Colm Murphy

Colm Murphy

@colmpm.bsky.social

Historian of UK and ROI politics and political economy. Senior Lecturer at QMUL and Deputy Director of Mile End Institute (https://www.qmul.ac.uk/politics/staff/profiles/murphycolm.html). Book on Labour and 'modernisation' (https://tinyurl.com/37tzatvk).

6.7K followers2.7K following1.4K posts

Colm Murphy reposted

Marc Francis
@marcfrancisth.bsky.social

Thanks @mileendinstitute.bsky.social for putting on a fascinating discussion about the 1976 'IMF crisis' tonight. Great talks from Colm, @will-davies.bsky.social + Kathleen. Worth remembering HM Treasury was too pessimistic on the economy/spending so the Govt didn't end up needing all the IMF's loan

Colm Murphy@colmpm.bsky.social

I'm very much looking forward to speaking about the 1976 IMF Crisis, fifty years on, at tonight's @mileendinstitute.bsky.social panel on politics and economic shocks. Hopefully I'll see some of you there! @qmulsse.bsky.social @hssqmul.bsky.social www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/politics-a...

Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

The comedian Tom Allen has a fun line related to this: "podcasts, or as we used to call them, Radio 4."

Duncan Weldon@duncanweldon.bsky.social

Kinda fascinated by this sort of thing. Like the full all-star cast Harry Potter audible books, which I presume did well? Are we re-inventing the radio play?

Colm Murphy reposted

IHR Britain @ Home and Abroad seminar
@ihrbritainseminar.bsky.social

Welcome back! Britain at Home and Abroad returns for a new term, starting with our PhD Student Welcome Session: a meet and greet on Thu 22 Oct, 17.30, in N304, IHR (in person only). New and returning PhD students all welcome. Book now: history.ac.uk/news-events/ihr-seminars/britain-home-abroad

history.ac.ukBritain at Home and AbroadThis seminar was formed from the merger of the Modern British History seminar and the Reconfiguring the British: Nation, Empire, World 1600-1900 seminar.
Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

I love Karl's chapter in this volume. An excellent use of literature in political analysis.

Karl Pike@karlpike.bsky.social

Interested in social democracy and Tony Harrison’s poetry (like the PM)? Then this book may interest you too! Also features many great colleagues, including @eunicegoes.bsky.social and @emmanuelleavril.bsky.social

Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

Really looking forward to speaking on this panel on 26 October, along with Kathleen Burk, @will-davies.bsky.social, and Stephanie Flanders. All welcome, sign up 👇

Robert Saunders@robertsaunders.bsky.social

On 26 October, we'll be marking 50 years since the IMF crisis by exploring the politics of economic shocks. What is it like to govern in an economic crisis? What happens when "the markets" turn on governments? And what does this mean for democracy? All welcome! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/politics-a...

eventbrite.co.ukPolitics and Economic Shocks, from the IMF Crisis to the Mini-BudgetJoin the Mile End Institute for a discussion exploring how financial crises and market pressures have shaped British politics since 1976.

Colm Murphy reposted

Elizabeth Simon
@elizabethsim0n.bsky.social

🚨The Politics and Policy of London: Elections, Demography and the Reshaping of Power in the Capital is now available for pre-order.🚨 www.routledge.com/The-Politics...

routledge.comThe Politics and Policy of London: Elections, Demography and the Reshaping of Power in the CapitalThis book examines the changing demographics, attitudes and electoral behaviours of Londoners over the last 50 years and considers the impact these changes have had on the policy agendas of the capita...
Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

It is perfectly possible, indeed I would say easy, to condemn a genocide without implicitly endorsing ethnic cleansing - especially in something as abstract as a conference motion. It has long been a source of morbid fascination to me why so many feel compelled to fail this test.

Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

Such idiocies are also, of course, a boon to the disingenuous, pro-Israeli expansionist, settler colonialist and racist right. People never learn.

Colm Murphy reposted

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

For my new research unit Politics of Democracy at the Berlin Social Science Center @wzb.bsky.social, we have 3 open research positions. 2 postdocs: 4 + 2 years (100%) 1 doc: 2 years (75%) Starting date: 1 March 2027 (negotiable) Application deadline: 1 November

Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

I enjoyed the preface, by the IEA's Colin Robinson: "The decision is so important for the economic future of Britain that nothing less than the most objective economic analysis, untainted by 'political' considerations, will suffice." Minford is your man for that, of course.

Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

I remembered this 'objective' claim today when reading Minford, this time in 1989, on EMU: 'an extraordinary surrender of control over economic policy to the cartel of Brussels bureaucrats … The prospect is so hopelessly unacceptable that it is incredible anyone would seriously put them forward’

Colm Murphy reposted

Imogen Shaw
@imogenshaw.bsky.social

Baffling to see The Times claim that Burnham “did not mention energy” in his conference speech. Energy was referenced no fewer than 10 times, alongside a major announcement of £4bn for Great British Grid to cut connection delays and bring bills down. Britain's energy challenge was front & centre.

