Commentary Archive

Are we winning the battle for affordable housing?

That London is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis is news to no one, least of all the …

by Ella Milburn/ April 13, 2018/ Commentary, Croydon, Hackney, Lead Stories, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets/

Can Sakho, Heaton and Moukandjo help strengthen Crystal Palace next season?

Crystal Palace face fellow strugglers Hull City in a crucial match to secure Premier League survival for the 2017/2018 campaign. …

by Udayan Sinha/ May 10, 2017/ Commentary, Croydon, Sports, Uncategorized/

An American in London: Trump’s poisonous rhetoric makes me ashamed

Anastasia Muca is an American writer and Masters student in London. She explains her mixed emotions observing the US election from this …

by Anastasia Muca/ November 8, 2016/ Commentary, Features/

Brexit Britain: A time for national reconciliation

Long seen as the most tolerant society on Earth the United Kingdom has some work to do. As I cast …

by Solomon Elliott/ June 28, 2016/ Commentary, Lewisham, Society/

Comment: The uncomfortable truth about the murder of MP Jo Cox

  The death of Jo Cox is a big loss to us all. She was a wife, a mum, a …

by Kirsty Lowe/ June 25, 2016/ Commentary, Crime, General Features/

85-year-old pedestrian killed in lorry accident

An 85-year-old woman from Lewisham has died after being hit by a lorry on Friday on Lewisham Road in Greenwich. …

by Lloyd Johnson/ October 15, 2015/ Commentary, Lewisham, News/

A War of Ideas: The danger of the Counter-Terror Bill

Eastlondonlines reporter Muna Fadhil on the events in Paris and the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill. When I was told that …

by Muna Fadhil/ January 8, 2015/ Commentary, People/

Record numbers at Lewisham police open day

Lewisham police station opened its doors to record numbers of visitors in an effort to bolster public support within the …

by Niall Sargent/ July 1, 2014/ Commentary, Lewisham, Society/

It doesn’t take millions to get fit: Go outside and enjoy running

The idea that it takes cash to improve your running is nonsense – any athletics coach worth their salt will …

by Alex Kalinauckas/ March 20, 2014/ Commentary/

Spare a little change: Should we give money to the homeless?

Rachael Pells: Don’t encourage a bad attitude There is a homeless man who sits next to a cash machine in …

by ELL Admin/ March 4, 2014/ Commentary/

“Is there something on my face?” Re-thinking social etiquette

It had been a long day. I arrived home to discover that I had mascara smudged all the way down …

by Rachael Pells/ February 23, 2014/ Commentary/

ITVBe: Is it really a spanner in the works for feminism?

The clever people at ITV reckon they’ve cracked the age-old mystery of what women want, and are starting a television …

by Pippa Bailey/ February 14, 2014/ Commentary/

The thin line between harassment and wooing: how far is too far?

Olivier is a 24-year-old professional on a night out in east London. He goes over to a girl at the …

by Daniel McCarthy/ February 13, 2014/ Commentary/

COL (Crying Out Loud): Should you comfort someone?

I saw a young woman cry on the tube the other day and I couldn’t help but wonder why. Had …

by Serina Sandhu/ February 11, 2014/ Commentary/

Men need to ‘man up’ when it comes to their health

When it comes to being proactive about their health, men are useless. How do I know this? I have been …

by Jack Simpson/ February 6, 2014/ Commentary/

Fare rises, strikes and signal failure – It’s not “good service”

  “All other lines are operating a good service”. Great. Just great. I’m so delighted to hear that automated-TFL-voice-lady, I’m …

by Alex Kalinauckas/ February 5, 2014/ Commentary, Transport/

Gagging order passed and the heavy cost to democracy

The ‘Transparency in Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning, and Trade Union Administration Bill’, or – as it is commonly known known – …

by Pippa Bailey/ February 1, 2014/ Commentary/

Clapton: Frontline of class cleansing in the East End

Formerly known as ”murder mile”, Clapton was infamous for its gun and drug-related crime rather than its crêperies and coffee …

by Maya Oppenheim/ February 1, 2014/ Commentary/

Domestic violence: Why are we still Counting Dead Women?

