3=7

The Great British Class Survey has determined or found 7 social class groupings  The study was carried out by the BBC and several universities.

When I read the above news stories I thought of Neil Smith, Geographer (RIP). Here’s Jeff Derksen’s (who introduced me to Smith’s work) tribute to him

I had a chat with Neil Smith, when he was here some years ago, about our Rereading the Riot Act project, which we were just embarking on and he told me stories of public actions/interventions in the Lower East Side of NY around history, public space, mapping and protest.

#Writing and protest. Protesting writing. Writing protest. Rewriting protest.

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In light of the above, it’s curious to note the current near obsessive war on the poor taking place in the UK and the demonization of people on benefits, under the guise of welfare reform. Ricky Tomlinson offers 10 lies we’re told about welfare while Polly Toynbee explains “An avalanche of benefit cuts will hit the same households over and over, with no official assessment of how far this £18bn reduction will send those who are already poor into beggary.”