Colm Murphy reposted

Robert Saunders
@robertsaunders.bsky.social

On 26 October, we'll be marking 50 years since the IMF crisis by exploring the politics of economic shocks. What is it like to govern in an economic crisis? What happens when "the markets" turn on governments? And what does this mean for democracy? All welcome! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/politics-a...

eventbrite.co.ukPolitics and Economic Shocks, from the IMF Crisis to the Mini-BudgetJoin the Mile End Institute for a discussion exploring how financial crises and market pressures have shaped British politics since 1976.
Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

Sometimes one just feels inadequate. This snippet from @emile-chabal.bsky.social's fascinating intellectual biography of Eric Hobsbawm describes his reading and essay criticism of Sorel, in I believe a third language (French). He was around 19 years old and about to go to university.

Colm Murphy reposted

Imogen Shaw
@imogenshaw.bsky.social

Taking this opportunity for shameless self-promotion, if you want to read into the background of Burnham’s upcoming announcement on Great British Grid, here’s me for Renewal over the summer ⬇️ @renewaljournal.bsky.social renewal.org.uk/blog/the-gri...

renewal.org.ukThe Grid Theory of EverythingThe UK’s electricity grid is a problem. It has been underinvested in for decades, leaving it low on capacity and poorly designed to accommodate the rapid rollout of new renewable energy generation. C...
The Guardian@theguardian.com

Burnham to announce government-backed body to invest in electricity grid

theguardian.comBurnham to announce government-backed body to invest in electricity gridExclusive: Creation of GB Grid will be major step towards putting Britain’s utility companies into public control Andy Burnham will take the first major step to putting Britain’s utility companies into public control on Tuesday, as he announces a new government-backed body to invest in the electricity grid. The prime minister will use his first conference speech as Labour leader to announce the creation of GB Grid, which will use money previously allocated to Great British Energy to compete with privately owned companies such as National Grid. Continue reading...
Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

It's quite interesting how so many people just assume that the 1980s, the 2000s and the 2010s are the norm for the housing market. Even after the early 1990s crash and 2008-2010.

Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social

This one raises a fascinating philosophical question: if you list your flat for £200k more than it is worth, have you really listed it, or are you just posting pictures of your home's interior online?

Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

No, it is not guaranteed that your asset will rise with/above inflation. Of course, as a debtor, your mortgage will fall with inflation too.

Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

I just spotted that my book was one of those reviewed in this suggestive essay about the transnational circulation and contestation of, and adaptation to, neoliberal ideas in late C20th European social democracy. Very pleasing to be read alongside such excellent authors. doi.org/10.1017/S096...

doi.orgSocial Democracy and Neoliberalism since the 1970s: Adaptation, Convergence or Contestation? | Contemporary European History | Cambridge CoreSocial Democracy and Neoliberalism since the 1970s: Adaptation, Convergence or Contestation? - Volume 35

Colm Murphy reposted

David Klemperer
@dmk1793.bsky.social

For Histoire @ Politique, I reviewed Jean Vigreux's 'Découvrir le Front populaire' - a new source-based introduction to France's Popular Front, which eschews simplistic celebration in favour of highlighting the Popular Front moment as one of extreme social and political tensions

journals.openedition.orgJean Vigreux, Découvrir le Front populairePolitics in Europe today is increasingly marked by what the historian Renauld Meltz describes as a “compulsive return to the 1930s” as a primary lens through which to view the present. In France, t...
Colm Murphy
@colmpm.bsky.social

For Histoire @ Politique, I reviewed @emmanuelleavril.bsky.social and Eric Shaw's 'Order and Rebellion: Labour’s Managerial Politics from Miliband to Starmer'. journals.openedition.org/histoirepoli...

journals.openedition.orgEmmanuelle Avril and Eric Shaw, Order and Rebellion: Labour’s Manag...The job of leading a large political party in a European democracy can sometimes resemble a circus trick. Party leaders perform a high-wire balancing act, juggling multiple balls (electoral strateg...

Colm Murphy reposted

David Ornstein
@david-ornstein.bsky.social

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City found guilty on virtually all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations. #MCFC expected to appeal against verdict issued by independent commission. Sanctions undecided, process ongoing @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

nytimes.comManchester City found guilty on almost all Premier League charges relating to financial breachesCity were charged by the Premier League in February 2023.

Colm Murphy reposted

Tim Price
@timprice.bsky.social

You joined "grand vizier chat (secret)" You: dark rumors from aboard You: abroad* fuck Sssnakecharmer: mf said aboard WhispersintheChapel: ahoy matey lol PonderMyOrb changed the group name to "rumors from aboard"