I can still recall what it felt like when my ex raised his arm, fist clenched, hovering momentarily, threatening to …

by Kitty Knowles/ January 29, 2014/ Commentary/

A “Bulls**t Free Zone”? The Hypocrisy of Startup Culture

As if Internet acronyms weren’t already so difficult to decipher—ROFL, LMFAO, YOLO—the workplace now produces its very own. GSD, or …

by Hajera Blagg/ January 28, 2014/ Commentary/

The voice of a generation?: If ‘Girls’ was set in Lewisham

Every mention of Lena Dunham, creator of TV sensation “Girls”, seems to be accompanied by the unshakable assumption that she …

by Chiara Rimella/ January 25, 2014/ Commentary/

A nation of late-movers: why more young people than ever are living at home

My boiler broke today. In perfect timing for the end of the blessed Indian summer and the return of good …

by Mathilde Ive/ January 22, 2014/ Commentary/

Support the strike: why ELL backs university staff in industrial action

  Student journalists who produce Eastlondonlines are backing today’s national strike action by university staff in support of an increased …

by Jack Simpson/ December 3, 2013/ Commentary, Education/

Why UCU members are balloting for action

The University and College Union (UCU) are currently balloting its members to decide whether or not to take industrial action …

by Eastlondonlines/ October 4, 2013/ Commentary/

“Blood Stained Headlines– the Woolwich Murder

“Blood Stained Headlines– the Woolwich Murder and Multicultural Life” by Professor Les Back, Goldsmiths The deafening frequency of the sirens …

by Editorial/ May 24, 2013/ Commentary, Features, Lead Stories, People, Politics/

Where does your tip go – to the boss or the staff?

Heather Saul on how serving staff are deprived of the tips paid for their work. A bar tender drops a …

by Heather Saul/ March 30, 2013/ Commentary/

UKBA u-turn on international student checks is not enough

Laura Liszewski, an American studying journalism at University of London, Goldsmiths College, gives her verdict on the United Kingdom Border …

by Laura Liszewski/ February 22, 2013/ Commentary/

The Academy Takeover of Roke School Reveals the Gove Agenda

Last week Roke Primary School in Croydon was told by the Government that it would be sold to the Harris …

by Helen Lock/ January 25, 2013/ Commentary/

Gove may write Mary Seacole out of history

Mary Seacole, the ‘black Florence Nightingale’, may be removed from the national curriculum raising the question, whose history are we …

by Oscar Quine/ January 23, 2013/ Commentary/

‘India has been jolted into doing something, but for how long?’

Right now, all eyes are on India. Everyone wants to know what is going to happen next in the Jyoti …

by Tooba Masood/ January 11, 2013/ Commentary/

Transport for London is taking my bank account for a ride

It’s the first day back at uni, and I am late. While running towards the train station, I fish the …

by Thea Foslie/ January 9, 2013/ Commentary/

Raising the cost of drinking won’t change culture

Sophie Robinson-Tillett suggests that introducing a minimum price for alcohol will not change the ingrained attitudes of UK binge drinkers. …

by Sophie Robinson-Tillett/ January 2, 2013/ Commentary/

Counting the cost of Gove’s education reforms

Ellie Slee, former student at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, gives her view on Education Secretary Michael …

by Ellie Slee/ December 11, 2012/ Commentary/

Lewisham hospital closures: Both sides argue their case

As the controversy over the proposed closure of Lewisham A&E and maternity units continues, Eastlondonlines has invited  Heidi Alexander,  the …

by ELL Admin/ December 6, 2012/ Commentary, Features, Save Lewisham A&E/

Can the press regulate itself? The issues at hand in Leveson

Today Lord Justice Leveson will publish his recommendations for press regulation following the conclusion of his enquiry in to the …

by Helen Lock/ November 29, 2012/ Commentary/

Our immigration paranoia drives skilled labour out of the country

The writer of this piece completed a postgraduate course as an international student three years ago. He now works for …

by Eastlondonlines/ September 4, 2012/ Commentary/

International students trusted this country – is this how they are repaid?

  Anurag Tagat will graduate from Goldsmiths, University of London at the end of September. I was not surprised when …

by Anurag Tagat/ September 3, 2012/ Commentary/

The UK’s problem with overseas students is pure xenophobia

María Jesús González is a graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London. She studied Theatre and Performance and is originally from …

by Eastlondonlines/ September 3, 2012/ Commentary/

How planners ripped the heart out of Deptford Market

If you missed The Secret History of Our Streets: Deptford (BBC2), then catch up here to see how well-meaning planners …

by Eastlondonlines/ June 10, 2012/ Arts, Commentary/

A different report on “millionaire’s daughter” jailed for driving looters in last summer’s riot

Today “millionaire’s daughter” Laura Johnson, or that is how the media wish to portray her, has been sentenced to two …

by Delores William/ May 26, 2012/ Commentary/