Martin Greenwood

Musician/Doctor of Philosophy. Sociology PhD from University of Manchester: Utopia, public experience and ecologies of possibility. FichtHeit in most places.

[Jon Silver @InvisibleMapper]

What should Manchester City Council do next in partnership w/ Abu Dhabi United Group?

New Labour council leader Garry Bridges + executive member for Housing and Regeneration, Gavin White can carry on with 'business as usual' or...

[Jeremy Gilbert @jemgilbert]

We keep getting isolated stories like this, like Birmingham. The fact is: utterly essential local government services are falling apart and can't be fixed by any solution short of the most radical national reform and redistribution programme since 1945.
https://t.co/dMKoME2CiW

[CWU @CWUnews]

CWU STATEMENT ON CROWN POST OFFICE CLOSURES

Responding to announcement of the franchising of the remaining 108 Crown Post Offices today, CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said “The Horizon Scandal and the damage it did to thousands of individuals and the reputation of the Post Office should have been a wake up moment for the whole company. It should have delivered a complete shift in approach, ethos and engagement with frontline workers.

The news today that the Post Office will push ahead with the closure of 108 Crown Offices with a loss of 1,000 jobs shows they have learned absolutely nothing from the scandal.

The Post Office’s claim that these community services will be maintained by their failed franchising model is laughable to anyone who has seen their local Post Office services reduced to the back of a shop. The sell-off of WHSmith last week shows just how fragile and ill thought out this model is. This is the full privatisation of the Post Office via the back door.

The role of the government must also be examined. This is a continuation of the hands off role played by the Tories. We call on Labour to immediately intervene and examine alternative options. Now more than ever, we need to seriously look at creating a joint venture between Royal Mail and the Post Office - two businesses that should never have been separated.

This is a major test for this government ahead of introduction of the employment rights bill. It is inevitable that the news today will lead to further scrutiny of our relationship with the Labour Party. Our members and Branches will see this as a crucial moment ahead that will truly test the link between Labour and the trade unions who created the Party.”

ENDS

CWU National Officer Andy Furey is available for interview by contacting [email protected]

[Keir Milburn @KeirMilburn]

More proof that PFI has been an utter disaster. Unfortunately the UK government wants a massive new wave of them to subsidise BlackRock building and controlling new infrastructure. An unfolding disaster of world historic proportions.

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

Here's me about mooted Crown Post Office closures and the failure to cherish the materiality of public services. https://t.co/7f5x4EzxJ2 via @ConversationUK

[Jason Hickel @jasonhickel]

BREAKING: The Lancet has just published this article "conservatively" estimating that the death toll in the Gaza genocide could be 186,000 people or more. That's 8% of the population, obliterated. These are apocalyptic figures.

https://t.co/HaRTAvTvVI

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

Very lucky to have a challenging but ultimately thoroughly enjoyable viva on Monday. I'm a real utopian Doctor now!

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

Looks like I picked a good time for getting in on this sicknote culture thing.

[Verso Books @VersoBooks]

The last six months of genocide in Gaza have ushered in a new phase in a long history of colonization and extraction that reaches back to the nineteenth century, argues Andreas Malm.

[Politics Theory Other @poltheoryother]

From yesterday - @reproutopia on how Zionist feminists have worked to defend the settler colonial project, and how it places them in a long lineage of self-described feminists who have been enthusiastic supporters and participants in imperial conquest:

https://t.co/AxUBH7hTiA

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

@LukePoot I'm good. Miiight be going home today but it's not good to count chickens. Definitely soon though.

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

Nearly another month in hospital with pneumonia. Huge love for the staff here. Good the Tories' poison grip will finally be prised off the NHS soon. Should be the market next, but that's not on the table thanks to Wes S and the working class hand puppet he's ventriloquising with.

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

@krldslv Thanks Karl! X

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

PhD Submitted. Oo that was intense.

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

@JamesHodgsonUoM Much appreciated James!

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

@SOSheaSNA Thanks Susan! X

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

@e_ackerley Thanks Liz! Hope All's well with you!

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

@Amna4A Really appreciate the effort Amna!

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

Absolutely gutted.

[Cllr Amna Abdullatif @Amna4A]

Incredibly disappointing decision taken at today’s planning committee.

Essentially what has been approved today will show how this council cares more for developers & their profits, than our communities.

There was enough legal & material evidence to reject this proposal. 1/2

[Martin Greenwood @FichtHeit]

Utopia heads! Deadline extended for the CfP for Utopia and the Return of History at University of Manchester, 29th-30th April. New deadline for abstract submission: 26th Jan.