England
Gay’s The Word: inside England’s only LGBTQ bookshop
Four decades on — This week marks the 40th anniversary of Gay’s The Word, a UK institution that fought police raids, prejudice and censorship to become a hub of social activism. We talk to manager Jim MacSweeney about the fights the venue has faced over the years.
Written by: Patrick O’Connell
A trip down Greek Street, old Soho’s final frontier
A secret history — From backstreet bars to secret restaurants, London’s Greek Street has spent decades fending off threats from developers, maintaining its old ‘shit’ Soho charm in the process.
Written by: Jessica Furseth
The Channel crossings: your guide to the so-called ‘crisis’
All you need to know — Since Christmas Day, 100 people have crossed the English Channel seeking refuge and asylum in what is being called a ‘major’ national crisis. Writer Ben Smoke talks us through the mess.
Written by: Ben Smoke
We stand in solidarity with the Stansted 15
‘Shame on the home office’ — Yesterday, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the home office in support of the activists, who were convicted after blocking a deportation flight in 2017.
Written by: Kieron Monks
Welcome to Britain, a country that has finally lost its mind
Please help — Two years of constant political arguments and very little progress over Brexit has come to a head. Please, Theresa – put us all out of our misery.
Written by: Dawn Foster
Brexit unpacked: your bullshit-free guide to the current mess
What is happening? — While it’s easy to switch off, Brexit will shape British politics, and our lives, for a generation – so we owe it to ourselves not to clock out. Writer Ben Smoke talks us through the mess.
Written by: Ben Smoke
Back in the day: photos of Liverpool in the 1980s
Street style — Photographer Rob Bremner captures a city brimming with character and style; filled with people living defiantly in the face of difficulty.
Written by: Jonathan Turton
The rights of UK sex workers are under threat – why?
Everything you need to know — While sex work has always been a precarious profession, the UK government is now pushing it to its limits. Writer Lydia Morrish meets the collectives and organisations who are revolting for their rights.
Written by: Lydia Morrish
The Martin Parr guide to northern England
Return to Manchester — The iconic photographer reflects on the North, and the locations that have inspired him over the years: ‘The place is still as bonkers as ever, it’s very surreal.’
Written by: Hannah Clugston
Dispatches from Birmingham’s Supreme Cat Show
No vaping please — ‘Like an IKEA for cats’: photographer Joe Hart heads to the most prestigious event on the UK’s feline calendar.
Written by: Huck