filled water tanks and picked up litter. What that visit did do is confirm my belief that if we are to smash the boat gangs and stop the boats, we need to offer safer and managed routes for migrants to come to this country. Showing compassion as a politician is not a crime. In fact, we need to see much more of it. It reminded me of a young MP who in October 2015 spent three days in Lesbos helping migrants fleeing war-torn Syria. She posted videos on X, talked about handing out water and croissants to refugees and food parcels. When she returned to the UK, she wrote a very moving piece in the New Statesman. She said “we have to work with our European partners and create new, safe, and legal routes for refugees to get to Europe. We cannot abandon them to their fate, left as prey for smugglers whilst risking death on the seas.” She said “maybe we can make ourselves feel better by saying no-one is making them get on the boats. And again, the Home Secretary is not entirely wrong when …

Dear Shabana,

Let's clear some things up around migration and remember we're talking about people's lives.

CAP at the Crossroads - Reforming EU CAP subsidies to support healthy sustainable diets - Foodrise CAP at the Crossroads: Reforming EU CAP subsidies to support healthy sustainable diets, a new report from Foodrise, reveals the scale of EU common agricultural policy (CAP) subsidies directed to meat ...

EU: Beef & lamb received an estimated 580 times more agricultural subsidies than legumes in 2020; dairy received 550 times more than nuts & seeds. The estimated €39 billion in subsidies spent on animal-sourced foods made up nearly a quarter of the EU's total budget: foodrise.org.uk/CAPCrossroads/ >>

Thank you Colin Gale for a fascinating visit to @bethlemmuseum.bsky.social So good to see William Kurelek’s awesome work The Maze up close again!

Wonderful work inspired by Mary Barnes, created by attendees at this week’s Compassionate Mental Health gathering at Kingsley Hall.

Interesting artist opportunity here, focusing on fires caused by battery waste. Deadline 9th Feb. 2026. www.eastlondonwaste.gov.uk/campaigns/ba...

Lovely end of year catch up with some of my talented PhD students in the Ageing Research Lab @surreypsychology.bsky.social

Turner Prize 2025: Nnena Kalu earns 'historic' win Kalu wins for her sculptures and drawings, becoming the first learning disabled artist to scoop the award.

This is huge. I’m delighted for Nnena, now formally recognised by the art establishment, smashing glass ceilings for other learning disabled artists. Congratulations to her & the team at ActionSpace who have been supporting & championing her and other artists for decades. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Always great to have Ronald Amanze teaching our undergrads about creativity and dementia. Best session ever said one. Thank you Ronald! @surreypsychology.bsky.social

Thank you for the invitation. I really enjoyed the event @surreypsychology.bsky.social @surrey-psychd.bsky.social

Looking forward to this.

How many people cross the Channel in small boats and where do they come from? Sir Keir Starmer has promised to "smash the gangs" which smuggle people across the English Channel.

Why do @bbc radio report the numbers of people arriving each day, apparently 648 yesterday, along with a weather report like it’s a daily shipping forecast? Shameful, dehumanising and playing into the invasion narrative.
How many people cross the Channel in small boats? www.bbc.com/news/article...

Sending strength and solidarity to all impacted by these swingeing cuts, at the university and in Nottingham, a city that forever remains in my heart~ my daughter was born at Queens Medical Centre.

Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham In a statement the institution also says it is

I’m utterly dismayed to hear of this dismantling of the university that played a formative role in my professional and personal development.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Picture of health: going to art galleries can improve wellbeing, study reveals Viewing original works of art can relieve stress, cut heart disease risk and boost immune system, first study of its kind finds

Unpopular maybe, but we should firmly resist this kind of banal medicalization of cultural and aesthetic experience. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Like the books and calendars Gina and the late cartoonist Tony Husband produced, heart-felt, compassionate and humorous resources that touched so many. The work of the alliance and its legacy will live on.

This is sad news but taking time to recognise and celebrate the wonderful work of Gina Awad and the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance. www.theexeterdaily.co.uk/news/local-n...

A positive outlook on ageing could be the key to getting older adults to be more active.

Our latest research shows that viewing ageing as a time of growth, rather than decline, may lead to higher physical activity levels.

https://bit.ly/4nMMKNL

@victischler.bsky.social

Riot Women review – Sally Wainwright’s menopausal punk drama is one of her best This high-pedigree TV drama about midlife women who form a punk band is up there with Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax. It’s rich, plot-packed, and perfectly seasoned with humour

Great to see so much interesting coverage on menopause www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Simon Raven - Surrey IAS Art, disability and Elvis: Q&A with artist-in-resident Simon Raven Artist Simon Raven was hosted by Professor Victoria Tischler from the School of Psychology, in a fascinating six-month residency in w...

Excellent interview with Simon Raven by Mirela D. reflecting on his artistic residency in @surreypsychology.bsky.social and its legacy. Thank you Simon for your insights, honesty for bringing thought-provoking humour and creativity onto campus. www.ias.surrey.ac.uk/fellow-spotl...

Opinion | America First? Not When It Comes to Your Health.

The @NYTimes has done a fantastic job on explaining what the Trump administration’s savage
cuts to biomedical research mean: cures that won’t happen. Please share this widely. This is a catastrophe. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...

Tuition fees are rising again and nobody is happy – it’s time to actually fix our broken university sector | Zoe Williams The figures simply don’t add up for higher education in England and Wales. Yet delusional politicians from all parties seem intent on avoiding the issue, says Guardian columnist Zoe Williams

Thank you Zoe Williams @theguardian.com for spelling this situation out clearly. Still no solutions on the horizon though www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

We’re hosting live Salon Debates this October & November!

Short debates, respectful disagreement, better conversations.

👥 Q&A and group chat after every session.

We need your debating skills! View the topics and choose a side.

8k3qel8nuxc.typeform.com/SalonDebates

Great to co-write this piece with Simon. In case you’re considering it, I highly recommend working with an artist in residence. @surreypsychology.bsky.social

Massive Attack announce alliance of musicians speaking out over Gaza Brian Eno, Fontaines DC and Kneecap say group will support those subject to ‘aggressive, vexatious campaigns’ by pro-Israel advocates Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Fontaines DC and Kneecap have announced the formation of a syndicate for artists speaking out about Israel’s military assault on Gaza who they say have been subjected to “aggressive, vexatious campaigns” by pro-Israel advocates. Posting on Instagram, the musicians said their aim is to protect other artists, particularly those at earlier stages of their careers from being “threatened into silence or career cancellation” by organisations such as UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). Continue reading...

Massive Attack announce alliance of musicians speaking out over Gaza

New paper on Beyond Culture Box www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... @surreypsychology.bsky.social @chloeasker.bsky.social @artsandhealthjrnl.bsky.social

Slave trader statues given plaques detailing 'enormous wrongdoings' The City of London Corporation reinterprets the statues of slave traders Lord Mayor William Beckford and MP Sir John Cass.

Huge congratulations to my colleagues at #cultureand for last night's event at the #Guildhall Such important work; leaving a permanent testimony highlighting the slave-trade legacy of the City of London
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...