By Manthan Pathak. If you haven’t watched Ken Loach’s final film, The Old Oak, it tells the story of a village divided by the arrival of a family of Syrian immigrants who are greeted with tremendous hostility, but build friendships as they work with the community to save...
Opinion Pieces
Experience: banging the drum for anti-racism on the streets of Southampton
By Gerald Elliott. One thing I’m always proud of about our city is that whenever the far-right tries to hold a “protest,” they have to leave early to catch their trains home, because they’re never actually from this area. There just aren’t enough fascists in Southampton to hold a...
Opinion: Is the English GCSE really fit for purpose?
By Laura McCarthy. Every year, we see a fifth of students failing their core GCSEs in Maths and English. Out of those resitting English last year, only 21% received a grade 4 (equivalent to a C). This is even less than the previous year, where 26% received a passing...
Opinion: Culture for all – but at what cost?
By Charlotte Ndupuechi. In the shadow of Southampton’s failed bid to become City of Culture, I can’t help wondering what legacy we are leaving for future generations. What is the true cost of cultural engagement, and how accessible is it for everyone? Take music lessons in schools. In 2024-2025...
Opinion: Anti-racism protest in a post-truth world
By Manthan Pathak, member of Southampton Stand Up To Racism. Joyous choral music provides the background as the video begins with a burst of sunlight. Enter UKIP leader Nick Tenconi, a stocky, bald, bearded man in undertaker-esque attire. He carries a long black umbrella despite the overwhelming sunshine, as...
Reader’s letter: workers must stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone in our communities
By Declan Clune, Secretary – Southampton & South West Hampshire Trades Union Council I am writing as one of the organisers of the counter demonstration held in Southampton city centre on Saturday 25th January 2025. We were there to oppose UKIP’s protest on the same day, time and location,...
Reader’s letter: Southampton rebranding “feels like a slap in the face to every creative in the city”
By Mark James (Allerton), director of Southampton’s Inkjet Media, local dj and owner of Overdraft Records Store, in response to: “Southampton council criticised for handing city rebrand to London firm” Eighty grand gone! This, honestly, feels like a slap in the face to every creative trying to make a...
Reader’s letter: keep Russells Equestrian Centre at Itchen Valley Country Park
By Amanda Winstone, Epona Trust Sponsor. In 2021 In-Common featured an article about Carol Boulton, the proprietor of Russells Equestrian Centre along with her daughter Verity Tidmarsh. The article describes Carol’s amazing calmness with horse and rider and the unique experience it is to visit Russells, the tranquil and...
Opinion: New Southampton welcome signs are unwelcome!
By Mabel Wellman. The new Welcome To Southampton signs have recently been unveiled, replacing the previous signs which have remained the same for decades. This change has not been well received by many people in Southampton. The previous signs, which warmly exclaimed “Welcome to Southampton” with an image...
Reader’s letter: puberty blockers are life saving treatment
By Trans Pride Southampton. We at Trans Pride Southampton are appalled to hear of the banning of puberty blockers for trans youths. Puberty blockers are a life saving treatment for trans kids. They allow children to live their lives and figure out their identity without the pressure of...