Emily Mann

‘Deeply concerning’: Nigel Farage slammed over links to US anti-abortion group

EXCLUSIVE: Nigel Farage’s links to an influential US anti-abortion group have been branded 'deeply concerning'

It comes after an investigation by The New York Times detailed how the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has been quietly cultivating ties with Farage and his party

Wondering where to stock up on autumnal reading material?🍁📚 Queer-owned, women led, unapologetically activist, independent AND radical community bookshop @lighthousebks.bsky.social Shout out to the team for making events accessible ✨🌈

lighthousebookshop.com/book/9780241...

And finally, peer support from @disabledstudentsuk.bsky.social

I am living out my own redemption arc dreams as the new community and communications manager at @disabledstudentsuk.bsky.social 🤗😎

The most meaningful supports? Fiends, mentors & colleagues that listened with purpose & offered guidance. The deputy manager at the 'Advice Place' who was my lighthouse during this storm. I hope to emulate your care, compassion & integrity. 💡⛈️🌊

Complaining is a political, ethical & incredibly lonely act.

Emotionally drained after years navigating an impossible complaints process - I have now left my PhD. Complaints are all encompassing but finally this is more of an aside, a footnote, instead of my dénouement.

A hand holds up two books both by Sara Ahmed in front of a colourful bookshelf. The front book is 'No Is Not a Lonely Utterance: The Art and Activism of Complaining' with a minimalist white cover and red and black text. The other book is entitled 'Complaint!' and has a cover image of a closed white door.

@saranahmed.bsky.social also radicalised me!⚠️

Living a feminist life helped me navigate everyday backlash back when I first started learning about feminism, activism & research.

Sara's work continues to be as transformative & energising!

the post office is a public service. it doesn’t need to make money. public transit doesn’t need to make money. the library doesn’t need to make money. some things exist for the public good and we desperately need lawmakers to stop thinking about them in terms of capitalism. these are not businesses.

BREAKING: Police have reportedly confiscated an advertising van displaying a photograph of Donald Trump with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

This story is developing

BREAKING: Two men have been charged in connection with a 'hate crime' following a protest outside an accommodation housing asylum seekers in Aberdeen

More to follow

Something I want to put on the record is the concept of 'parallel' learning by autistic people.

By this I mean the hidden educational labour that autistic people have to do as part of our formal learning.

It works like this:

‘I was writing at my lowest ebb’: Scottish author Len Pennie on domestic abuse and the power of poetry Len Pennie won praise and faced criticism for exploring domestic abuse in her award-winning debut. She talks about partying sober, writing in Scots, and why she’s rooting out stigma in her follow-up c...

“I liked how it felt to write poetry … it’s a visceral thing”

Len Pennie won praise & faced criticism for exploring domestic abuse in her award-winning debut. She talks about partying sober, writing in Scots, & why she’s rooting out stigma in her new collection
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...

The rise of the Scot tub | The Observer Saunas at Scotland’s scenic spots are becoming the country’s hottest property and giving wild swimmers respite from the frigid North Sea

I'm always moaning that there's no perks to my usual social affairs beat - so last month I moonlighted as a lifestyle journalist to tour some of Scotland's most scenic wild saunas, the results of which are in yesterday's Observer. Now considering a career shift...

observer.co.uk/culture/phot...

What a treat to have you in the Granite City! Also amazing name - well done whoever came up with this! 👏

Songs and Fancies lies open in a display case, with a person kneeling down to look at it closely. The photograph is taken close up, with the book in the foreground.

We're coming to Aberdeen! 🥳

Our OUTWITH programme kicks off this Saturday by bringing our earliest publication of Scottish secular music to Aberdeen Art Gallery (whose Cowdray Hall concert venue is also having a big birthday this year).

Peer support! Connect with other disabled and neurodivergent students. For PGs join disabled staff networks or create your own! And of course link in with @ucu.org.uk

Close-up photo of a bumblebee collecting nectar from a honeysuckle flower. The honeysuckle blooms are pink, white and yellow, surrounded by green leaves with some sunlight burns. The sunlight highlights the textures of the leaves and the fuzzy outline of the bee.

2/ We were invited to use the space as we wanted - crowd sourcing alternative ways of working and validation in abundance.

Giant bumblebee feasting on honeysuckle. The pollination in progress feels symbolic.

1/ Today I had a management meeting but not the usual kind.

Time and space dedicated to openly discussing our management journeys as disabled and neurodivergent people managing other disabled and neurodivergent people and all the learning we do whilst doing that.

👏👏👏

Join our rally against 'perversion' of Saltire, pro-independence group urges

The Saltire is being 'perverted' by far-right campaigns, a Yes group has said in a rallying cry to join their march ⬇️

BREAKING: MSPs have voted for the Scottish Government to 'immediately' impose boycotts and sanctions on Israel

It comes after First Minister John Swinney outlined other actions that the SNP administration would take

Five people arrested for 'inciting racial hatred' during Aberdeen protest

NEW: A further five men have been arrested and charged in connection with inciting racial hatred following a demonstration in Aberdeen last month

Good luck finding a single "national" UK (English) news outlet reporting on this pretty historic decision in Scotland as it it's more than an international curiosity.

Solidarity to all university workers right now. Especially if, like us, you’re being put through a prolonged “reshaping process” of chaotic redundancy phases. If you don’t already know much about your employment rights and proper practices, take a look at ACAS website:

www.acas.org.uk

YouTube video by The Sensory Projects Remembering the summer before starting teaching

If you are new to teaching people with profound & multiple learning disabilities check out this playlist youtu.be/AauXGqL0xYE (Just three films at time of posting currently but growing all the while).

3 ifs:

If you know someone who is new to this role, or a similar role please share it with them.

Are you Neurodivergent and have done, are doing or are considered doing a PhD?

Researchers at Open University are investigating how doctoral study works (or doesn’t) for neurodivergent people.

Take their 30 minute survey: forms.office.com/e/ft9jyWsPUW

Questions? Email lindsay.odell@open.ac.uk

Hand holding a stone decorated in chalk paint, pale pink dots and heart shapes surrounding the words "BELIEVE IN YOURSELF". Medium sized black dog out of focus in the background.

Same as previous but stone out of focus and cute wee dog in focus

Found this on my street during our lap around the block earlier. Very fitting as I started a new role today!

🩵🩷🤍

Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment: final report The final report of the Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment, written by Edel Harris OBE.

📘 Read the report here: www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836...

📝 Summary www.gov.scot/publications...

📖Easy Read version
www.gov.scot/publications...

📣📢 Pivotal opportunity for Scottish Government to act on recommendations!🦄 Report offers crucial antidotal alternative to dehumanising regressive rhetoric & erosion of disability rights.

Please read, share & help amplify!📢📣 Links below.🔗

Surreal to read my own words quoted in the independent review of Adult Disability Payments here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿📖.

Proud to have been a member of the Advisory Group - especially after such a challenging (read shite🫣💩) year!

Save the Date August 2025 Book Fringe Argonaut Lighthouse Typewronger A dynamic, inclusive, alternative, community-led book festival

ALT Book Fringe 2025
4–29 Aug, Edinburgh

Entirely run & curated by 3 of Scotland’s leading indie bookshops – @argonautbooks.bsky.social, @lighthousebks.bsky.social & @typewronger.bsky.social – ALT Book Fringe is a free, alternative August literary festival
www.lighthousebookshop.com/events/book-...