Picnic and bottle of wine by the Seine. Perfect👌

Early July general election is... unexpected. Govt must be feeling very confident that the Bank of England will start cutting interest rates before then to give them a bit of a bounce... Or have they just run out of steam?

This general election campaign is by far the most dismal, unimaginative and anti-utopian I can remember. Not so much 'jam tomorrow' on offer as 'margarine for all, if you're lucky'.... Feels like even imagining a better future is off limits.

Universities are a public good. The arts are a public good. Both contribute massively to society and to making the world a better place. They deserve support and celebration from government... Let's hope that an incoming govt recognises this. Honestly, it's not too much to ask.

News! My team at Goldsmiths are working with the awesome Nunhead Cemetery on a HLF-funded series of engagement activities over the next few years. Looking forward to bringing civic + public + cultural engagement to one of London's best Victorian cemeteries gold.ac.uk/news/nunhead-c…

This is what inventive and engaged civic research looks like... Really looking forward to this event and launch of this important research into rivers and waterways in Lewisham 👇

Had a quick look at the Labour Manifesto. From a universities and creative education point of view, actually quite encouraging... Light on detail but the messaging is broadly positive. Refreshing focus on the value of arts + music in schools and value of culture generally.

Municipal grandeur…. But where am I?

Confluence Episode 1. Join Emma Jackson and me to walk along Lewisham’s rivers from Lower Sydenham to Catford and listen to tales from along and in the rivers buzzsprout.com/2380574/153270…

And Confluence Episode 2, where Emma Jackson and I walk along Lewisham’s rivers from Lewisham Gateway to Deptford Creek and hear from those who spend time alongside and in the rivers buzzsprout.com/2380574/153270…

Voted. Beautiful day for it. In spite of everything, I do always really enjoy elections. Hoping that this one closes the door on probably the worst administration in postwar history…. Things can only get better (but it’s a low bar).

Reform breaking through to the extent that it looks like they are going to in this election is deeply, deeply troubling. A dozen seats or so is bad. Second place in dozens more suggests a nightmare brewing…

Well, that was quite an election. Stayed up for most of it but sadly missed the Mogg and Liz Truss Portillo moments…. Wonderful to have a Labour govt again, great that the Greens have broken through a bit, but the rise of Reform is clearly very worrying indeed.

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Great to see Lisa Nandy get the Culture brief. She was two years above me at my school in Manchester, and when Mancunians get involved in cultural stuff good things tend to happen 👌

Not every day that you have a meeting with a guy like this on the table…

This is a great piece from Wendy Pratt. The sort of piece that all of us working in university land should read and think hard about.... theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/a…

Joint community statement from Lewisham organisations and public figures condemning violence and hate. We are a diverse community and a Borough of Sanctuary. Proud to be so!

Very pleased that our Confluence podcasts are now available on walk · listen · create. Click on ‘links’ to listen. walklistencreate.org/walkingpiece/p…

Hello Rome…